Previous years lectures: 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012

Introduction and overview (week 1)

Topic 1 (August 22):

Introduction to Oceanography - [ PDF ]

Topic 2 (August 24):

What is the best way to observe the ocean? - [ PPT ]
(assign homework #1, ocean exploration)

Topic 3 (August 26):

Early Earth, Oceans, & Life - [ PPT ]
Enrichment reading:  Schopf et al., 2002 Marshall et al., 2011

Marine geology and geophysics (week 2-3)

Topic 4 (August 29):

Ocean floor physiography - [ PPT ]

Topic 5 (August 31):

Plate Tectonic, the origin of ocean basins, and Tsunami - [ PPT, Newman PPT]
(assign homework #2, early earth & plate tectonics)

Topic 6 (September 2):

Bathymetry from space and its relevance to oceanography - [ PPT ]
Reading: Satellite Topography and Oceanography - [ PDF ]

Topic 7 (September 7):

Sea Level Changes and Paleoceanography - [ PPT ]

Additional Reading:
* Palaeoceanography and sea-level changes, Chap. 6;
The structure and evolution of sea basins, Open University. -
[GaTech Reserve PDF file 70 MB ]

Topic 8 (September 9):

20th century sea level changes - [ PDF | Chapter 13 IPCC ]
 (assign homework #3, sea level change)

Physical oceanography and climate dynamics (week 4-8)

Topic 9 (September 12):

The Atmospheric Circulation - [ PDF ]

Topic 10 (September 14):

The Atmospheric Circulation PART 2 - [ PDF ]

Topic 11 (September 16):

The Atmospheric Circulation PART 3 - [ PDF ]
(assign homework #4 atmospheric circulation)

Special Lecture 12 (skipped):

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico - [ PPT ]
Latest modeling development - [ NSF-website ]

Topic 13-14 (September 19, 21):

The Ocean General Circulation Theory PART I -II - [ PDF1 | PPT2 ]
(assign homework #5 ocean circulation)

Topic 15  (September 23, 26):

The Meridional Overturning Circulation (MOC)  - [ PDF | Polyna.mov ]
Additional reading on MOC review - [ Lozier-2012.pdf ]

Topic 16 (September 30):

Equatorial Circulation, ENSO and Indian Moonsoon - [ PPT ]
(assign homework #5 thermoaline circulation and ENSO )

Topic 17 (October 3):

Ocean Waves | Rossby and Kelvin Waves  - [ PDF ]

Topic 18 (October 5):

Ocean Tides - [ PPT ]

Special Topic 19 (October 7):

Energy from ocean waves  - [ PPT ]
Additional reading - [ Ocean-Energy.pdf ]

Special Lecture  (October 12):

Midterm review   - [ Previous Exams ]

Special Topic 20 (October 17):

Global Warming and IPCC - [ PPT ]

MIDTERM EXAM (covering material through Wednesday, October 19)

(material will cover until waves excluded)

Chemical oceanography and geochemistry (week 9-11)

Topic 21 (October 21):

Ocean Carbon Cycle: mass balance - [ PPT ]

Topic 22 (October 24):

Ocean Carbon Cycle: carbonate system and solubility pump - [ PPT ]

Topic 23 (October -skipped-):

Ocean Carbon Cycle: solubility pump - [ PPT ]

Topic 24 (October 26):

Ocean Carbon Cycle: biological pump - [ PPT ]

Topic 25 (October -skipped-):

Glacial CO2 problem - [ PPT ]

Topic 26 (October 28):

Stabilizing CO2 emissions - [ PPT ]
Additional reading - [ Pacala-2004.pdf | PEI-Stabilization-Wedges.pdf ]

Topic 27 (November 2):

Geologic Carbon Cycle - [ PPT ]

Topic 28 (November 7):

Oxygen Cycle - [ PPT ]

Biological oceanography (week 12-15)

Topic 29 (November 9):

Marine Ecology, Habitats and Organisms - [ PPT ]

Topic 30  (November 11, 14):

The Marine Foodweb and Nitrogen Cycle - [ PPT1 | PDF2 ]

Topic 31/32  (November 16):

Marine Life Observing System - [ PDF ]
Reading assignment - [ Block-MarineLife.pdf ]

Topic 33  (November 18):

Climate Change Impacts on Marine Ecosystems - [ PDF ]
Reading assignment - [ Doney-2012.pdf ]

Topic 34  (November 21):

Climate Change & Polar Ocean Ecosystems - [ PDF ]

 Topic 35  (November 28):

Climate Change & Tropical Ocean Ecosystems - [ PDF ]
Reading assignment Coral in Crisis - [ Hay.pdf ]

Topic 36  (--skipped--):

Natural Climate Variability & Marine Populations PART 1
Pacific Decadal Oscillation, Salmon, Sardines and Anchovies - [ PDF ]
Additional Readings - [ PDO_Ecosystems | PDO_Physics]

Topic 37  (--skipped--):

Natural Climate Variability & Marine Populations PART 2
North Atlantic Oscillation, Zooplankton and Fish Stocks - [ PDF ]
Additional Readings - [NAO Table | NAO_Ecosystems | NA1O_Physics]

Coastal oceanography (week 12-15)

Topic 38 (November 30):

Shallow Water and Coastal processes - [ PDF ]

Topic  (December 2):

Beaches, Estuaries and Deltas - [ PDF ]

Topic Final Review  (December 5):

Review and Final preparation

FINAL EXAM (December 14)

Final Exam on Friday December 14, between 8:00 AM to 10:50 PM
Location is the same as class.