General Oceanography (Geol 1033X2)

GENERAL OCEANOGRAPHY (GEOL 1033 P3) Spring Session, May 8-26, 2006 1:00- 4:00 P.M., Room 19 HSH

Description: Offshore and deep-water oceanography, emphasizing an interdisciplinary approach and including geological, biological, physical and chemical aspects. History of oceanography; exploration techniques, instruments and vessels; origin of oceans and ocean basins; physiography of the ocean basins; deep-sea sediments; continental drift, seafloor spreading and plate tectonics; marine volcanism; waves, tides and ocean currents; climatology and sea-level changes; marine ecology; marine resources.

General Remarks: General Oceanography is intended for a wide audience because of its interdisciplinary nature. It was designed as a science elective course that is broad enough in appeal for non-science majors and yet challenging enough for science majors who are not necessarily majoring in geology. General Oceanography introduces students to the fundamental principles, materials and processes of biological, chemical, geological, geophysical, physical and technical aspects of oceanography. The history of oceanography is reviewed through an introduction to exploration, navigation, and research instruments and vessels. These various studies lead to an informed evaluation of man's impact on oceanic environmental problems and his future exploitation of ocean resources.

General Oceanography emphasizes offshore and deep-water oceanography as well as a worldwide approach. It is a companion course to Coastal Oceanography (GEOLOGY 1053), which, in contrast, emphasizes the major features, materials, and processes of coastal and nearshore oceanic environments.

Prerequisites: None. Some high school-level science background is expected, but no previous college-level science is presumed. Technical jargon is kept to a minimum. Basic high school mathematics will be sufficient to do the few calculations required by some exercises.

Required Textbooks (Handout available in class on Monday, May 8th):

1. Study Guide for General Oceanography (1994) by Barry Cameron. Includes a detailed syllabus of topics and assignments.

Lecture Instructor: Dr. Barry Cameron, Geology Department Mailbox is in Room 327 HSH Email address is [email protected]

Office = Back corner of Room 32 HSH basement (southwest corridor). (May be in Room 57 HSH basement or in Room 327 HSH 3rd floor.)

Office Hours: M-F 4:00-5:00 P.M. Please note: The hour just before lecture (noon-1:00 PM) is not an office hour. Other times can be arranged.

Evaluation: 3 ACME online Quizzes (2% each)(#1, 5, & 7) = 6% Tests (50-minutes; multiple-choice, true-false, matching, etc.): Test #1 (Friday, May 13, lessons 1-13) = 18% Test #2 (Friday, May 20, lessons 14-25, 37) = 18 2

Homework assignments (approximately 25 at about 1% each) = 25 Final examination = 33 100% 3

NOTES: 1. Improvement will be recognized: If your Final Examination grade is at least higher by 3% than your lowest test grade, it will replace that lower test grade.

2. The grade-percent value of one missed test will be added to the grade-percent value of the final examination.

3. If you do, and hand in on time, ALL of the written homework assignments, the one with the lowest grade will be dropped!

4. The final examination will have a multiple-choice, true-false, matching, etc., format, be cumulative, and concentrate somewhat on the last third of the term.

5. See the current Acadia University Calendar for procedures if the final examination is to be missed.

6. PowerPoint lecture files/notes from previous classes will be posted approximately every week on WWW. Last spring’s lecture files/notes are there now.

7. Seven sample practice tests have been put on ACME to help you to evaluate your study progress.

8. At the end of each lesson in the Study Guide, there are study questions and/or exercises that you should do for review if they are not already assigned in class or for homework to be graded.

9. There are also lists of terms to know at the end of each lesson in the Study Guide.

Homework Assignments:

1. Read the assigned pages in the Study Guide. Lessons in the Study Guide will be assigned in class.

2. Bring to class any questions you may have from the reading assignment.

3. Know the meaning of the key terms listed at the end of each Study Guide lesson.

4. As you progress through the course, answer the review questions in the 29 Study Question Sets and also do the 15 Exercises that are all in the Study Guide.

5. There will be 25 required written homework assignments from the Study Guide, consisting of a number of the Study Question Sets and a few of the Exercises. Each completed answer sheet is to be submitted for grading to the instructor at 1:00 P.M. of the day it is due (at the beginning of class) - unless otherwise announced.

6. Always review your previous class notes before the next class.

Assignment Return: Room 57 (basement) HSH

Graded assignments and tests will be returned during class.

Course Bulletin Boards: Hallway outside Room 32 HSH

Notices will be posted from time to time on the hallway bulletin boards just outside room 32 (basement) HSH. These bulletin boards are just outside Dr. Cameron’s laboratory/office door. 4

GEOLOGY 1033, GENERAL OCEANOGRAPHY

Course Outline (Spring Session, May 8-26, 2006)

Study Guide Lecture Topics Lesson # Exer # SQS #

Introduction

Science of Oceanography 1 Characteristics of the Earth 2 Composition & Structure of the Earth 8 Maps and Charts 3

History of Oceanography 4

Instruments and Techniques

Navigation 5 Research Vessels 6 Instruments: General & Geological 7

Marine Geology & Geophysics

Seafloor Physiography & Continental Shelves 9 Continental Slopes and Rises 10 Mid-Ocean Ridges & Abyssal Plains 11 Seamounts, Atolls & Reefs 12 Deep-Sea Trenches & Physiographic Review 13

TEST #1 (Friday, May 12, 1:00 P. M.) (1-13)

Marine Sediments 14 Important Skeletal Plankton 15 Major Marine Pelagic Organisms 37 Geophysics, Gravity and Seismology 16 Heat Flow, Volcanism and Hydrothermal Vents 17 Marine Volcanism 18 Earth Magnetism 19 Mid-Ocean Ridge Sediments 20 Cont. Drift, Seafloor Spread., Plate Tecton. 21

Chemical Oceanography

Chemical Oceanography & Instrumentation 22 Composition of Seawater 23 Variations in Seawater Composition 24 Origin of Sea Salt 25

TEST #2 (Friday, May 19, 1:00 P. M.) (14-25, 37)

Physical Oceanography

Physical Oceanography & Instrumentation 26 Physical Properties of Seawater 27 Density Structure of the Oceans 28 Sound & Light in the Sea 29 Waves 30 Tides 31 Coastal Environments 32 Earth's Heat Budget & Ocean Currents 33 Surface Ocean Currents 34 5

Study Guide Lecture Topic Lesson # Exer # SQS #

Biological Oceanography

Biological Oceanography & Instrumentation 35 Marine Ecology & Productivity 36 Major Marine Benthic Organisms 38

Man and the Sea

Coastal Problems & Management 32 Climatology & Sea-Level Changes 32 Marine Resources, Pollution & Laws of Sea 39

(For a more detailed course outline, see pages ix-xv of the Study Guide.)