Foundations in Oceanography a minimum 4 credits In addition to the prerequisite competencies, students pursing a bachelor degree in the field of Physical Oceanography must complete an introductory foundations course in oceanography that exposes the student to the breadth of required discipline-specific competencies in a Physical Oceanography curriculum. Successful completion of comparable coursework at the Calculus 1 level (see bullet 3 below) will at minimum yield competency in: Lecture • Describing the relationship between the oceans, land and atmosphere. • Describing the concept of the earth system. • Listing the relative sizes and distinguishing characteristics of the world’s major ocean basins. • Describing the formation of ocean basins and the general features of the ocean bottom. • Describing the chemical properties of water; the hydrogen bond. • Describing the concept of salinity and the principle of constant proportions. • Describing the relationship between water’s salinity, temperature and density. • Describing the relationship between atmospheric circulation, climate belts and wind belts. • Describing the ocean’s major flow patterns and listing the names of the major ocean currents. • Differentiating between surface ocean currents and deep ocean currents. • Describing the dynamics of waves and tides. • Explaining how ocean processes influence the shape of shorelines. • Listing the major primary producers in the ocean ecosystem. • Explaining how a simple and a more complex ocean ecosystem works. • Discussing the role of the ocean in global climate change.
Foundations in Oceanography a minimum 4 credits In addition to the prerequisite competencies, students pursing a bachelor degree in the field of Physical Oceanography must complete an introductory foundations course in oceanography that exposes the student to the breadth of required discipline-specific competencies in a Physical Oceanography curriculum. Successful completion of comparable coursework at the Calculus 1 level (see bullet 3 below) will at minimum yield competency in: Lecture Describing the relationship between the oceans, land and atmosphere. Describing the concept of the earth system. Listing the relative sizes and distinguishing characteristics of the world’s major ocean basins. Describing the formation of ocean basins and the general features of the ocean bottom. Describing the chemical properties of water; the hydrogen bond. Describing the concept of salinity and the principle of constant proportions. Describing the relationship between water’s salinity, temperature and density. Describing the relationship between atmospheric circulation, climate belts and wind belts. Describing the ocean’s major flow patterns and listing the names of the major ocean currents. Differentiating between surface ocean currents and deep ocean currents. Describing the dynamics of waves and tides. Explaining how ocean processes influence the shape of shorelines. Listing the major primary producers in the ocean ecosystem. Explaining how a simple and a more complex ocean ecosystem works. Discussing the role of the ocean in global climate change. Laboratory Describing the locations of Earth’s physiographic features, i.e., major mountain belts, mid-ocean ridges, subduction zones, continental shelves, abyssal plains, etc. Describing ocean property plots, vertical profiles and sections. Describing ocean salinity and salinity units for major, minor and trace constituents. Describing marine sediment grain sizes and how to quantify the size distribution using screens. Measuring the characteristics of an ocean surface wave generated in a wave tank. Demonstrating basic marine navigation skills. Identifying and describing basic features of the more common phytoplankton and zooplankton. Applying and demonstrating Xxxxxx’ Law to sediment and /or plankton in the ocean. Applying the Xxxxxxxx number to particles in the ocean. Applying Xxxxxxxx’s critical depth analysis to model the timing and onset of the spring phytoplankton bloom.
