SEMESTER AT SEA COURSE SYLLABUS. Introduction to Oceanography

Transcription

1 COURSE DESCRIPTION SEMESTER AT SEA COURSE SYLLABUS Introduction to Oceanography More of an exploration of the seas than a class, this course engages students in direct observation, reflection, and analysis. Each meeting of the class will include observation of the ocean from the deck of the ship. Our voyage takes us across one great ocean and through nearly a dozen seas and several storied straits. This voyage is a study in contasts from the ocean seas of the North and South Atlantic Oceans, the smaller seas that lie adjacent to and part of the oceans, and the narrow passageways passed Gibraltar, through the Mouth of the Dragon, the Straits of Dover and Messina and through the Turkish Straits of the Dardanelles and into the Bosporus. We will look at the the physical and chemical environments of the ocean and each passageway to its ecosystems and life processes. We will focus on what students can learn through the unique experience of being both at sea and in port on diverse near-shore environments. Topics included will be geography and geology o of the oceans, physical processes (tides, waves, currents, ocean-atmospheric interaction, and world climate), chemical processes, and biological systems (shore environments, coral reefs, polar seas, pelagic, etc.). Environmental issues (oil spills, climate change, overfishing) will be discusses. The goal will be to engage students in thinking about the processes and dynamics of the seas and to have them learn to satisfy their curiosity thus stimulated. COURSE OBJECTIVES To engage students in learning about the world s oceans through first-hand experiences during the Semester at Sea and for the duration of their lives. Students will hone their observation skills and deductive abilities to understand the oceans and will rely on readings and in-class discussion to refine their understanding. Students will develop an appreciation for the complexities of ocean dynamics and the importance of oceans in current world issues.

2 TOPICAL OUTLINE OF COURSE: Sea Day# Topic Reading 1 What can you see at sea? Discovery of observational Chapter 1 opportunities aboard the ship. Ocean provinces. Measure latitude. 2 Ocean waves, Great Ocean Garbage Patch Chapter 8 Civitavecchia What do you see on the beaches? 3 Equinox, seasons, and tides. The Mediterranean Sea. Chapter 6, first pages 4 Straits of Turkey, Marmara Sea, Marine Sediments Chapter 3 Istanbul 5 Wings on Water Marine Birds Ocean Literacy* Pireaus 6 Tides, sea level, Energy from the Sea Chapter 9 7 Coastal seas. Fishing. Chapter 11 Barcelona 8 Ocean-atmosphere interaction, Sea Oddities Chapter 6 Casa Blanca 9 Cape Bodajor, Rubber Ducks, Hotspots, Canary Islands Chapter 2 10 The Atlantic Ocean Chapter 7 Dakar 11 The equator, heat budget 12 Mid-term 13 Properties of Water, Plastics in the Sea Chapter 5 Salvador 14 Coastal processes, Islands Chapter Climate change Chapter Sediments, Amazon outflow, Threats to the Ocean Chapter 4 17 Sharks, Coral Reefs, The Caribbean Sea Chapter 15 Port Spain 18 Polar worlds Chapter Panama Canal, sea level, invasive species and more 20 Primary productivity, Marine microbes Chapter 13 Puntarenas 21 Whales, Pacific Ocean, Marine Protected Areas Chapter What s that? 23 Group presentations 24 Final exam Text content by chapters: Essentials of Oceanography. Trujillo and Thurman. Prentice Hall. 10 th edition.

3 FIELD COMPONENT: Port Puntarenas Activity We will take a boat to natural area to explore the reef and shore. We will have a close look at the marine-atmosphere interface and be able to see the rich life of the shore and reef. EVALUTATION OF FIELD COMPONENT. Students will write a one-page report on what they learned (not what they saw) during the field component. METHODS OF EVALUATION: Please provide details on grading, including a definition of class participation if class participation is to constitute a significant part of the course grade. A quiz will be given every class meeting. A mid-term and final exam will be given. Students will also participate in a field lab and will generate a report on that experience. Students will work in small teams to create a log of their observations, photographs, and analysis and will present these for evaluation before the final exam. They will pick one or more topics and study these in each port and major sea we enter. For example, students could pick tides or fishery practices in each nation we visit. It is highly recommended that students use Google Earth as the platform for their logs. It is highly recommended that students install Google Earth on their laptops before coming to the ship. For students without a laptop at least one public computer aboard the ship will be available with Google Earth. Team log 30% Field lab 20% Quizzes 20% Mid-term exam 15% Final exam 15%

4 ORDER FORM FOR REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS Essentials of Oceanography. Trujillo and Thurman. Prentice Hall. 10 th edition. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES One dedicated computer in the laboratory that has Google Earth installed. Students will be required to use this Atlantic Ocean Floor Map, Laminated Price: $19.95 Item#: National Geographic Society Mediterranean Seafloor Map 1982 By National Geographic Item#: X NGC b Pacific Ocean Floor Map Item#: 02743C Qty: 1 Price: $10.95

5 APPENDIX C: FIELD LAB PROPOSAL FORM U.Va. Academic Approval ISE Health & Safety Approval Faculty Name: Ed Sobey Voyage: Spring 2013 Course Title: Introduction to Oceanography Discipline: Oceanography I. Field Lab: II. In-Country Faculty/Contact III. Academic Objectives: 1. Understand the diversity of life on a reef 2. Appreciate the complex interactions on a reef 3. Understand the difficulty of protecting a reef in a third world country IV. Field Lab Description: We will use a water taxi to get to the park and then rent equipment from the park operator. We will talk about what we see, including the Malaysians lack of concern for maintaining the park. V. Associated Assignments: Write short articles on coral reefs.

6 APPENDIX C: FIELD LAB PROPOSAL FORM U.Va. Academic Approval ISE Health & Safety Approval Faculty Name: Ed Sobey Voyage: Spring 2013 Course Title: Introduction to Oceanography Discipline: Oceanography I. Field Lab: III. Academic Objectives: 1. Understand how mangroves change the marine environment 2. Understand how coral reefs form and provide energy and shelter 3. Understand the importance of these special habitats IV. Field Lab Description: We will use a commercial tour service to guide us in ocean kayaks to a salt water mangrove and to snorkel in the mangrove and nearby coral reefs. V. Associated Assignments: Create poster displays describing mangroves or coral reefs to display aboard the MV Explorer.

7 APPENDIX C: FIELD LAB PROPOSAL FORM U.Va. Academic Approval ISE Health & Safety Approval Faculty Name: Ed Sobey Voyage: Spring 2013 Course Title: Introduction to Oceanography Discipline: Oceanography I. III. Academic Objectives: 1. Understand the complexity of life in the sea 2. Understand how artificial aquarium mimic natural conditions 3. Understand the dynamic environment of South Africa and how animals adapt to it. IV. Field Lab Description: Morning tour, including behind the scenes, of the Two Oceans Aquarium, which is adjacent to the port where the ship is tied up. In the afternoon we will use a commercial tour service to guide us in ocean kayaks to observe penguins and whales in their natural habitats. V. Associated Assignments: Create poster displays describing the marine environment of South Africa to display aboard the MV Explorer.