MARINE SCIENCE
Geology 161
FALL 2007
Karla Parsons-Hubbard
Steven F. Wojtal
Office:
Carnegie 403
Office:
Carnegie 416
Contact:
karla.hubbard@oberlin.edu
Phone: x58353
Contact:
steve.wojtal@oberlin.edu
Phone: x58352
Office hours:
Tuesday 3:00-4:00
Friday 1:30-3:00
Office hours:
Wednesday 2:00-4:00
Thursday 11:00-12:00
       
Readings

The primary text for the course is: Segar, Douglas A., 2007, Introduction to Ocean Sciences (2nd ed.). W.W. Norton & Company. Readings will primarily come from the text book. We denote with "CC" below those of Segar's Critical Concepts that relate to our coverage of topics. We have also placed readings on reserve at the Kettering Science Library and on Blackboard. We denote readings on reserve with o.r. below. Reading assignments indicated by an asterisk (*) are recommended but optional; all other assignments are required.

Grading

Your grade will be based upon scores in three exams, two scheduled during normal class meeting times and a third scheduled during the final exam period.  We expect you to take the exams at the scheduled times, unless you have a valid conflict, in which case you must arrange a substitute time with us prior to the scheduled exam time

Honor System

We strongly endorse the principles of the Honor System, which is intended to ensure that students (1) receive appropriate credit for their intellectual work, (2) acknowledge the sources of scholarly and creative work that are not their own, and (3) adhere to any stated guidelines on graded assignments.  For this class, you can confirm your adherence to the Honor system by writing or typing the Honor Pledge ("I affirm that I have adhered to the Honor Code in this assignment.") and signing below it on each of the three exams and on both written commentaries.

Day
Date
Topic
Readings
UNIT 1 - MARINE GEOLOGY AND THE EARTH SYSTEM
W
9/5
Introduction: Methodological Approaches
ch. 1, 2, & 3
F
9/7
Global topography: continents vs. oceans
Characteristics of continents
ch. 4
M
9/10
Ocean bathymetry & characteristics
ch. 4
W
9/12
Seismology: key to identifying plates & determining their motion
ch. 4
F
9/14
Deep Earth structure, isostacy, & plates & determining their motion
ch. 5; CC #1 & #2
M
9/17
Global tectonics
ch. 5; CC #3
W
9/19
Aqueous solutions & sea water chemistry
ch. 6 & 7; CC #6
F
9/21
Earth's atmosphere -- wind, weather, & climate
ch. 9; CC #9
M
9/24
Atmospheric circulation
ch. 9; CC #3 & #12
W
9/26
Discussion: Atmospheric circulation & climate
Required commentary submission prior to class
Solomon, S.D et al. 2007: Technical Summary. In: Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the IPCC, pp. 22-26.
UNIT 2 -- PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHY AND PALEOCEANOGRAPHY
F
9/28
Effects of wind, weather, & climate on oceans
ch. 10
M
10/1
Ocean surface circulation & its significance
ch. 10; CC #12 & #13
W
10/3
Deep ocean circulation
ch. 10
F
10/5
Exam on Unit 1
M
10/8
Waves -- character and origins
ch. 11
W
10/10
Wave dynamics; erosion & deposition
ch. 11
F
10/12
Tides and their origin
ch. 12
M
10/15
Tides II: tidal currents & tidal power
ch. 12
W
10/17
Beaches & Estuaries
ch. 13; ch. 15 p.430-441
F
10/19
Sediments
CC #4, ch. 8
Open U. ch. 1 (o.r.)
***FALL BREAK***
M-W
10/29-1031
***Faculty at Geological Society of America Meeting***
Gulf Coast Study -- Exercise available on Blackboard
F
11/2
Complete Gulf Coast study and discussion
M
11/5
Histoyr of sea-level change
Fischer (o.r.)
UNIT 3 - LIFE IN THE SEA AND HUMAN INTERACTIONS WITH THE SEA
W
11/7
Life in the Oceans
ch. 14
F
11/9
Exam on Unit 2
M
11/12
Marine Ecology -- food webs; nutrients
ch. 14
W
11/14
Primary production
Sumich ch. 5 (o.r.)
F
11/16
Phytoplankton: distribution & adaptations
ch. 14
M
11/19
Nekton: Adaptations for life on the move
ch. 16
W
11/21
Nekton: Breathing and buoyancy
Sumich ch. 13 (o.r.)
F
11/23
THANKSGIVING -- Free Day
M
11/26
Evolution of Marine Tetrapods & Mammals
Delinger (o.r.)
W
11/28
Marine Communities: Reefs
ch. 17
F
11/30
Marine Communities: Deep sea
Gould* (o.r.)
M
12/3
Marine Communities: chemosynthetic ecosystems
Macintyre et al. (o.r.)
Lost City (o.r.)
W
12/5
Marine resources: Physical resources
ch. 18
F
12/7
Marine resources: Fisheries
Sucmich ch. 15, p. 427-435 (o.r.)
M
12/10
Marine Pollution: Sewage, garbage, oil spills
ch. 19
W
12/12
Discussion: Human impacts on oceans
Hardin (o.r.); Abramvitz & Sagoff (o.r.)
F
12/14
READING PERIOD BEGINS
Monday, December 17, 9:00 a.m.
EXAM on UNIT 3