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OCEAN 201
Science of the Sea (3) AA/NS2 and AS/NS
3 hours lecture
per week
Prerequisite(s): MATH 25 or higher
level math or higher math placement
A
survey of the science of oceanography involving the study of the
geological, physical, chemical, and biological properties of the
ocean with emphasis on the importance of the ocean to man.
Ecology and the natural resources of the ocean are other
topics discussed.
Upon successful
completion of OCEAN 201, the student should be able to:
• Use the metric system and scientific notation.
• Explain the concept of density and its regulatory effects on
the circulation of air and water systems.
• Describe all major features of the ocean floor.
• Explain using examples how the plate tectonics theory accounts
for current locations of continents, earthquakes, mountain building,
island chain creation and seafloor features.
• Account for, in chemical terminology, the anomalous properties
of seawater.
• Describe the composition of seawater and methods of analyzing
salinity.
• Describe the interactions between atmosphere and ocean in terms
of heat and water budgets, and the effects these interactions have
on temperature and salinity of ocean waters.
• Classify the major ocean currents.
• Describe the forces responsible for surface currents, deep ocean
currents, geostrophic currents, Ekman transport
of surface waters and tides.
• Describe the relationships between all variables used in describing
ocean waves.
• Explain the physical factors which influence life in the oceans.
• Explain the parameters used in quantifying bio-productivity in
the oceans.
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