The goal of this course is to familiarize you with an earth 
system that influences your lives every day, even though you 
may not be aware of it. In addition, this course seeks to 
provide you with an understanding of the scientific process and 
the role of technology in supporting scientific study. In this 
course, we expect you to:
1) explore the physical, geological, and chemical processes 
that define the ocean environment covering over 70% of the 
earth surface
2) discuss the role of the oceans in regulating global 
climate, their importance to our natural resources, and the 
relation between land-based processes (like earthquakes, 
volcanoes, and the shape of our coastlines) and the ocean system
3) examine how human activities are changing the ocean

Although we do not formally cover marine biology (which is 
covered by Biology of the Marine Environment in the spring 
semester), this course should give you an appreciation for what 
it must be like to live in the ocean and for the connections 
between humans and the blue planet.

The water planet
Earth's evolution
The hydrologic cycle
Geology of the marine environment
Plate tectonics
Coastal margins
Structure and circulation of the ocean
Heat transport
Thermohaline circulation
Waves and tides
Marine chemistry
Salinity, density, and temperature
Distribution of salts, gases, and nutrients
Primary production
Current marine environmental issues

As a University of Georgia student, you have agreed to abide 
by the University's Academic Honesty Policy, "A Culture of 
Honesty," and the Student Honor Code. All academic work must 
meet the standards contained in "A Culture of Honesty." Each 
student is responsible for informing themselves about the 
standards contained in "A Culture of Honesty" before performing 
any academic work. Evidence of academic dishonesty will be 
turned over to the Office of the Vice President for Instruction 
for consideration and possible action. The minimum 
penalty for a student found guilty of academic dishonesty is a 
grade of "F" in the course and a note on the student's 
transcript. There have been several recent changes in the 
academic honesty policy at the University of Georgia. This 
information is available online at 
http://www.uga.edu/honesty/. 
Plagiarism ("to take ideas, writings, etc. from another and 
pass them off as one's own," Webster's New World Dictionary) 
will not be tolerated. Plagiarism ranges from outsourcing your 
work to somebody else, to slight rewording of a published text, 
or summarizing a text without citing it. If you are in doubt, 
consult with the instructor before you hand something in.