The course will provide a basic understanding of the ocean 
system and how it is changing at present. Students will learn 
about key aspects of ocean change in comparison to historical 
trends and future projections.

Introduction & Overview: The Oceans and their characteristics
Fundamentals: Basic overview of ocean circulation, elemental 
composition and biology
Components of Change: Direct and indirect anthropogenic impacts
Historical and Future Oceans:  What we know about past and 
future oceans and how we know 
The Ocean Conveyer Belt: Ocean circulation and Earth’s climate
Circulation-Productivity Feedbacks: Upwelling, Freshwater 
inputs 
The Polar Oceans: Melting ice and changing oceans
Ocean Acidification: Atmospheric CO2 and the pH of the ocean
CO2-nutrient feedbacks: Interaction of elevated CO2 and 
nutrients (N, Fe, P, Si)
Coral Reefs: Reef distribution, bleaching, thermal stress, CO2 
impacts
Oil Spills:  Case study of the BP oil incident, other oil spills
Fisheries and Climate: Peruvian anchoveta and other examples
Overfishing: Case histories (whaling, cod, salmon, tuna, etc.); 
nearshore versus open ocean; fisheries management and 
enforcement (international issues)
Eutrophication: Nutrient and carbon pollution in the ocean
Oceanic hypoxia/anoxia: Changing oxygen distributions and the 
impacts
Changing Foodwebs:  Ocean carbon checks and balances
Sea Level Rise: Rising waters and altered habitats
Coastal Development: Land use change; habitat loss (mangroves, 
salt/marshes); development and its impacts
Plastics:  Garbage Patches in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans