Physical processes in estuaries and continental shelves play a
significant role on biological, chemical and geological 
processes on the coastal ocean.  The objective of this course 
is to gain working knowledge of the mechanisms controlling the 
physical circulation, and how the circulation influences the 
shelf and estuarine ecosystems.  Students will participate on 
field work and analysis of data.  Students will be required to 
make an oral presentation to the class.

Introduction and overview; importance of coastal oceanography to
marine ecosystem; Sampling the coastal ocean, new techniques

Waves
Deep and shallow-waver waves; Wave energy; Longshore currents,
rip currents, and sediment resuspension and transport; Role of
waves on cross-isobath transport; Tsunamis

Tides
Generating forces; Tidal currents; Tidal analysis and 
prediction; Shallow water effects, tidal mixing and 
rectification; Tidal fronts

Estuaries
Classification; Types of circulation; Lateral circulation;
Flushing time; Transport of materials (pollutants, larvae)

Shelf Circulation
Wind forcing, buoyancy forcing; Fronts, upwelling, downwelling
and ecosystem implications; Cross-shelf transport and retention
mechanisms, implications for biological processes; Pathways that
pollutants take through the coastal ocean; Hypoxia; Mixed layer;
Coastal-trapped waves; Influence of the Gulf Stream on the
Georgia shelf
Examples:  US East Coast (South/Middle Atlantic Bight)
           US West Coast (California Current System)

Low-Frequency variability
Global change; El Nino; La Nina, Pacific Decadal Oscillation,
North Atlantic Oscillation, and their effects on the coastal 
ocean

It is the student's responsibility to be familiar with the 
University of Georgia's policy on academic honesty as published 
in the booklet "A Culture of Honesty:  Policies and Procedures 
on Academic Honesty."  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 UGA.  This information is available online at 
www.uga.edu/ovpi.  Click on the UGA Academic Honesty Policy 
statement.