Course Description
Physical, chemical, and geological characteristics of the marine environment, including waves, currents, and tides; ocean chemistry and elemental cycles; and the structure of ocean basins. The role of marine environments in global systems. The effects of human activity on the marine environment and marine resources.
Athena Title
Intro to Marine Environment
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in MARS 1010, MARS 1011, MARS 1015H, MARS 1030, MARS 1030H
Non-Traditional Format
This course will be taught 95% or more online. The instructor will be available for three hours of discussion each week though student participation will not be required.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
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.
Topical Outline
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
General Education Core
CORE II: Physical SciencesSyllabus