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The Marine Environment (Honors)


Course Description

Physical, chemical, and geological characteristics of the marine environment. The effects of human activity on marine environments and resources.


Athena Title

The Marine Environment Honors


Equivalent Courses

Not open to students with credit in MARS 1010, MARS 1011, MARS 1011E, MARS 1030, MARS 1030H


Prerequisite

Permission of Honors


Semester Course Offered

Offered fall


Grading System

A - F (Traditional)


Course Objectives

Physical, chemical and geological aspects of the marine environment are discussed. This course is intended to satisfy the Physical Science requirement for non-science degree candidates. The students will gain an understanding of the basic physical priniciples behind ocean waves, tides, and circulation, the structure and history of ocean basins, and chemical properties of seawater. Special emphasis will be placed on nearshore and esturaine ecosystems. A field trip to either a Georgia or Florida coastal ecosystem is usually included near the end of the semester to solidify understanding of the material.


Topical Outline

Lecture topies include: Introduction to the Ocean Environment Oceanographic Maps, Charts, and Graphs Properties of water Solar Input, Heat Budget and Climate Atmospheric Circulation, Coriolis Effect, Atmosphere-Ocean Interactions, Surface Ocean Circulation, ElNino, Density-Driven Deep Ocean Circulation Polar Oceanography Ocean Waves Tides and Estuaries Marine Geology: Ocean Basin Structure Plate Tectonics Marine Provinces Sediments Coastal Processes Coastal Environments Paleoceanography Ocean Chemistry: Salts Gass Nutrients Special Topics: Hydrothermal Vents Human Impacts on Coasts Global Climate Change Laboratory Topics Include: Introduction to Science Library How to Interpret Maps and Charts Properties of Water and the Scientific Method Climate, Coriolis Effect and Surfact Circulation Density and Deep Circulation Waves and Tides Plate Tectonics Fossils Erosion and Sediments Seawater Chemistry ph and Aklalinity Chemosynthesis Carbon Cycles and Climate Feedbacks


General Education Core

CORE II: Physical Sciences