EOSC 372 · Introductory Oceanography: Circulation and Plankton

Physical and chemical processes and their controls on the distribution of plankton in the ocean. [3-0-0] Prerequisite: Either (a) SCIE 001 or (b) one of CHEM 111, CHEM 121, CHEM 154 and one of MATH 101, MATH 103, MATH 105, MATH 121 and one of PHYS 101, PHYS 107, PHYS 117, PHYS 153, PHYS 157.

 Course Availability & Schedule

 Course Syllabus

 Non-specialist course

Learning goals: 

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

  • point to any place in the ocean, and, for any season, predict the primary production and productivity, starting by describing the wind field, reconstructing the surface currents, and discussing the role of tides, upwelling or downwelling, stratification and mixing in determining the local nutrient and light availability for phytoplankton.
  • explain the underlying principles of physical, chemical and biological oceanography to a fellow science student.
  • integrate physical, chemical and biological concepts in their understanding of ocean functioning.
  • appreciate how the ocean works and its important role in the global environment and in human society.

     

Learning Goals

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

  • Point to any place in the ocean, and for any season predict the primary production (amount of plant biomass) and productivity (rate of growth of plant biomass): starting with the wind field, reconstructing the surface currents, discussing the tides, upwelling or downwelling, stratification and mixing and thus determining the nutrient and light availability for phytoplankton.
  • Explain the underlying principles of physical, chemical and biological oceanography to a fellow science student.
  • Appreciate how the ocean works and its important role in the global environment and human existence.

Course Content

Syllabus: is here.

Lecture Topics

See syllabus.

Labs

No labs.