GEOL 0890 Oceanography

Subject: Geology
Catalog Number: 0890
Number of Credits: 3

The world’s oceans play a central role in the Earth’s climate system and in supporting a stunning diversity of life.  We will survey the oceans and sea floor, examine the important chemical properties of sea water, and then consider the forces that drive the vast circulation cells of the world's oceans.  We will then see what factors control the overall biological productivity of the oceans and how biological productivity and oceanic circulation each help regulate global climate.  The final part of the class looks at the major invertebrate and vertebrate groups that populate the world’s oceans and investigate how dramatically humans have affected ocean life over the past few centuries.  Finally, we will look at efforts to protect and restore ocean ecosystems.