Oceanography, GLG 307, is a 3-hour course at NAU and serves two distinct groups of students: 1) Geology, Environmental Sciences, Earth Sciences, and Geology Minor students, and science majors from other disciplines; 2) Upper-Division Liberal Studies Students. The course is broad in scope but is strongly oriented towards geological oceanography. A field trip to Rocky Point, Sonora, Mexico or San Diego is part of the course and provides field experience. Course prerequisite is Physical or Introductory Geology. A sample syllabus is located at the bottom of this page.
Coasts and Coastal Erosion
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Ron Blakey, 219 Glg Bldg, 523-2740, Email: ronald.blakey@nau.edu Office Hours: (varies by semester or by appt)
Prerequisites: An introductory course in Geology (100, 101, 110, 112 or equivalent); junior or senior standing --Anyone not meeting the prerequisite must see me ASAP.
Course Description: This is a liberal studies course under the Environmental Consciousness theme and is also in the Applied Science distribution block. It consists of lectures and field trips that are designed to provide an introduction to oceanography with an emphasis on geological and physical aspects of the marine environment, both past and present. Topics to be covered include fundamental aspects of the oceanic realm, continental shelves, inland seas, and the coast, sea water, structure and tectonics of ocean basins and margins, and the origin and history of ocean basins (plate tectonics). Environmental consciousness will explored in the context of natural disasters (e.g. earthquakes, landslides on coasts, tsunamis, storms, and volcanic eruptions), sea water resources, marine pollution, marine climate and climate change, and fossil fuels and mineral resources from the oceans.
The following essential skills will be emphasized and assessed: quantitative analysis of spatial and temporal information, critical reading about oceanic materials, processes, and history, and scientific inquiry into environmentally important oceanic phenomena and issues. The effects of the modern and ancient ocean on the entire Earth System (even continental areas) will be heavily stressed.
Objectives: The Planet Earth is 75% water, most of that oceans! This course will provide an introduction and overview of this critical portion of our planet. Emphasis will be from a geological perspective of the systems that operate within, over, and adjacent to the Worldıs oceans and seas. The class will include description, process evaluation, and product analysis. Critical thinking, reasoning, and problem solving will be emphasized rather than memorization of lists, data, and facts. Process and product will be the theme of the course -- if one understands the process, then the product or reaction will be easier to comprehend or predict.
We will pursue these objectives along several paths: lecture-discussion, computer, video, and slide presentations, field trips, written assignments, and exploration of the World-Wide Web (cyberspace!); specific objectives include:
1. Describe fundamental aspects of the marine environment: rocks and minerals, sea floor, geologic history, water, atmosphere and climate, structural geology, and tectonics. (Scientific inquiry, quantitative analysis, temporal analysis, spatial analysis, and critical reading).
2. Describe environmentally important oceanic phenomena and issues, such as natural disasters (e.g. earthquakes, landslides on coasts, tsunamis, storms, and volcanic eruptions), sea water resources, marine pollution, marine climate and climate change, and fossil fuels and mineral resources from the oceans. (Environmental consciousness, scientific inquiry, quantitative analysis, spatial analysis, critical reading, temporal analysis and critical thinking).
3. Create, analyze and interpret spatial data (maps, cross sections, well logs, sonar data). (Environmental consciousness, scientific inquiry, quantitative analysis, spatial analysis, critical thinking).
4. Describe, analyze, and interpret temporal data; especially deep geologic time (plate-tectonic history of ocean basins, changes in physical, chemical, and biologic aspects through geologic time, evolution of Earthıs ocean system). (Environmental consciousness, scientific inquiry, quantitative analysis, spatial analysis, critical thinking).
Logistics: Two formal meetings per week; attendance is REQUIRED! The class meets in GLG BLDG 103. Several assignments may require trips to the computer lab on your own time and convenience. Parts of the course will involve computer presentations in the classroom. Many of these will be loaded into the Geology computer lab so they can be reviewed at your own convenience. A field trip to Rocky Point, Mexico or San Diego, Ca (both are incredible places to study both modern and ancient marine features and processes) will occur in March or early April. The Dept will supply transportation and arrange for a camping location. Food and camping equipment will be mostly on your own and weıll discuss details at a later date. Absolutely no alcohol or drugs may be transported in state vehicles at any time.
Required materials: Textbook: Ocean Sciences by Segar; a High Density 3.5" floppy disk or Zip disk for the computer lab project; a willingness to be challenged in an exciting and relevant science!
Grading and assignments:
Test style: Short answer and diagrams, short essay (examples provided before first exam)
Field trip project: 2-3 page report (typed) with figures on process/product seen on field trip; details to follow.
Assignment 1: History of Oceanography -- World-Wide Web Project:: The first part of this project will involve an exercise designed to familiarize yourself with oceanography sites on the World Wide Web. You will then use the Web to write a short paper on some aspect regarding the history of oceanography. This could include people important in the development of the science, the history of an important expedition, the development of some instrument or method, etc. You can get additional information from the scientific literature. Write a 1-2 page paper on the topic you select. Use illustrations as appropriate. You must cite all references used, including text books and web sites (you must use at least one).
Assignment 2: Analysis of marine process. Choose a marine process under one of the following broad topics: sedimentation, circulation, energy transfer, biologic process, chemical process, atmospheric (weather and climate) process. Narrow the field to a fairly specific process such as turbidity flow, El Nino, hurricane, bioturbation, etc. Concisely, in two pages, describe the process and describe its product. Describe any features typically associated with the process-product. Illustrate as appropriate (at least one). Cite all references used but you must use at least two.
Assignment 3: Analysis of marine environmental problem. Choose an environmental problem associated with the marine realm. It can be physical, chemical, biological, or combination (e.g. red tide, sedimentation in harbors, oil tanker leaks, etc.). In one and a half to two pages, describe the environmental problem. What causes it? What are its effects in terms of damage, loss of life, alteration of seascape, alteration of other chemical, physical, or biologic processes? How does it progress, change, or evolve? How can it be controlled, modified, remediated, or otherwise lived with? Not all these questions will pertain to all possible topics. Illustrate as appropriate (at least one). Cite all references used but you must use at least two.
