| CODE | GSC1201 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Introduction to Oceanography | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 01 - Year 1 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 2 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Geosciences | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | The unit covers descriptive and practical aspects in physical and biochemical oceanography. The main emphasis will be on the principles governing the motion of the oceans, sea-water properties and characteristics, water masses, air-sea interaction, influence of physical forcings (light, temp and salinity) on the pelagic domain, influence of nutrients on the pelagic domain, Phytoplankton and zooplankton dynamics, and Biophysical couplings. The unit will focus on the Mediterranean Sea and relate to the importance of the marine physical and biochemical environment for an ecosystem-based approach to the study of the sea. More specifically the study-unit will deal with: - ocean dimensions and seabed configuration; - ocean variability in time and space; - physical properties of sea water; - temperature, salinity and density; - basics of ocean circulation; - geostrophic currents; - wind induced circulation; - thermohaline circulation of the Mediterranean Sea; - methods in ocean observations; - ocean forecasting; - principles of operational oceanography; - Influence of physical forcings (light, temp and salinity) on the pelagic domain; - Influence of nutrients on the pelagic domain; - Phytoplankton and zooplankton dynamics; - Biophysical couplings; - Composition of seawater and determination of salinity; - Use of radioisotopes, - Biogeochemical cycles; - the pH scale and ocean acidification; - Mercury in the marine environment as a case study. Study-Unit Aims: The study-unit is intended to initiate students in the specialised field of physical and biochemical oceanography. The unit seeks to provide the basic understanding to the physics, biology and chemistry of the sea as a key element for marine and earth sciences and serving as a foundation unit to other units related to the marine environment. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - understand and apply the basic concepts underlying the physical characteristics of the oceans, its scales of variability and the main drivers of its circulation; - link basic physical processes in the sea to the understanding of the marine ecosystem functioning, and apprehend the available technologies and methods to observe the sea; - describe the functioning of the Mediterranean basin-scale circulation focusing on the Central Mediterranean and the coastal seas around the Maltese Islands; - view and assess natural phenomena occurring in the marine domain in a holistic manner with inter-linkages across various disciplines and across different scales. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - apply basic physical laws to the ocean continuum; - read and comprehend basic literature referring to the marine physical environment; - demonstrate an understanding of scientific literature on related topics and have sufficient insight to follow and apprehend past and current research efforts, as well as critically evaluate the validity of existing literature on oceanography against accepted benchmarks and standards Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - Thomas, D.N. & Bowers, D.G. (2021). Introducing Oceanography. (2nd edition). Dunedin Academic Press: 192pp. - Garrison, T. & Ellis, R. (2021). Introduction to oceanography: an invitation to Marine Science. (10th edition). National Geographic. Supplementary Readings: - Brown, Joan, Angela Colling, Angela, et al. (Open University) (1989). Ocean Circulation. Oxford. Pergamon. - Knauss, John (2005). Introduction to Physical Oceanography (2005).- Brown, Evelyn, Colling, Angela, et al. (Open University) (1995). Seawater: its composition, properties and behaviour. Milton Keynes. |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Pre-Requisite qualifications: A-level/Intermedieate Physics/Maths/Biology/Chemistry | ||||||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Alan Deidun Anthony Galea |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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