Syllabus
Professor Brad E. Rosenheim
Blessey 210
862-3196
brosenhe@tulane.edu
Office Hours: M 13:00-14:00, T &Th 10:00-11:00, and by appointment
Objective:
Oceanography as a science encompasses and utilizes knowledge from all of the basic physical sciences. This course is designed to introduce students to all of the facets of oceanography - geologic oceanography, marine biology, physical oceanography and chemical oceanography - as well as to the basic tenets of the scientific method. By the end of the course, you will have learned how much more than just dolphins there is to the oceans and hopefully you will have simultaneously developed a basic understanding of the scientific method and its applications while becoming more fully aware of our wondrous oceans.
Location:
Mechanical Services Building 206 (enter from Blessey)
Calendar:
14Jan2008 Introduction and History of Oceanography Ch. 1
16Jan Origin of the Oceans - Our Solar System Ch. 2
18Jan Earth - Planet Water Chs. 1-2, 4
23Jan Origin
of the Oceans - Plate Tectonics I
25Jan Origins
of the Ocean - Plate Tectonics II
28Jan Geologic Time and Life in the Oceans Chs. 2,3
30Jan Marine
Sediments I
1Feb Marine
Sediments II
6Feb Water
and Seawater - Physical Properties
8Feb - Exam I
11Feb Water and Seawater - Chemistry Ch. 6
13Feb Structure of the Atmosphere Ch. 7
15Feb Circulation of the Atmosphere and Ocean Chs. 7,8
18Feb Air-Sea Interaction Ch. 7
20Feb The
Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming
22Feb El Niño and the Southern Oscillation Ch. 8
25Feb Thermohaline Circulation Ch. 8
27Feb Ocean
Waves
29Feb Tides and Other Special Waves Chs. 9-10
3Mar Life
in the Intertidal Zones
5Mar Coasts,
Beaches and Shorelines
7Mar - Exam II
10Mar
12Mar Coastal Oceanography Ch. 12
14Mar The Wetlands Environment Ch. 12
Spring Break - Have fun, BE SAFE!
26Mar Life
in the Oceans
28Mar No class, pending field trip
29Mar Trip to Lumcon (tentative)
31Mar Productivity
and Energy I
2Apr Productivity and Energy II Chs. 14,16
4Apr No class, pending field trip
5Apr Trip to Lumcon (tentative)
7Apr Pelagic
Animals
9Apr The Fisheries Problem Ch. 15
11Apr - Exam III
14Apr Benthic
Animals
16Apr Coral
Reefs
18Apr Humans and the Marine Environment Ch. 18
21Apr Marine
Resources
23Apr The Future of Oceanography Ch. 18
25Apr Open Class / Catch Up
28Apr - Review of Previous Exams
TBA - Final Exam
Evaluation
Tests - 60%
Exam I - 20%
Exam II - 20%
Exam III - 20%
Final Exam - 20%
Lowest Exam Score is dropped
Quizzes - 30%
Quiz 1 - 6%
Quiz
2 - 6%
Quiz
3 - 6%
Quiz
4 - 6%
Quiz
5 - 6%
All quizzes consist of individual (4%) and
group (2%) efforts.
Attendance - 5%
Taken randomly throughout the semester
Field Trip Attendance - 5%
Trip to LUMCon, details to follow shortly
Make-ups
No make-up exams
Quizzes - arrangements can be made with proper documentation of illness or other emergency
Field trip - An alternate assignment will be given for those students that have other approved commitments (intercollegiate sports, Sabbath, emergency, illness). All commitments must be properly documented 2 weeks prior to field trips (except in cases of illness or emergency, of course).
Expectations
Common courtesy is expected from everyone
1. No cell phones during class.
2. Be on time to class.
3. Do not leave early (spares others from the disruption).
Classroom etiquette
1. You have permission to speak freely at any time - but please do not interrupt your classmates.
2. Tests will closed book, closed notes.
3. Quizzes will have 2 parts:
a. A closed book, closed notebook individual effort
b. A closed book, closed notebook group effort
Office Hours
M 13:00-14:00
T &Th 10:00-11:00
By appointment