MARINE GEOLOGY - GEOL 257

Dr. (“Doc”) Leslie Sautter - Fall 2009

PHONE:953-5586OFFICE HOURS (Room 334A):

e-mail:ues. 11-1, by appt. (best)

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course is a concentrated view of the geological processes that form, shape and modify the world's ocean basins and the sediments contained within. Coastal and deep marine depositional environments will be examined from both a modern and ancient perspective.

OBJECTIVES:

  • Understand many of the physical and geologic processes that occur associated with our ocean basins, with a focus on Plate Tectonics.
  • Examine marine sediments and understand their use in unraveling climate changes of the past.
  • Examine coasts and the processes that mold and shape them, with a focus on the SC coast.
  • Understand how to observe and interpret data/information in a scientific manner.
  • Conduct a small research project, from hypothesis to summarizing results.

EXPECTED STUDENT OUTCOMES: My goal is that you will gain an understanding of and appreciation for the marine and coastal environment – and see the earth from a new perspective. I hope that you will leave this class with a desire to learn more about the ocean planet.

ATTENDANCE: Lectures are scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:25-10:40 am. Laboratories will meet on Mondays from 2:00-5:00 pm or 5:00-8:00 pm. Lectures and labs will be held in Room 334. Some labs will be held in the field. Transportation will be provided whenever possible. You are expected to attend all lectures and labs. Attendance will be taken. Students with more than 3 unexcused absences will be dropped from the course. Any missed work must be completed within one week of the assigned due date.

TEXT: An Invitation to Oceanography (Fifth Edition), by Paul Pinet, Jones and Bartlett Publishing, 2009. Several supplemental readings (available on reserve in room 334A) will be required. There is no lab manual. There are several related readings in the Pinet text or on reserve in Room 334A (see course OUTLINE).

GRADING: The grading in this course is based on completion of the following items:

Mid-term Exams (2)40 %

Comprehensive Final Exam25 %

Outreach or Article Review (written summary)10 %

Lab Exercises10 %

Lab Project and Written Summary15 %

A / 93 and higher / C+ / 77-80
A- / 90-93 / C / 73-77
B+ / 87-90 / C- / 70-73
B / 83-87 / D+ / 67-70
B- / 80-83 / D / 63-67
D- / 60-63
F / <60

No makeup exams will be given unless there is a documented excuse (i.e., doctor’s note).

I must receive official notification from the Dean.

MARINE GEOLOGY - GEOL 257, Fall 2009

TOPICS TO BE COVERED IN LECTURE, with READING ASSIGNMENTS

Note: multiple hard copies of all readings other than Pinet are on reserve in the Library.
Many of the readings and all Web resources can be accessed through the course’s home page at .

PART I - The Bathtub’s Ring

Introduction to Marine Geology- Pinet, Chapter 1

Coastal Processes- Pinet, p. 230-247; 254-261; 262-271; 281-285

- Kana, p. 1-8, 19-23; Hayes/Michel, 1-38

Beaches and Barrier Islands- Pinet, Chapter 11; 530-533; Hayes/Michel, 43-56, 63-76

- Kana, p. 8-18

- Pinet, p.555-562

S. C. Coastal Geomorphology- Hayes/Michel, 179-217;
Web: SC Coastal Journey (Doc will provide)

PART II - Into the Deep Blue

Ocean Observatories- Web: Regional Scale Component of the Ocean Observatory Initiative (Doc will provide)

Seafloor Physiography- Pinet, Chapter 2

Plate Tectonics- Pinet, Chapter 3; 477-483

- ODP-GH p. 27

- Siebold and Berger, p. 1-40

- TASA CD-ROM (on reserve in the library)

- Kelley, p. 2-7

Oceanic Lithosphere- Open Univ.– The OceanBasins, p. 67-81

Tectonic History of the Oceans- Kennett, p. 178-193*

Continental Margins- Pinet, p. 38-41; 98-111

- Siebold and Berger, Chapter 2

- ODP-GH p. 11 and 22-23

- Web: (t.b.d)

Coral Reefs- Pinet, 446-456

PART III - Interpreting the Past

Marine Sedimentation and Sediments - Pinet, Chapter 4; 145-169; 493-498

Surface Circulation- Pinet, p. 188-203; 207-210

Deep-water Circulation- Pinet, p. 210-225

- ODP-HL, p. 18-19

Upwelling and Productivity- Pinet, p. 339-345; 353-363; 370-376

Paleoceanography - Pinet, Chapter 16

- Siebold and Berger, p. 144-145; 192-194; 241-257

- ODP-GH p. 9-10, 13-14

Key to readings: (readingswill be made available on reserve in the Library)

Pinet = Invitation to Oceanography textKana = Coastal Erosion and Solutions: a Primer

Hayes/Michel = A Coast for all SeasonsTASA CD-ROM – The Theory of Plate Tectonics

ODP-GH = Ocean Drilling Program’s Greatest HitsODP-HL = Ocean Drilling Program Highlights

IMPORTANT DATES:

EXAM #1: Thursday, Sept. 24

EXAM #2: Thursday, Nov. 5

LAB RESEARCH PAPER: draft: Monday, Nov. 2

final: Monday, Nov. 23 before lab begins!

FINAL EXAM: Saturday, Dec. 12 9:25 AM (sorry!)