GEO-SCI 103 - INTRODUCTORY OCEANOGRAPHY
Cont. & Prof. Ed. Evening Course Fall 2014
PLACE: Morrill 3, Room 129
TIME: Tuesday, 6:30-9:30 PM
Instructor:Professor Peter Panish
Rm 257, Morrill 4 South.
e-mail:
Tel: 577-2257 (my office), 545-2286 (to leave messages at the main
Geosciences office, Rm 233)
Office Hours:Tuesday before lecture, 4:30-6:30 PM, in Rm 257
Thursday 2:00-4:00 PM, in Rm 257
or by appointment
Text:Required: Investigating the Ocean by Leckie and Yuretich
Can be found at the Textbook Annex, UMass
Note:In the event of severe weather conditions or other emergencies, the
University may cancel classes. Call the emergency closing hotline
at(413) 545-3630 to get a taped message on the status of the campus.
Course Organization:
This course is a survey of oceanography; many topics will be covered. Class attendance is vital. The lectures in general follow the text, however additional material will be covered in class. The lectures will help you to focus on what is most relevant in the text. You should read the appropriate textbook sections in a timely fashion. There are only 13 class periods, which means that a lot of material will be covered during class time.
There will be 2 major exams and the final exam. They are intended to be taken during a
class period, but you can have more time if you need it. Most questions will be multiple choice. Each exam
will cover the material since the previous exam. If you have a verifiable medical condition that requires
testing in a different format, please tell me as soon as possible so that alternative plans can be made. If you
cannot take an exam with the rest of the class at the appointed time, you must make arrangements with me ahead of time to take the test at an alternate time. Allowances will be made for last minute emergency situations, but please be prepared to verify the emergencies. Even in these rare emergency cases, you will be expected to take the make-up exam within a few days of the original exam date.
There will be quizzes, assignments and in-class work. The quizzes will each be about 15 minutes long and will be announced a week ahead of time. Unless otherwise stated, an assignment handed in after the due date will get points taken off proportional to how late it is.
During the semester a few OPTIONAL extra credit assignments will be offered. Let me stress that these will be optional and are only meant to give each person a chance to improve a low grade. Most people don't do them.
Grading will be as follows:60% -- the final and 2 exams.
40% -- assignments and quizzes.
This weighting of grades may be adjusted depending on the lengths of the assignments/quizzes.
Tentative Schedule
Please keep in mind that this is a tentative schedule and subject to change.
Handouts and power point notes will be made available as needed.
Date Topics Pages .
9/2Key ideas2-3
History and Structure of the Earth42-43, 48-49
9/9Techniques used in studying the Earth14-17, 44-49,76-77, 80-81
Continents, Ocean Basins, and Plate Tectonics50-65
9/16Continents, Ocean Basins, and Plate Tectonics50-65
Properties of Seawater107-123
9/23Properties of Seawater107-123
Seasons7-9, 126-129
9/30 FIRST MAJOR EXAM
10/7Atmosphere130-137
Ocean Circulation138-147
10/14***Monday ScheduleNO CLASS***
10/21Ocean Circulation138-147
Global Warming252-253, DVD
10/28Waves and Tides230-237
Shoreline Processes240-249, 256-257
11/4SECOND MAJOR EXAM
11/11Veterans Day Holiday BUT CLASS TOMORROW ON WEDNESDAY
11/12Kingdoms and Distribution of Life175-179
Temperature and Chemistry Effects180-185
11/18Productivity and Ocean Ecosystems186-201
11/25Human Effects and Ecologic Damage202-207, 258-262
Metals, Artificial Biocides, Overfishing
Geologic Hazards66-67, 78-79, 250-251, 254-257
12/2Ocean Resources18-21, 72-75, 238-239
12/9FINAL EXAM