Geological & Environmental Sciences 8
Spring Quarter 2006-2007
THE OCEANS: AN INTRODUCTION TO THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT
The Goals and Content of GES 8
The primary goal of GES 8 is to introduce students to how the ocean works. Emphasis is placed on understanding the basic processes that control the behavior of the ocean and the character and dynamics of marine environments stretching from the beach to the deep sea. Topics covered include the topography and geological evolution of the ocean basins, the nature of seawater, circulation of the ocean, tides, waves and coastal environments, and marine biologic productivity. Local examples including San Francisco Bay provide insights into these complex systems. The course is aimed at non-majors and beginning earth science and environmental majors and assumes a background of high school level science and mathematics.
Why study the ocean? First and foremost, the ocean constitutes the defining physical feature of our planet and covers 71% of the Earth’s surface. The impact of the ocean on global environmental change cannot be overstated. In addition, the ocean profoundly influences almost every aspect of human affairs from the availability of food to global commerce and political conflict. For most people, including marine scientists, the stunning beauty of the ocean is matched by the mystery of what lies beneath its surface. Although human history and wellbeing are intimately linked to the ocean, modern scientific study of the sea was initiated only 140 years ago. The ocean constitutes a major scientific frontier with new discoveries being made at an accelerating pace. We have much to learn about the ocean and the quest for this knowledge constitutes an ongoing grand adventure.
Distribution Requirement Credit: GES 8 meets GER Disciplinary Breadth in the Natural Sciences.
Units of Credit: 3
Lecture Schedule: MWF, 11:00-11:50 AM, Building 200-Room 205.
Professor: James C. Ingle, Jr. Office - Mitchell Earth Sciences Building, Rm. B01. Office Hours – Mon. 1:15-5:00 PM or by arrangement. Telephone – 723-3366. Email –
Reading: Students will be held responsible for the content of required reading and lecture material on examinations. Required reading is marked with an asterisk (*) in the lecture schedule.
Required Textbook: Garrison, T., Oceanography, 6th Edition, Brooks/Cole-Thompson Learning, 588 pgs.
Lecture Handouts: Class handouts containing key diagrams, brief explanations, maps, etc. aimed at clarifying various lecture topics will be distributed at the beginning of most lectures.
Required Field Trip: There will be a required all-day field trip to Point Reyes, California on Saturday May 12 for the purposes of observing and measuring waves and coastal processes.
Final Examination: Friday June 8, 8:30-11:30 AM. Room to be announced. Please note that no early final examinations will be given; no exceptions.
Basis of Grading:Mid Term Examination (Mon. May 7) 100 pts.
Final Examination (Fri. June 8) 150 pts.
Point Reyes field trip (Sat. May 12) 25 pts.
Total possible points275 pts.
Students with documented disabilities: Students who have a physical, psychological or learning disability that may necessitate an academic accommodation or use of auxiliary aids and services must initiate a request for accommodation with the Student Disability Resource Center (SDRC). Please contact the SDRC as soon as possible, timely notice is needed to arrange for appropriate accommodations. The SDRC is located at 563 Salvatierra Walk (tel. 723-1066 voice; 725-1067 TTY).
LECTURE OUTLINE AND REQUIRED READING ASSIGNMENTS
Note: Required reading assignments are marked with an asterisk (*). Additional references are provided for those students wishing to pursue topics in greater depth. See also additional published and internet resources provided in the textbook.
Wed. Apr. 4The scope of the course; the nature of the oceans and the science of oceanography.
*TEXT, p. 1-5, 40-55.
Fri. Apr. 6Historical development of the marine sciences.
*TEXT, p. 5-35.
Deacon, M., Rice, T. and Summerhayes, C.,(eds.),2001, Understanding the oceans. UCL Press, London, 300 pgs. A comprehensive history of the science of oceanography from its modern beginnings marked the Challenger Expedition in 1872 to predictions of its future.
Sobel, D., 1995, Longitude – the true story of a lone genius who solved one of the greatest scientific and technical problems of his day. Walker & Co., New York, 184 pgs. The amazing saga of John Harrison who invented the first accurate marine chronometer, making it possible for mariners to find their longitude at sea. A tale involving science, politics and money.
Mon. Apr. 9Tools, techniques and methods of oceanography.
*TEXT, p. 541-547.
Wed. Apr. 11Continue topics of Apr. 9.
Fri. Apr. 13No lecture; Ingle off campus.
Mon. Apr. 16The shape of the “bowl”; the hypsometric curve and submarine topography (bathymetry).
Each student will receive a simplified map of the global ocean floor.
*TEXT, p. 97-123.
Wed. Apr. 18The lithosphere; ocean crust and structure.
*TEXT, p. 59-66.
Bolt, B., 2005, Earthquakes, 5th ed. W.H. Freeman & Co., New York, 320 pgs. A very clear and well illustrated explanation of how seismic (e.g. earthquake) waves are used to interpret the interior of the Earth and the origin and character of earthquakes. Especially relevant for all who live in the San Francisco Bay area.
Fri. Apr. 20Sea floor spreading and plate tectonics; origin, evolution and destruction of ocean basins.
*TEXT, p. 67-72.
Ernst, W.G., 2000, Drifting continents, sea floor spreading and plate tectonics. In Ernst, W.G. (ed.), Earth systems, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 566 pgs. Chapter 6 (p. 81=101).
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Mon. Apr. 23Continue discussion of plate tectonics and formation of the ocean basins.
*TEXT, p. 73-85.
Wed. Apr. 25Continue topics of Apr. 23.
*TEXT, p. 85-91.
Fri. Apr. 27Marine sediments and sediment distribution in the ocean.
*TEXT, p. 128-142.
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Mon. Apr. 30Continue topics of Apr. 27.
*TEXT, p. 142-152.
Wed. May 2Waves: deep water and shallow water waves and the wave spectrum.
*TEXT, p. 264-276.
Park, D. (ed.), 2000, Waves, tides and shallow water processes, 2nd ed. Butterworth Heinmann, Wolburn, Mass., 228 pgs. Well written quantitative review at the undergraduate level prepared for the Open University of England.
Fri. May 4Coastal processes and near shore oceanography; breakers, bores, near shore circulation, and tides.
*TEXT, p. 276-293, 297-307.
Bascom, W.J., 1980, Waves and tides, the dynamics of the ocean surface, revised edition. Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 366 pgs. One of the best and most concise non-technical reviews of these topics ever written.
Optional review session: 12-1 PM. An informal session in which students can request review of any topic in preparation for the mid term examination on Monday.
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Mon. May 7MID TERM EXAMINATION. Copies of an example GES 8 mid term examination will be placed on reserve in Branner Earth Sciences Library. This is a closed book examination.
Wed. May 9Origin and dynamics of beaches; coastal retreat and long term variations in sea level.
*TEXT, p. 315-333.
Woodroff, C.D., 2002, Coasts. Cambridge University Press, London, 623 pgs. A modern comprehensive review of coastal processes and coastal environments.
Fri. May 11Continue topics of May 9.
*TEXT, p. 339-344.
Griggs, G., Patsch, K., Savoy, L. and contributors, 2005, Living with the Changing California Coast, University of California Press, Berkeley, 540 pgs. An outstanding review of the physical coastline of California including discussions of erosion, climate change, building along the coast, coastal hazards, and California’s coastal hazards policy. A highlight of the book is a mile-by-mile description of the entire coast of California. Written for the general reader in a very approachable style accompanied by many maps and photos.
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Sat. May 12FIELD TRIP to Point Reyes, California for purposes of observing and measuring waves, currents and coastal processes. The field trip will depart at 8 AM and return to campus ca. 5-6 PM. Students should (1) wear layered clothing in case weather at the coast is windy, cold and foggy, (2) wear shoes that can get damp or wet, and (3) bring lunch, snacks and a watch. Students unable to participate in the field trip must inform the instructor in writing or by email. Those students participating in the field trip will receive 25 pts. Those students unable to participate in the trip can make up the 25 pts. by writing a paper on a marine topic.
Mon. May 14Sedimentary processes and the history of continental margins, emphasis on continental shelves.
*Karl, H.A., et al., 2001, Beyond the Golden Gateoceanography, geology, biology and environmental issues in the Gulf of the Farallones. U.S. Geological Survey, Circular 1198, 78 pgs. This is a unique and lucid summary of the continental shelf and slope immediately west of San Francisco, California. Maps and illustrations highlight well written chapters on a host of topics. Read p. 6-25. Scan the remainder of the this volume as your time and interests permit. A copy of this publication will be placed on reserve in Branner Earth Sciences Library. You can also read this publication on line at the following address:
Wed. May 16Estuaries and lagoons.
*TEXT, p. 336-339.
Mann, K.H., 2000, Ecology of coastal waters, 2nd ed. Blackwell Science, Malden, Mass, 406 pgs. An excellent review including chapters on estuarine ecosystems, associated salt marshes, etc.
Fri. May 18Continue topics of May 16 including the San Francisco Bay estuary.
*Cohen, A. 2000, An introduction to the San Francisco Bay estuary, 3rd ed. The only comprehensive and authoritative summary of how San Francisco Bay functions physically and biologically and that is written with the general reader in mind. Published by Save the Bay, San Francisco Estuary Project and San Francisco Estuary Institute, Oakland, 40 pgs. Read pgs. 2-12 which provide an overview and an introduction to the marine marshes along the edge of the bay.
Note: Access to a thriving marine marsh is provided by the City of Palo Alto. Travel east from the Stanford campus on Embarcadero Road passing over the 101 freeway bridge. Continue past the Palo Alto airport and take the north (left) fork of the road to the edge of San Francisco Bay and the Palo Alto Nature Center where a wooden walkway extends out over the marsh environment.
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Mon. May 21Characteristics of sea water.
*TEXT, p. 154-166, 176, 184-192.
Brewer, P. 2000, Chemical oceanography. In. Ernst, W.G. (ed.), Earth systems. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 566 pgs. Chapter 12 (p. 182-193) provides a brief but lucid review at the undergraduate level.
Chester, R., 2003, Marine geochemistry, 2nd ed. Blackwell Publishers, Malden Mass., 506 pgs.
Wed. May 23Temperature, salinity and density of sea water; meaningful global patterns and processes.
*TEXT, p. 167-170.
Fri. May 25Ocean circulation; coupled patterns of atmosphere-ocean circulation, surface circulation, dynamic ocean topography, and geostrophic currents.
*TEXT, p. 202-212, 234-249, 548.
Ruddiman, W.F., 2001, Earth’s climate past and future. W.H. Freeman & Co., New York, 465 pgs. An outstanding review of atmospheric circulation and climate change on an introductory level. The emphasis of this book is on short and long term records of climate change including marine archives of climate data, interpretation of data and climate models.
Ingle, J.C., Jr., 2000, Atmosphere-ocean coupling and surface circulation of the ocean. In, Ernst, W.G. (ed.), Earth systems. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 566 pgs. Chapter 10 (p. 152-168) provides an illustrated non-mathematical summary of these topics.
Mon. May 28HOLIDAY (Memorial Day)
Wed. May 30Continue topics of May 25.
Fri. June 1Identification of water masses; deep sea thermohaline circulation; global ocean circulation.
*TEXT, p. 250-263.
Colling, A. (ed.), 2001, Ocean circulation, 3rd ed. Butterworth-Heinemann, Wolburn, Mass., 250 pgs. A well illustrated semi-quantitative review of both surface and deep circulation of the ocean written at the undergraduate level.
Ingle, J.C., Jr., 2000, Deep-sea and global ocean circulation. In, Ernst, W.G. (ed.), Earth systems. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 566 pgs. Chapter 11 (p. 169-181) provides an illustrated non-mathematical summary written at the undergraduate level.
Mon. June 4Interaction between the physical and biologic systems in the ocean; conservative and non-conservative properties, elements and compounds.
*TEXT, p. 172-174, 193-197.
Sumich, J. and Morrissey, J., 2004, Introduction to the biology of marine life, 8th ed. Jones & Bartlett Publishers, Boston, 449 pgs. A highly regarded undergraduate text.
Wed. June 6Primary productivity in the ocean and marine food chains.
*TEXT, p. 347-362.
Valviella, I., 1995, Marine ecological processes, 2nd ed. Springer, New York, 686 pgs. A major review written at the upper division undergraduate level. Chapters 1 and 2 summarize marine primary productivity, the measurement of primary productivity and factors affecting primary production in the ocean.
Optional review session: 12-1 PM. An informal review session in which students can request review of topics covered in lecture since the mid term examination and review questions from the example final examination in preparation for the final examination.
Friday June 8FINAL EXAMINATION – 8:30-11:30 AM; room to be announced. Copies of an example GES 8 final examination will be placed on reserve in Branner Earth Sciences Library. This is a closed book examination. No early final examinations will be given; no exceptions.
I love the oceanwhat other courses can I take?
For those interested in pursuing marine topics in greater depth after completing GES
8, please be aware that the Earth Systems Program (in the School of Earth Sciences)
offers an Oceans Track which includes more advanced undergraduate courses in
biological, chemical and physical oceanography along with topical seminars covering
current research and marine policy issues. Stanford’s Hopkins Marine Station in
Pacific Grove, California offers courses in marine biology and research
opportunities in a spectacular coastal setting. BIOSCI 3, Frontiers in Marine
Biology, is taught on the main campus by faculty from Hopkins Marine Station.
Finally, Hopkins Marine Station offers BIOHOPK 182H/323H, Stanford at Sea, involving
five weeks of course work at Hopkins Marine Station and five weeks of hands-on
experience at sea on an oceanographic ship.