OCE 3014 OCEANOGRAPHY
Fall 2011

Dr. Neptune Srimal  Office: AC1-380A, Ph: (305) 919-5969; Office Hours:M-R: 11am to 12 noon,
email: srimal@fiu.edu, website: http://www.fiu.edu/~srimal/oceanpage.htm
Text Book: Essentials of Oceanography (10th Ed)  by Harold V. Thurman and Alan P. Trujillo. Prentice Hall. ISBN: 032166812-X
Exam Policy: Final 50%. Two midterms 25% each. No make-up exams will be given.

Course Description: This course deals mainly with the three of the four branches of Oceanography, namely
1. Geological Oceanography where we will discuss the study of the structures of the ocean floor and the creation, evolution and ultimate disappearance of sea floors. We will also study the origin and properties of different type of sediments deposited on the ocean floor.
2. Chemical Oceanography : we will discuss the chemical composition and unique properties of sea water
3. Physical Oceanography: we will study the formation of tides, waves and ocean currents, the ocean-atmospheric relationship that influences weather and climate as also the physical properties of sea water and how the modern technology studies the oceans.
We will also study how the humans are affecting our  oceanic environment.

Course Outcome:This course will give you a broad but well rounded knowledge of the earth’s oceans and introduce you to the scientific principles underlying the oceanic phenomenon which in turn will help you understand how the oceans ‘work’.

Date

Topic

Reading

Aug 23

Introduction

 

Aug 25

Origin of Solar System, Earth and the oceans

Introduction, Ch 1

Aug 30

Last day to drop course without damage

Aug 30

The Origins of Oceanography and modern ocean exploration

Chapter 1

Sep 1

Plate Tectonics

 Chapter 2

Sep 6

Plate Tectonics

Chapter 2

Sep 8

The Ocean Basins: Physical Features

Chapter 3 and Appendix 2

Sep 13

Sea water: Origin and Chemical Properties

Chapter 5

Sep 15

Sea water : Physical Properties

 Chapter 5

Sep 17

Last day to withdraw from the University with a 25% refund of tuition.

Sep 20

Marine Sediments

 Chapter 4

Sep 22

Marine Sediments

Chapter 4

Sep 27

Overflow and Review

Sep 29

Midterm1 (Chapters 1- 5)

 

Oct 4

Atmosphere, Greenhouse Effect, Global Warming,

Chapter 6

Oct 6

Ozone Hole, Ocean and Climate: El Nino

Chapter 6

Oct 11

Currents: Surface circulation

Chapter 7

Oct 13

Currents: Deep water circulation

Chapter 7

Oct 15

Deadline to drop a course with a DR grade.
Deadline to withdraw from the University with a WI grade.

Oct 18

Waves

Chapter 8

Oct 20

Review

 

Oct 25

Midterm 2 (Chapters 6, 7, 8)

Oct 27

Tides

Chapter 9

Nov 1

Tides

Chapter 9

Nov 3

Coast: Beaches

 Chapter 10

Nov-11

Veteran’s day Holiday: No class

Nov 8

Coastal Oceans

Chapter 11

Nov 10

Marine Habitat

Chapter 12

Nov 15

Marine Habitat, Ocean and Environments

Nov 17

Ocean and Environments

Nov 22

Nov 29, Dec 1

Marine Habitat, Ocean and Environment

 

Dec 6

Final Exam (cumulative)12 noon to 1:30 p.m.

 

 

Attendance: Attendance is worth 10% of the class grade. I will take attendance on five random days. Each of those will count for 2 points.

 

Religious Holidays: Please check the exam days and make sure those days do not clash with your religious holidays. You must discuss any alternate arrangements during the first week of the class. It will not be possible to make alternate arrangements afterwards.

 

Exam Policy: There will be two midterms (30% each) and a two part cumulative final exam(30% each)—no, they don’t add upto 120% -- read below:

 

Part I of the final exam will include materials covered during the first and second midterm. Part II of the final exam will cover materials covered subsequent to the second midterm . The worst grade among the first two midterms and part I of the final will automatically be dropped. Part I of the final is optional, Part II is mandatory. In addition I might set some quizzes or homework assignments for extra credit.

 

No makeup exam will be given. If you miss an exam, I’ll assume you received zero in that exam and will drop that grade. If you miss more than one exam, you get a failing grade in this course. If you miss Part II of the final exam you get a failing grade for this course.

 

Electronic Devices in the Classroom:

Please turn off all cellular telephones and pagers during class time – this includes text messaging. If your work situation requires that you be on call, please notify the instructor prior to class. Text messaging is not permitted in this class.

You are only permitted to use a laptop during class to take notes, or to access resources related to the course such as the powerpoints, web links, Google Earth, or the etext.. Laptops may not be used during class time to answer email, browse the web, listen to music, or any other activity not related to class. If you are using your laptop for one of these unauthorized activities, I may simply note who you are and contact you after class rather than interrupting the class to notify you. If you are disrupting other students you will be asked to leave the lecture hall.

 

 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND POLICIES

            • On-time attendance is required. Attendance will be taken on random days at the start of the period, and you must attend the full period to receive credit. Unannounced short quizzes may be used to check attendance, as well as homework assignments.

 

            • Reading of the assigned chapters from the textbook and additional readings prior to class is expected. Come to class with your assigned reading completed and prepared to take notes, ask questions, and participate in class discussions.

 

            • All electronic devices must be turned off during class. Failure to comply with this rule, may result in the student being excused from class.

 

            • There will be no make- up exams and assignments unless exceptional conditions apply as defined in the Student Handbook, which require written evidence.

 

            • If absent from class, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed and obtain notes from your classmates. Being absent does not excuse you from anything that was discussed or due during class.

 

            • Late assignments will not be accepted, except under approved emergency circumstances as defined in the Student Handbook.

 

            • Any impropriety (e.g., cheating, plagiarism) on exams, quizzes, or written project will constitute grounds for failing the course.

 

Please also look at the following web pages for the FIU policies on important topics. The same will be adhered to in this class:

 

·         the University's Code of Academic Integrity (http://academic.fiu.edu/AcademicBudget/misconductweb/1acmisconductproc.htm )

 

·         University policies on academic misconduct (http://academic.fiu.edu/AcademicBudget/misconductweb/1acmisconductproc.htm) 

 

Florida International University is a community dedicated to generating and imparting knowledge through excellent teaching and research, the rigorous and respectful exchange of ideas, and community service. All students should respect the right of others to have an equitable opportunity to learn and honestly to demonstrate the quality of their learning. Therefore, all students are expected to adhere to a standard of academic conduct, which demonstrates respect for themselves, their fellow students, and the educational mission of the University. All students are deemed by the University to understand that if they are found responsible for academic misconduct, they will be subject to the Academic Misconduct procedures and sanctions, as outlined in the Student Handbook.

 

 

We are still adjusting to the MWF format. We still have to see how much of our lectures fit in a 50 minute class. Therefore, please consider this syllabus as tentative,  we might adjust as we go along.