SIO 119: Physics and Chemistry of the Ocean

SCHEDULE

Week 1

  • January 9:  Introduction. Chemistry, physics, and biology in the ocean. Properties of sea water (Gille and Andersson)
  • January 11:  Density of sea water. Heat input to the Earth and the greenhouse effect. Steric warming. Sea level rise. (Gille)
  • January 13:  The Earth's energy budget, albedo, atmospheric circulation. Air-sea exchange: heat transfer across the air-sea interface. (Gille - hw assigned)

Week 2

  • January 16:  Holiday
  • January 18:  Origins. How to build an ocean. (Andersson)
  • January 20:  Origins. How to build an ocean. (Andersson - hw assigned)

Week 3

  • January 23:  Currents (Gille)
  • January 25:  Tides (Gille - hw assigned)
  • January 27:  Carbon cycle (Andersson)

Week 4

  • January 30:  Carbon cycle (Andersson)
  • February 1:  Carbon cycle (Andersson - hw assigned)
  • February 3:  Review session for midterm (Gille, Andersson)

Week 5

  • February 6:  Midterm #1 (in class)
  • February 8:  Developing hypotheses: What do we expect to find in tide pools? (Gille/Andersson) (Andersson - hw assigned)
  • February 10:  Field trip to La Jolla Shores tide pools (Andersson/Gille)

Week 6

  • February 13:  Analysis: Science from the tide pools (Andersson)
  • February 15:  Analysis: Science from the tide pools (Gille)
  • February 17:  Changing ocean circulation in a changing climate (Gille)

Week 7

  • February 20:  Holiday
  • February 22:  Coastal upwelling and the California Current (Gille)
  • February 24:  Upwelling and California Current processes (Andersson).

Week 8

  • February 27:  High-Nutrient Low Chlorophyll systems (Gille).
  • March 1:  High-Nutrient Low Chlorophyll systems (Gille). Acidification (Andersson).
  • March 3:  High-Nutrient Low Chlorophyll systems (Gille - hw assigned).

Week 9

  • March 6:  Coral reefs (Andersson).
  • March 8:  Biological pump, macronutrients, acidification (Andersson).
  • March 10:  Chemistry in the tropics and coral (Andersson - hw assigned).

Week 10

  • March 13:  How to coordinate a group presentation (Gille/Andersson).Group presentations (Gille/Andersson).
  • reefs (Andersson).
  • March 15:  Review session, final summary (Gille/Andersson).
  • March 17:  Midterm #2 (in class).

Final Exam

  • March 20:  3-6 pm, location TBD, group presentations.