Untitled Document If you complete this course and do well, you will be able to:
- Trace in a general way the history of the oceans.
- Diagram the interior and surface relief patterns of the earth.
- Explain the mechanism of movement of the earth's crustal plates and relate the occurrence of ocean basin features (volcanic mountains, faults, trenches, etc.) to tectonic processes.
- Describe the operation of oceanic sampling devices.
- Explain the patterns of sedimentation on the ocean floor and at shorelines, relating them to dispersal by waves and currents.
- Describe the patterns and causes of tides and currents.
- Measure the physical and chemical properties of sea water and discuss how they vary with depth, geography, time, and environmental conditions.
- List the major elements and gasses in sea water and discuss their distribution, major chemical reactions, and cycling in the oceans.
- Discuss the biochemical and geological evidence for the origin of life in the oceans and generally trace the evolutionary history of life to the present time.
- Diagram the classification of main environments, labeling the major depth and water zones.
- Demonstrate techniques for sampling and processing marine organisms.
- Identify the major groups (kingdoms, phyla, classes) of marine organisms.
- Discuss the interactions among producers, consumers, and decomposers in the marine realm and tell how external environmental factors influence this system.
- Converse or write intelligently about food and mineral resources of the ocean, pollution problems, fisheries rights, coastal development power from the sea, and desalination.
- Interpret the record of biogeochemical changes in ancient oceans, i.e. paleoceanography.
- Identify the pros and cons of the various types of coastal engineering techniques.