Natural Sciences

Physical Oceanography
27-335-01
3 Credit Hour, Spring 2020
Instructor: Arghya Goswami Email: goswami@nwmissouri.edu
th st
Office: GS 1325/GS1320 Office hours: (15 January 2020 to May 1 2020) Mon/Wed/Fri (10-11AM) and
Tue (10AM-2PM)
Phone: 660-562-1719 (office) / 817-709-4881 (text only)
Textbook and supplementary materials: Segar, D.A., 2007, Introduction to Ocean Sciences: 2nd Edition, W.W. Norton
& Co., 581 p., plus Critical Concepts guide, Appendicies- I/II/III, glossary, and index (pickup from bookstore).
Segar, D.A., 2018, Introduction to Ocean Science, 4th Edition (ISBN: 978-0-9857859-1-8) available at this link
(https://www.reefimages.com/oceansci.php). Feel free to download the PDF copy of the book from this website.
Other supplementary readings (especially for the lab like activities) to be supplied by the instructor. There are no
book required necessary materials will be provided.
For this class, you are expected to use your Textbook, notebook, university provided computer, a calculator (cell
phone is not a calculator), ruler (12 inch, steel with inch and centimeter readings), pencils and good eraser (must, I will not
accept work with pens, erasable or not), color pencils (10 distinct colors), drawing compass, triangles and protractor
(preferably clear and 360°).
Course description: A study of the oceans including the physical properties of the oceans and marine geology. Prerequisite:
Completion of general education science requirement. (Spring, even years)

Student Learning Outcomes Assessment Methods

 Lecture class assignments

2-NS-05-B: Assimilate, retain and
interpret information about geological  Quizzes
processes and resulting structures
 Comprehensive Final Exam

 Lecture class assignments

3-NS-05-: Synthesize base knowledge
 Quizzes
of Earth's materials to solve problems
 Comprehensive Final Exam

Instructional methods: In the lecture part of the course, lectures, textbook readings, take-home exercises/exams, and in-
class discussions will acquaint students with the basic topics of structural geology and help them understand and appreciate
this branch of the geology. Assignments are strictly to be done independently. Slides, overheads, and videos will supplement
the standard lecture. In the lab, students will work together in small groups and/or independently on assigned in-class and
take-home lab exercises. Because many of the problems you do will be done in class, truthful attendance is critical. Because
many of the problems you do will be done in class, truthful attendance is critical.
Graded Course Requirements
Grade will be based on combined performance in for of #classEach
assignments,
Total % quizzes, A 100.00 % - 90.00 %
and comprehensive final exam. Details are as follows: labs 7 100.00 700 70.00 B 89.99 % - 80.00 %
 Class assignments (of the given assignments highest
exams 90%2 will
150.00 300 30.00
be counted in)*: 45% C 79.99 % - 70.00 %
of the grade Total 1000 D 69.99 % - 60.00 %
 Quizzes (of the given assignments highest 90% will be counted in)*: 45% of the F 0.00 ≤ 59.99 %
grade
 Comprehensive Final Exam: 10% of the grade (Wednesday: 5/6/2020, 7:30 AM - 9:30 AM)
 Your grade will be based on these combined points. You will have the opportunity to upgrade your assignment/lab
scores, by submitting a fresh corrected version fixing the mistakes, provided you submitted the assignment first time
before it was due. The grading scale shown here will be used to determine final grades:
* You have to complete and submit every assignment and quizzes to get this 10% drop of lowest grades. No
submission is not a grade so they will not be part of the dropped 10% of assignments/quizzes. It will show up as no
work done and numerically be reflected as ZERO, which cannot be dropped.
Course outline/major topics studied
The basic question we need to think is why do we need to know the oceans?
 71% of the earth is covered by oceans, the ocean transports heat from the equator to the poles, regulating our climate
and weather patterns.
 The ocean holds an estimated 80% of the earth’s mineral resources.
 The ocean carries 90% of the global trade (76% Percent of all U.S. trade).
 The oceans provide 96% of the earth’s living space and sustains 80% of the living organisms.
 99% of the biosphere is classified as part of the ocean.
 Ocean plants produce half of the oxygen we breathe in and stores 50 times more carbon dioxide than our atmosphere.
 Source of unlimited energy (Offshore Wind Energy, Ocean Wave, Tide and Current Energy (Hydrokinetic),
Offshore Solar and lastly alternative Oil and Gas (non-renewable))
 The ocean provides 60% of dietary protein in the tropical and developing countries.
 The ocean provides much more than just seafood. Ingredients from the sea are found in surprising foods such as
peanut butter and soymilk.
 Many medicinal products come from the ocean, including ingredients that help ght cancer, arthritis, Alzheimer's
disease, and heart disease.
 Marine fisheries support more than 170 million of direct jobs.
 Marine and costal tourism, aquaculture and other use of marine environments (excluding fisheries) provide
livelihoods for Millions of people.
 Protects coastal communities from the impacts of climatic events/changes.
 Natural marine filtration and ocean pollution.
 Around 90% of the energy from warming of the earth systems has been stored in the ocean over recent decades.
 Warm oceans temperatures are the driving force behind tropical cyclones and monsoons.
 Mean sea surface temperatures have risen by about 0.7 ℃ over the past 100 years, and are likely to increase by over
3 ℃ in some ocean regions by the end of this century.
 60% of the world’s major marine ecosystems that sustain the world’s populations have been significantly degraded
or are unsustainably used.
 Under the “business-as-usual” scenario, by 2100, emissions could result in the oceans becoming up to 2x more
acidic (compared to pre-industrial levels) leading to the further loss of marine ecosystems.
You should refer to the last page of this syllabus for more detailed information about individual topics to be covered. Ovrall,
this course is an introduction to physical oceanography. It is important to understand how oceans operate and interact with
other systems. Oceanography is an interdisciplinary science that in part encompasses geology, physics, geography, biology,
ecology, chemistry, and astronomy.
Note: Course schedule is subject to change with instructor notification and students will be responsible for abiding by these changes.
Attendance: Students are expected to attend all classes as specified in the course syllabi for each course. Your physical and
mental attendance, motivation, and participation are integral to your success in this course. Regular attendance is by far the
easiest way to achieve a good grade. For fifteen weeks, this course meets thrice a week. In total, we will have 43 meetings where
attendance will be taken. You can miss 20% of class, i.e., 9 (8.6 to be exact) classes with no penalty. Upon your 10th absence,
you will fail the course, regardless of the reasons for your absences. It is the responsibility of the student to promptly notify
his or her instructor when unable to attend class. Please refer to the university policy on attendance at
https://www.nwmissouri.edu/policies/academics/Attendance.pdf
Classroom Etiquette: During the class, students are not to use university provided computers for anything other than work related
directly to this class (e.g. no surfing, playing games, checking email, or working on a paper for another class etc.). I encourage
you to use your university provided computer to take notes if you find that better than pencil and paper. Please turn off cell phones
during class. Cell phones are not calculators and must be turned off during class. Texting during class will not be tolerated.
Cell phones, PDAs, digital cameras, and other personal electronic devices must be put away during regular class and exams.
(Translation dictionaries are permitted by inspection of the instructor). Any student in violation of this statement will receive a
“0" for the exam/assignment/exercise. Multiple violations will result in failure of the course. If there is an urgent reason to keep
your cell phone on, let me know and keep it in vibrate/silent mode. When you get the call, walk out and comeback upon finish.
This is again for urgent calls only with prior authorization from the instructor.
It is expected that readings should be done prior to the class time they are listed. Keep up with the required readings!
Although the format of the lectures and the readings do not always match, the readings are important as well. Some of the material
to be tested is covered in more detail in the readings than in class. Many of the information presented in the class may or may
not be available in the textbook. Hence, it is essential that students attend all lectures and take their own notes. If you cannot
make a certain lecture, try and find another student who might lend your their notes. (In fact, establishing a study group early in
the course has proven useful for many students in the past).
Missed or Late Assignments: Lab assignments are typically due before the following lab class and must be turned in.
Assignments will be accepted after the due date and time with a 20% penalty for each day being late (unless you have been
hospitalized). So after five days after the due date it will be worth zero. If you are part of a college sponsored event that requires
travel that will result in your missing an assignment due date, you must make arrangements prior to departing on the trip. I will
not allow make-up work if you fail to apprise me of your travel situation in advance!!
Missed Exams: You will not be allowed to make-up exams except for documented emergencies or other University approved
absences. To be eligible to take a makeup exam, you must notify me within 24 hours of the missed exam. You must also provide
a doctor’s note or other documentation for your absence. The format of the makeup exam is solely at the discretion of the
instructor. It is your responsibility to schedule a make-up exam within one week of the missed exam. If you are part of a college
sponsored event that requires travel that will result in your missing an exam, you must make arrangements prior to departing on
the trip. I will not allow make-up work if you fail to apprise me of your travel situation in advance!! Moreover, in all instances of
absences, students shall be responsible for all material covered in class during their absence. Students are responsible for
completing any makeup work resulting from their absence. In no case it is an excuse from class to be interpreted as a release from
class responsibility.
Technology Use: In the class we will be using a lot of technologies. You are expected to be familiar with them. You must bring
your university provided computer and textbook every day. Along with MSOffice (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) we will
also use the NWOnline (CANVAS, a learning management system used across the campus). CANVAS has cellphone
applications available and widely used by the students. Also, in CANVAS, you can set your notifications so that you can get
reminders (very useful). Time to time, professors will be using many other software integrated or not with CANVAS for their
individual requirement. For example, TURNITIN, a software that helps teachers to identify original writing. You are expected to
get acquainted with them as needed. Moreover, exercises will be done using other scientific software like RockWare and EdGCM.
Administrative drop: An instructor may request the Office of the Registrar delete a student from a course roster if the
student has not met the prerequisite for the course as stated in the catalog, or as a result of non-attendance in the course.
University communications: Students are expected to use their Northwest student email account for any electronic
correspondence within the university. Students are also strongly advised to check their email and CatPAWS accounts on a
daily basis.
Academic integrity policy: The students, faculty, and staff at Northwest endeavor to sustain an environment that values
honesty in academic work, that acknowledges the authorized aid provided by and intellectual contributions of others, and
that enables equitable student evaluation. Please refer to Northwest
Missouri State University’s Academic Integrity Policy at: https://www.nwmissouri.edu/policies/academics/Academic-
Integrity.pdf
Special accommodations policy: Northwest Missouri State University complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 [ADA] and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 [ADAAA]. If a
student has a disability that qualifies under the ADA/ADAAA and requires accommodations, they should contact the Office
for Equity and Accessibility for information on appropriate policies and procedures at 660.562.1639, or
pjp@nwmissouri.edu / ADA@nwmissouri.edu. For the university policy on disability accommodation refer to
http://www.nwmissouri.edu/policies/student/Disability-Accommodation.pdf
Non-discrimination and anti-harassment policy: Northwest Missouri State University is committed to maintaining an
environment for all faculty, staff, students, and third parties that is free of illegal discrimination and harassment. Please refer
to the Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy at http://www.nwmissouri.edu/diversity/titlevi.htm
Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) policy: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as
amended (commonly known as the Buckley Amendment), is a federal law which provides that colleges and universities will
maintain the confidentiality of student education records. Please refer to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
(FERPA) Policy at http://www.nwmissouri.edu/policies/academics/Family-Educational-Rights-and-Privacy-Act.pdf
List of Topics to be discussed
1. Importance of the Ocean
2. Ocean Timeline/History
3. Oceans in the earth Systems/ Introduction to Planet Earth
4. Ocean Provinces, Basins, Floors and the Plate Tectonics
5. Water and Sea/Ocean Water
6. Marine Sediments
7. Air/Atmosphere Sea/Ocean Interaction
8. Ocean Circulation/Currents, Ocean Waves and Water Dynamics
9. The Dynamic Coast: Beaches and Shoreline Processes
10. Tides
11. Ocean Resources, Impacts and Use
12. The Oceans, Atmosphere and Climate Variability/Change
13. Marine Pollution
14. Future of Ocean Science, Ocean Problems and Policies, Ocean Stewardship
15. Biological Productivity and Energy Transfer
16. Marine Life, Ecosystem and Environment/Ecology
17. Animals of the Pelagic and Benthic Environment