| Module Identifier | EA21510 | ||
| Module Title | OCEANOGRAPHY AND MARINE GEOLOGY | ||
| Academic Year | 2000/2001 | ||
| Co-ordinator | Dr Robert Whittington | ||
| Semester | Semester 1 | ||
| Other staff | Dr Alex Maltman | ||
| Course delivery | Lecture | 33 Hours Up to 11 x 3 hours | |
| Practicals / Field Days | Practical time included in the above 33 hours | ||
| Assessment | Exam | 2 Hours Resit: same format with marks from practical exercise carried forward. 2 hour theory examination | 75% |
| Course work | Resit: same format with marks from practical exercise carried forward. ODP component assessed wholly from two practical/ homework exercises, due after one week and peer marked in class: 12.5% each exercise. Course work: work set in week 7, due in week 8; work set in week 8, due in week 9. | 25% | |
Module Outline (Lecture Themes)
An introduction to Oceanography. The methods and techniques used in marine geological investigations and the processes and products of marine sedimentation.
Topics to be addressed:
An introduction to Oceanography
Overview of oceanography. Open University Video
Techniques in Marine Geology
Marine Navigation; shore based radio positioning systems; GPS. Research Vessels
Seabed and subseabed sampling; dredge and core sampling; divers; ROVs; submersibles; boreholes.
Satellite bathymetry. Single beam echo sounding. Swath bathymetry
Side Scan Sonar; basic physics of method; distortions; shelf surveying; GLORIA and TOBI surveying of the deep ocean.
Seismic refraction and reflection; basic physics of methods; sonobouys and ocean bottom seismometers; analogue single channel reflection profiles; multi-channel digital reflection profiles.
The Ocean Drilling Programme (ODP)
Marine and laboratory techniques; range of the project; case studies on convergent plate margins.
Marine sedimentary processes and products
Continental shelf sediments. Lecture and practical course dealing with the recent unconsolidated sediments of the continental shelf around the British Isles.
Continental slope and rise sediments. Lecture and practical course dealing, in particular, with Cenozoic sediments along the margin to the west of the British Isles.
Biological Materials and Processes in the Oceans: Lectures dealing with biological effects on the formation of oceanic sediments.
Video linked into separate lecture courses and/or lecture/practical courses above.
Waves Open University Video
Currents Open University Video
Oceans and Climate Open University Video
Global Sea Level Open University Video
The Ocean Floor Open University Video
Rockall Open University Video
Jamaica and the Sea Open University Video
Polar Science Open University and other videos
Marine Minerals Other videos
Deep Marine Life Other videos
Module Aims
To introduce students to the basics of Oceanography and modern techniques and results in Marine Geology.
Module objectives / Learning outcomes
The scope and range of Oceanography. The variety of methods and techniques used in the investigation of the marine geological environment. The processes and products of marine sedimentation from continental shelves to the deep oceans including biological and bacterial influences. Skill: The ability to recognise modern marine sediments in hand specimen and in thin section.
Reading Lists
Books
Waves, Tides and Shallow Water processes.. Open University.
The Ocean Basins: Their Structure and Evolution.. Open University.
Summerhayes, G.P. and Thorpe, S.A. (eds).
Oceanography : An illustrated guide.. Manson Publishing.