GEOL 6/80095 ST:
Seminar in Marine Sedimentary Processes
Instructor: Dr. Joseph D. Ortiz
Office: McGilvrey 334/336C
Phone: 330-672-2225
Email: jortiz@kent.edu
Mailbox: Dept. of Geology Main Office (McGilvrey 221)
Class meeting: WF 9:15 – 10:30 am, Room 339 McGilvrey Hall (unless otherwise noted)
Office Hours: T: 1:00-3:00 pm; W: 10:30-12:00 am; F: 1:00-3:00 pm; or by appointment
Course Rationale and Objectives: The sea is the
ultimate repository for material eroded from the
continents, plays a critical role in climate change and is
integral to the cycling of energy and matter in the Earth
System. This special themes course will explore some of
the mechanisms (physical, chemical, and biological)
thorough, which the ocean operates, and how it influences
climate on seasonal, inter-annual, and where applicable,
glacial-interglacial times scales. Emphasis will be placed
on understanding the relative importance of these
processes and how they have varied through time, and the
potential outcomes of human induced changes to these
processes.Learning outcomes for “Special Themes” courses
in Geology: Demonstrate knowledge and an understanding of
major concepts and/or theoretical principles in the topic
area. Communicate effectively in a variety of formats as
appropriate to the topic. Engage in critical discussions
about the topic. Use the concepts, language, and major
theories of the discipline.
Topics to be covered:
• Ocean basins, sediment distribution
and transport
• Properties of sea water
• The wind driven circulation
• Distribution of water masses
• The thermohaline circulation
• Global biogeochemical cycles and
nutrient distributions
• Regional Oceanography with emphasis on
Arctic Oceanography
• Oceans and climate: Implications for
various timescales
Text and additional resources:
• “Descriptive Physical Oceanography, An
Introduction”, 6th Edition, 2011
By Lynne D. Talley, George L. Picard, William, J. Emery,
and James H. Swift
Elsevier, Academic Press, Amsterdam, ISBN
978-0-7506-4552-2
• Publisher’s Online Supplement for
Descriptive Physical Oceanography:
There are many resources available to
assist you as you explore Marine Processes in this course.
These include Supplementary chapters
and Figures, and access to Java Ocean Atlas exercises.
You can access the text website from
the following URL: http://booksite.academicpress.com/DPO/index.php
• Note: Additional handouts and
resources may be provided during the course of the term.
Prerequisites and Suggested Courses: There are no
prerequisites for the course, but students are expected to
be familiar with calculus, inorganic chemistry, and earth
system science. This class will serve as excellent
preparation for GEOL 4/54074: Paleoceanography.
Course web site: http://www.personal.kent.edu/~jortiz/marineprocesses/
Note that as with all internet resources, access to or
availability of the web site cannot be guaranteed. Please
use the resources available on the web site in advance of
exams.
Office Hours and Consultation with the Instructor: I want
you to do well in the class! I welcome questions from all
students either in person, by email, or by phone. Whether
you are doing well in the course, are on academic
probation, or think that you may find the course
challenging, attending office hours can help make the
course a more enriching experience. As instructed by
university policy, when sending electronic messages please
use your university email account and include your first
and last name on any electronic correspondence.
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Class Syllabus
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