SIO 119: Physics and Chemistry of the Ocean

SIO 119
Basic physical and chemical processes that influence the biology of the oceans such as ocean circulation, ocean acidification, carbonate chemistry, trace metal chemistry

  • ANNOUNCEMENTS
    Check Ted for details on reading and homework assignments. Course notes and potentially copyright-protected material will be posted to Ted.

  • WEEK 8
    Check ted for links to reading on high-nutrient low chlorophyll systems and for problem \#3, due in class Friday, March 1.

  • WEEK 3
    To prepare for class, read the first 3 sections of Ocean Circulation Ch. 3 and answer question 3.4 for Wednesday. In addition, please take a look at the recent journal article by Stephens et al (Nature Geosciences, 2012, "An update on Earth's energy balance in light of the latest global observations"). (A pdf version of the article is posted in the Week 3 folder.) Especially if you haven't been assigned journal articles to read previously, this could seem like a jargon-filled impenetrable mess. It's OK to react that way. But be sure to take a close enough look to see what does make sense to you, look at the figures, and think about how they compare with the more general (and slightly older) numbers we discussed in class. Problem #1 (due Friday) will ask you to look at this further.

  • WEEK 3
    To prepare for class, read the first 3 sections of Ocean Circulation Ch. 3 and answer question 3.4 for Wednesday. In addition, please take a look at the recent journal article by Stephens et al (Nature Geosciences, 2012, "An update on Earth's energy balance in light of the latest global observations"). (A pdf version of the article is posted in the Week 3 folder.) Especially if you haven't been assigned journal articles to read previously, this could seem like a jargon-filled impenetrable mess. It's OK to react that way. But be sure to take a close enough look to see what does make sense to you, look at the figures, and think about how they compare with the more general (and slightly older) numbers we discussed in class. Problem #1 (due Friday) will ask you to look at this further.

    For Friday, January 25 complete Problem 1.

  • CHANGE IN DISCUSSION LOCATION
    Discussion section for this class will be held on Mondays from 3-3:50. Discussion is optional and it will be informal, intended to reinforce ideas discussed in class. The classroom has been moved from Center Hall to HSS 2152.

  • WEEK 2
    To prepare for class, read Ch. 1 and Ch. 2 of Ocean Circulation. For Monday, take a close look at Figure 1.4(a) and then briefly answer question 1.2. For Wednesday, write out a brief answer to question 2.2.

  • WEEK 1
    To prepare for class, read Ch. 1 of Libes and handout (pp. 15-29). Textbook readings are available here.