Oceanography

Catalog description

This course is an introduction to the physical, chemical, biological, and geological processes and interactions in the oceans. Topics include history of oceanography, charts and navigation, the physical and chemical properties of seawater, instrumentation and at-sea measurements, marine geology, beach processes, theory of continental drift, air-sea interactions, waves and ocean circulation, tides, plant and animal life in the seas, and marine ecology. This course is periodically offered at the Marine Science field station at Wallops Island, Va., only during a summer session. Since this course also is offered for graduate credit, a differentiation of requirements will be made.