Syllabus

physics

Syllabus for PHY475/575
DeLoach Hall 213
TR 08:00 - 09:15 am

 

Principles of Physical Oceanography

 

Ever wonder why there is a Gulf Stream? Come on and find out!

A.      Professor:            John M. Morrison                           

Office:                  DeLoach Hall 201 / Myrtle Grove 2331                           

Office Hours:       DeLoach Hall 201: Tuesday, 0930 - 1030

                                             Myrtle Grove:  Monday through Friday, 1100 - 1200

Phone:                  910-962-2333

Email:                  morrisonj@uncw.edu

B.      Course Prerequisites or Restrictive Statements:

 

          Prerequisite:  PHY102 and MAT152 

          Restrictive Statements: Credit is not allowed for both PHY475 and MEA 575

C.      General Education Requirement:

         

          Not Applicable

D.      Student Learning Outcome:

 

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

E.      Textbooks:

 
    The textbooks provide a guide and easily readable background for the material to
    be presented.  In general, the course will go into considerably more depth on a number of specific topics.

F.      Course Organization and Scope:

 

            Topics to be covered:


Book: "Seawater: Its composition, properties and behavior"

 

1.  Introduction 

 

2.  Water:  

           

        Associative and dissociative properties of water;

The hydrological cycle.

 

3.  Temperature:  

           

        Solar radiation and oceanic heat budget;

Distribution of temperature at the ocean surface and at depth.

 

4.  Salinity:

           

        Definition of salinity;

Constancy of composition;

Measurement of salinity;           

Salinity distributions.

 

5.  Density and Pressure in the Ocean:  

 

        Depth (pressure), density and temperature;

Water masses;

T-S Diagrams;

Stability and mixing processes in the ocean;

Equation of state of seawater.

 

6.  Light and Sound in Seawater:  

 

        Underwater light;

Color in the sea;

Scattering, absorption, reflection and diffraction of light and sound in the ocean.


Book:  "Ocean Circulation"

 

7.  The Atmosphere and Ocean:  

 

        Global wind system;

Global heat balance;

Ocean-atmosphere interaction

 

8.  Ocean Currents:  

 

        Derivation of the equation of motion for fluid flow on a rotating earth;

Winds effects (Ekman Solution);

Effects of rotating earth (Inertial Solution, Geostrophic Solution);

Divergences and convergences.
        Scales of Energy in the Ocean

 

9.  North Atlantic Gyre:  

 

        The Gulf Stream
        The Sybtropica Gyres
        Modern observations and theories of the North Atlantic Gyre.

 

10.  Other Major Current Systems:  

 

Equatorial current systems;

Monsoonal circulation;
        Role of Long Waves in Ocean Circulation:
                Kelvin waves;

        Rossby waves;

        Oceanic wave guides;
        El Nino - Southern Ocsillation;

High latitude current systems.

 

11.  Global Fluxes and Deep Circulation:

 

        Oceanic Heat Budget;
        Conservation of salt;
        Ocean Water Masses;

Oceanic mixing and temperature-salinity diagrams;

Non-Conservative and Artificial Tracers;
        Global Fluxes of Heat and Freshwater.
Time Permitting:

Book:  "Waves, Tides and Shallow-Water Processes"

            12. Waves

                What are Waves?
                Wave-Forms
                Wave-Dispersion and Group Speed
                Wave Energy

      13.  Tides

                Tide-Producing Forces - The Earth-Moon System
                Tide-Producing Forces - The Earth-Sun System
                Dynamic Theory of Tides
                Types of Tides
          


G.      Projected schedule of reading assignments:

 

In order to keep up with the material to be presented it is necessary to the student to read along in the required texts.  The textbooks will help the student to put the lectures into a broader perspective by providing a guide and easily readable background for the material to be presented.  In general, the course will go into considerably more depth on a number of specific topics.


H.      Projected schedule of homework due dates, quizzes and tests:



I.       Grading:                                                                                  Points

 

       (This test will be more comprehensive than the first
        two tests as there is certain subject material that have
        had common threads throughout the course)
         Class Participation 

The following are not required of those enrolled in MEA460, but are required of those who are enrolled in PHY575:

       Data Interpretation 

 
Final Grade Based on Percentage of 400 points for PHY475

Final Grade Based on Percentage of 500 points for PHY575


Final grades will be based on a plus/minus grading scale as follows: A = 93-100; A- = 90-92; B+ = 87-89; B = 83-86; B- = 80-82; C+ = 77-79; C = 73-76; C- = 70-72; D+ = 67-69; D = 63-66; D- = 60-62; and F < 60.

J.       Late Assignments and Incomplete Grades:

 

Extensions for late assignments will be granted individually in consultation with the professor under extenuating circumstances. Incomplete grades will be issued in extenuating circumstances to students who are passing the course.

K.      Absences and Scheduling Makeup Work:

 

Attendance, while not required, is highly recommended as 25% of the grade in PHY475 and 20% of the grade in PHY575 will be determined from the homework assignments and class participation. 

 

Extensions will be granted on homework deadlines for students with excused absences. Partially completed work will be given partial credit. Absences from tests will result in a zero being registered for that test except for the case of illness documented with a note from a doctor or (when presented before the scheduled test) officially sanctioned university activities that conflict directly with the test time. If you miss a test in either manner, it will be the responsibility of the student to make arrangements with the professor for a makeup exam.

L.      Statement on Academic Integrity:

 

University Policy on Academic Integrity:

The instructor of this course is committed to upholding the University policy on academic integrity, described in the Code of Student Conduct, which can be found at: http://www.uncw.edu/policies/04-100-academichonorcode.htm

 

Faculty Expectation:

The instructor of this course is committed to upholding the University policy on academic integrity.

 

M.     Statement for students with disabilities:

 

Students with disabilities are invited to schedule an appointment with the instructor to discusss any needed accomodations.  Reasonable accommodations will be made for students with verifiable disabilities.


In order to take advantage of available accommodations, students must present documentation to Disability Services for Students at Westside Hall, First Floor, Phone: 910-962-7555 - Fax: 910-962-7556 - TDD: 910-962-3853.

http://www.uncw.edu/stuaff/disability/contact.htm


For more information on UNCW's policy on working with students with disabilities, please see


http://www.uncw.edu/stuaff/disability/contact.htm

N.      Statement on laboratory safety or risk assumption:

 

Any laboratory work associated with this course has no special risks that would make it less safe than any other classroom. The Department of Physics and Physical Oceanography is committed to maintaining an environment in which students can safely pursue their required laboratory assignments.

O.      UNCW practices a zero-tolerance policy for violence and harassment of any kind.  For emergencies contact UNCW CARE at 962-2273,              Campus Police at 962-3184, or Wilmington Police at 911.  For University or community resources visit http://uncw.edu/wrc/crisis.htm         

P.       Statement on extra expenses:

 

Beyond the purchase of a textbook there are no significant extra expenses.

 


Q.      Statement on transportation:

 

All class meetings and exams are conducted on campus. Transportation to an off-campus site is not required.