Syllabus for SMS 303, 2007, Integrative Marine Sciences III

Instructor: Emmanuel Boss

Abstract:

This course focuses on using physical principles, concepts and approaches to explain observed phenomena in aquatic sciences.  The course emphasizes hands-on activities; half the time in the class will be devoted to laboratory sessions. Due to the emphasis on laboratory work the lab portion of this class is limited to 20 students.  The course is intended for 3rd/4th year students in SMS and has no prerequisites.  The class will meet for 2 ® 2.5 hours every week; the first period is a lecture/discussion, the second period is a lab.

Expectations:

Grading in the class will be based on participation (25%), weekly assignments (70%) and pre-class quizzes (5%). Extra credit (15%): students electing to write a term paper (5 pages maximum), whose topic they discussed and agreed with the instructor. Given that this class is a 2 credits class I expect students to spend 2-4hrs a week working outside of class. If you find yourself working more than 4hrs a week for class please come see me.

Description:

A five week module concentrated on concepts from physical oceanography (waves, tides, diffusion, mixing and how fluids behave on a rotating planet). Two other modules in SMS 303 are offered by M. Wells and by F. Chai.

Note: New material will be added as we go.

Week

Class

Lab

Homework

I
Oct 11

Introductions-goals, expectations.

Lecture:  Rotation effects (Coriolis) [PDF].

reference: material:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coriolis_effect

Lab: Rotation and coriolis [PDF]

Quiz [PDF]

Pictures for lab [PDF]

Homework [PDF]

II
Oct 18

Lecture: Waves [PDF].

Pre-class Reading material:  Waves [PDF]

 Lab:
Surface gravity waves, internal waves, and waves on sloping beaches [PDF].

Quiz [PDF]

 Homework [PDF]

III
Oct 25

Lecture:  Tides.

 

Pre-class Reading material:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tide

 In class exercise with computers of tides in the Gulf of Maine..

 

IV
Nov 1

Lecture:  Diffusion.

Lab: Analogues of diffusion.

Published manuscript based on this lab with SMS students [PDF]

V

Nov 8

 Lecture:  Mixing  in fluids. Lab: Mixing.  

Following every class we do a quiz competition between groups. This does not affect the student's grade but provide a feedback to me regarding how well the concepts have been understood. The winning group will be invited to the Bear Brew Pub for Pizza.

Quiz results:        Quiz 1       Quiz 3      Quiz 4   Quiz 5    Total

Ice Cream Stand     38

Super squids II        36

Just win                   40

SPD                        40

Team awesome       40

Green team             38

© Boss, 2007
This page was last edited on 10/17/2007