Five College Consortium

The oceans cover about 71% of Earth's surface and yet the ocean basins are vast regions still shrouded in mystery, where new discoveries are being made every year. In this course, you will be provided with a basic knowledge of how the global ocean works, how it impacts and controls the habitability of our planet, and how vital it is to our very existence. Major topics that will be explored include: 1) the hydrosphere, atmosphere and global climate, 2) ocean circulation, 3) the marine biosphere, and 4) coastal habitats, natural hazards, and human impacts. Through hands-on classroom activities, the notion of scientific thinking and analysis will be investigated. We will discuss how researchers collect data, form ideas, and then test those ideas. A goal of this course is to understand the scientific theories that help us understand Earth processes and history while gaining a holistic view of our integrated geosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and cryosphere. In addition to a broad introduction to the science of oceanography, and the scientific principles upon which it is based, a main focus of this course is on the importance of the ocean in our daily lives.