Course Proficiencies for GS 108: Physical Science - Oceanography
--by Bob Reynolds
Assumed prerequisites:
Math:
Perform arithmetic calculations using a calculator and correctly
manipulate and solve 3 variable algebraic equations
Reading and Writing:
Read and understand English language as found in
college level textbooks and spoken by the instructor and write in complete
sentences using correct grammar.
Geography:
Be familiar with basic landforms and know the locations of
major regional and global land marks.
Upon successful completion of this course students will have demonstrated
competence in the following topics as evidenced by a cumulative score of
70% or more on exams, homework and lab exercises:
1. Discuss in detail the processes and events by which water and the
Earth's oceans first formed.
2. Describe the distribution and movement of water within the hydrologic
cycle.
3. Discuss 5 different evidences gathered from the ocean that support the
theory of plate tectonics.
4. Discuss how plate tectonics has affected the Pacific Northwest
5. Describe in detail the makeup of lithospheric plates and the driving
forces of plate movement.
6. Identify the characteristics of a typical oceanic subduction zone
7. Identify the characteristics of a typical mid oceanic ridge or
spreading center
8. Describe the characteristics of a typical volcanic island arc
9. Describe the characteristics of a typical volcanic hot spot chain
10. Explain how and why plates move.
11. Describe in detail the 2 major types of tectonic plates and 3 main
types of plate margins and their associated landforms.
12. Discuss the nature of the hydrologic cycle in terms of reservoirs
types, volumes and transfer rates.
13. On a map of the Pacific northwest identify and label by name the 3
major tectonic plates. and with symbols label 3 different plate margins
(D = diverging, C = converging, T = transform) and any major landforms by
name (volcanic arcs, trenches, ridges, fracture zones). Draw large
arrows on each plate showing the movement direction of each plate
14. Using examples from the Pacific Northwest discuss the nature of exotic
terranes.
15. Label on a map of the world the major tectonic plates.
16. Identify passive and active continental margins of North and South
America
17. Describe in detail the characteristics each of Earth’s major internal
layers.
18. Discuss the techniques for determining the age of the sea floor
19. Describe the distribution of sediment and rock in ocean basins and the
4 sources of these materials.
20. Discuss the technological innovations that greatly aided to early
ocean explorers
21 Outline 3 important milestone oceanographic voyages of discovery.
22. Discuss the influence of military and commercial uses of the oceans
has had on our scientific understanding of the oceans
23. List 5 types of mineral deposits found in ocean basins and their uses
24. Describe 5 different methods of sampling the sea floor for sediment
and rock
25. Discuss the relationship between the occurrence of earthquakes and
volcanoes in relation to oceans.
26. Describe the chemical make up and arrangement of atoms in the water
molecule.
27. Discuss 2 aspects of the water molecule make it such a good solvent.
28. Discuss 3 different physical and / or chemical properties of water.
29. Define salinity.
30. Describe 2 processes that contribute to the addition salts to the
oceans and 2 processes that contribute to the removal of salts in the
oceans.
31. Discuss the effects of , heat capacity and the energy of phase changes
as it related to the oceans.
32. Interpret a diagram showing the relations between density,
temperature and phases of water.
33. Describe the nature of light absorption and refraction in water.
34. Discuss the nature of sound water including the origin of the sofar
channel and sound shadow zones
35. Interpret a chart of element residence times in the oceans
36. Interpret a map showing world distribution of ocean salinity.
37. Interpret a plot showing the vertical distribution of dissolved gases
in the oceans.
38. Discuss 3 different methods of desalination.
39. Describe by example 5 causes of ocean currents.
40. Describe the effects of solar heating on the land oceans and
atmosphere.
41. Describe the 4 characteristics of a wave .
42. Discuss, the 2 main types of forces involved in the motion of a wave.
Be sure to include as examples 2 specific sources for each type of force.
43. Compare and contrast deep water and shallow water waves.
44. Discuss the nature and characteristics of storm generated waves.
45. Describe the factors that control wave height.
46. Discuss in detail the 2 main tide producing forces.
47. Discuss the pros and cons of ocean wave energy.
48. Describe the 3 factors that control wave height in the open ocean.
49. Discuss the types of changes that waves undergo as they approach the
shore.
50. Describe specifically, where and how (what 2 mechanisms) most sand
movement occurs along a beach.
51. Discuss the reasons for daily, monthly and yearly changes in the
magnitude and time of occurrence of tides.
52. Sketch the relative positions of the Sun, Earth and Moon during a full
moon In addition, highlight the location of the high and low tides on
Earth during this phase of the Moon.
53. Identify from tide charts 3 types of daily tides
54. Discuss the 4 characteristics that define a coast.
55. Describe the characteristics of 4 different types of primary coasts in
terms of how they develop and the types of resulting land forms..
56. Describe the characteristics of 3 different types of secondary coasts
in terms of how they develop and the types of resulting land forms..
57. Discuss the main characteristics of beaches, together with an
explanation of where and how erosion and deposition occur along a beach.
58. Compare and contrast the two different types of sand movement along
coasts.
59. Discuss the pros and cons of 3 different coastal modifications that
humans make to control sand movement along the coast.
60. Discuss in detail 3 different factors that influence long term global
changes in sea level.
61. On a map of a coast identify each of the numbered human and natural
coastal features by name.
Assuming that the human made structures were recently installed, place a
letter D near 3 areas where sand will be deposited in the future as a
result of installing them and a letter E near 2 areas where sand will be
eroded in the future as a result of installing them.
62. Compare and contrast the types of coastal landforms commonly found on
active and passive continental margins.
63. Discuss the specific evidence that indicates long term worldwide sea
level changes have occurred and interpret the evidence with regard to
what this evidence specifically indicates regarding sea level over the
past 40,000 years.
64. Describe in detail the location, and specific origin (primary /
secondary) of at least 4 specific regional landforms each associated with
the Oregon and Washington coasts.
65. Discuss 4 different sources of sediment in coastal regions and how
each is typically distributed.
66. Describe the reason why beaches are colored ,black, white, red or
green.
67. Identify on topographic maps the following coastal landforms: drowned
river, drowned glacial valleys, delta, coastal terraces, head, sea arch,
sea stack, beach plain, barrier islands, spit, tombolo, jetty, groin,
long shore beach, offshore break water, pocket beach,
68. Discuss the origin of specific beach sediment color
69. Describe 4 environmental conditions that marine life must adjust to in
living in the ocean.
70. Define buoyancy and describe 3 different mechanisms by which marine
organisms can adjust buoyancy.
71. Discuss primary production and describe the controls on primary
production.
72. Describe the general nature of the marine food chain in terms of its
components and trophic levels.
73. Describe the main types of organisms that make up plankton.
74. Describe the sensory mechanisms that assist sharks in locating prey.
75. Discuss fish schooling. List some examples of schooling fish.
76. Contrast the feeding habits of the toothed and baleen whales. List 2
examples, each of toothed and baleen whale species
77. Define the following terms: benthic, pelagic, photosynthesis, biomass
78. Identify in photos and preserved specimens the common types of marine
life found in Pacific Northwest coastal areas.
79. Describe a typical coral reef in terms of what it is composed of where
reefs occur and why and the importance of reefs.
80. Use examples to describe 2 different environmental hazards that
intertidal marine organisms face and discuss how these organisms deal
with these hazards.
81. Outline the 3 categories of marine resources.
82. Discuss in detail specific 3 examples of mineral resources which are
obtained from the ocean.
83. Describe in detail 4 different types of energy resources obtained from
the oceans.
84. Describe, in detail, 3 different categories of ocean pollution,
together with specific examples of each.
85. Discuss in detail 3 different issues relating to ocean law.
86. Discuss marine fisheries in terms of the various ways of harvesting
marine food resources
87. Define the following terms: territorial seas, economic exclusion zone,
right of innocent passage, Truman proclamation
88. Discuss the manner in which coastal and global air convection
patterns occur
89. Discuss in detail the origin, and distribution of “El Nino events” and
the effect it has on oceans and weather patterns
90. Discuss in detail the origin, and distribution of hurricanes and
typhoons and the effect they have on oceans and weather patterns
91. Compare and contrast Pacific and Atlantic ocean currents
92. Identify on a map the important ocean currents
93. Describe the effects of heating on the atmosphere, land and oceans.
94. Discuss 2 different consequences of atmospheric convection.
95. Explain in detail 4 different causes of ocean currents.