Module Objectives

The course is an introduction to the natural, chemical, geological and biological processes which take place in the global ocean.

The main objective of the course is the understanding of the processes of the evolution of the world ocean in time, its characteristics and its importance in shaping the climate, the living parameters and the natural and anthropogenic environment. Lectures include laboratory tutorial which help students to combine the theoretical knowledge with laboratory exercises.

The aim of the Laboratory tutorial is the assimilation of the theoretical knowledge. Additionally, students become familiar with construction of bathymetric cross-sections, the use of relevant web applications and to familiarize themselves with the processing and interpretation of primary data to draw conclusions on the physical and chemical properties of ocean waters.

Course Contents

Lecture: Introduction to the scientific field of Oceanography. Analysis of geographic and geomorphic characteristics of oceans and seas. The physical and chemical properties of sea-water. Distribution of the physical and chemical properties of sea-water and their time fluctuations. Instruments available to scientists to monitor the properties of sea-water and map the sea bed morphology. Ocean circulation and natural mechanisms that cause it. Structure of the atmosphere and the hydrosphere and wind circulation. Sea currents. Analysis of sea waves and tides. Living marine environment and human induced pollution. Interaction of ocean floor morphology with physical and chemical conditions as well as with marine organisms and humans.

Laboratory: Construction of a bathymetric chart in a selected marine area and design of bathymetric cross-sections. Drawing of bathymetric sections using open sources internet data, in selected Mediterranean and Greek marine areas and identification of the main geomorphological features of the subaqueous relief. Reading, description and commenting on global maps of surface temperature and salinity distributions of the oceans. Construction of isothermal curves and curves of equal salinity. Study of the waves in a coastal area. Search for sea-level fluctuations (daily, weekly and monthly) from the relevant UNESCO web site at the global and regional scales. Study of a scientific article (in Greek) on the rise of sea-level

Teaching and Assessment

• Duration: 13 weeks, lectures  and laboratory tutorials, including four laboratory works.
• Assessment method: a final written exam at the end of the term, which will include theoretical and laboratory topics.