Marine and Atmospheric Science Course Descriptions

Survey of Oceanography (3 cr) Offered Fall and Spring Semesters Introduction to the oceans and their significance to mankind, encompassing geological, physical, chemical, and biological processes; man's role in and on the sea, including fisheries, pollution, and ocean management. Not for major or minor.

Introduction to Weather and Climate (3 cr) Offered Fall and Spring Semesters Structure, physics, dynamics and thermodynamics of the atmosphere; weather phenomena weather forecasting, climate and climate change. Contemporary topics covered in this class include global warming, the ozone hole, hurricanes and El Nino. Not for major or minor.

Survey of Modern Meteorology (3 cr) Offered Fall Semester Dynamics and thermodynamics of the atmosphere as they relate to contemporary issues in meteorology. Overview of numerical weather prediction techniques and new technologies for monitoring weather and climate. Prerequisite : MTH 108 Open to majors or minors with permission of instructor.

Current Weather and Climate  Topics (2 cr for met majors/1 cr for non-met majors) Offered Spring Semester Guest lectures on weather and climate-related phenomena such as hurricanes, severe storms, and global warming

Research Diving Techniques (2 cr) Offered Fall and Spring Semesters Trains students to use SCUBA as a scientific tool. Students successfully passing this class will have met the national science diving standards. Prerequisite: Previous certification from a nationally recognized recreational agency, pass a diving physical exam, pass a swim test and obtain D.A.N. insurance.

Environmental Statistics (3 cr) Offered Fall & Spring Semester This introductory course provides an overview of parametric and nonparametric statistics with an emphasis on applications in the analysis of environmental data. Prerequisite: MTH 103 or higher, plus 6 credits in MSC.

Dynamic Oceans (3 cr) Offered Spring Semester This course will describe the ocean circulation at various time and length scales and include principal means of observing and quantifying oceanic circulation. Prerequisite: MTH 161 or equivalent

Chemical Oceanography (3 cr) Offered Spring Semester An introduction to the chemistry of the oceans; descriptive chemical oceanography of the components of ocean waters (metals, gases, organic compounds and nutrients); biogeochemical cycles in oceanic systems. Prerequisite: CHM 112

Chemical Oceanography Laboratory (1 cr) Offered Spring Semester Chemical and physical methods in chemical oceanography; analytical and instrumental techniques used to determine density, salinity, chlorinity, dissolved oxygen, nutrients and components of the carbonate system. Corequisite: MSC 215

Global Climate Change (3cr) Offered Spring Semester, Fall occasionally,  The Earth’s climate and the role of natural and anthropogenic processes in shaping climate change. Prerequisite, ATM 103, GSC 110 or GEG 120.

Introduction to Marine Biology (3 cr) Offered Fall Semester The sea as an environment; marine life, its special problems and adaptations; emphasis on Caribbean organisms. Identical to BIL 230. Prerequisite: One semester of biology and chemistry with laboratories. Corequisite: MSC 232

Marine Biology Laboratory (1 cr) Offered Fall Semester Experimental laboratory exploring ecology, physiology and behavior of marine organisms in South Florida marine habitats; exercises cover laboratory techniques in behavior, functional morphology, productivity, fisheries research, osmoregulation and community ecology. Prerequisite: One semester of biology and chemistry with laboratories. Corequisite: MSC 230

Weather Forecasting (3 cr) Offered Fall Semester Application of physical principles to weather forecasting; use and interpretation of computer-generated forecast guidance products of the U.S. Weather Service. Prerequisite: ATM 103; MTH 108

Introduction to Physical Oceanography (3 cr) Application of the laws of physics to the study of the properties and circulation of the world's oceans and atmosphere. Prerequisite: Phy 101 or 205

Meteorological Instrumentation (3 cr) Offered Spring Semester Techniques for measuring meteorological variables at the ground and in the free atmosphere. Prerequisite: ATM 103: PHY 101 or 205

Atmospheric Thermodynamics (3 cr) Offered Fall Semester Equation of state; water vapor and moist air thermodynamics; phase changes and latent heat; buoyancy and atmospheric convection; thermodynamic diagrams. Prerequisite: ATM 103; PHY 205; Corequisite MTH 310

Advanced Principles in Broadcast Meteorology (3 cr) Offered Spring Semester Broadcast meteorology including the production of professional weather briefings and weather news for on camera delivery. Emphasis on accurately communicating complex meteorological concepts, use of computer graphics, and on-camera delivery. Prerequisite: MSC120 or permission of instructor

Introduction to the physics of climate (3 cr) Offered Every Other Spring Semester The physical mechanisms which govern the earth’s climate and climate variability. Prerequisite: ATM 305

Living Resources of the Ocean (3 cr) Offered Spring Semester Biology of marine fish and shellfish of major economic interest, techniques of harvesting, and resource management. Prerequisite: MSC 230

Coastal Law (3 cr) Offered Fall Semester Basic doctrines and public policy related to the use and regulation of the United States coastal zone and seabed. Prerequisite: junior standing

Ocean Law (3 cr) Offered Spring Semester The principles of international ocean law regarding ocean management; ocean delimitation and issues of environmental ocean regulation within an international legal framework. Prerequisite: junior standing

Marine Biota and Biogeochemical Cycles (3 cr) Offered Fall Semester The distribution of dissolved and particulate materials in the sea is not uniform in time and space. This variability reflects the diverse sources, transformations, and sinks of chemical constituents in the sea. This course provides students with an introduction to marine biogeochemistry stressing the role of marine organisms. The first half of the course concentrates on the marine carbon cycle and its interaction with the terrestrial biosphere and atmosphere. Thereafter, biogeochemical cycles are described for biogenic particulate material, the major nutrients, and trace elements, principles of international ocean law regarding ocean management; ocean delimitation and issues of environmental ocean regulation within an international legal framework. Prerequisite: junior standing

Global Primary Production (3 cr) Offered By Announcement Only Photosynthesis supports the vast majority of life on planet earth. Although terrestrial and aquatic photoautotrophs share the same basic photosynthetic mechanism, it is clear that the physical environment and the fate of primary production differ drastically on land and in the sea. This course reviews the magnitude and the processes that shape primary production in terrestrial, oceanic, and freshwater habitats. It includes the fate of primary production in the earth’s biomes, and the role of terrestrial and aquatic productivity in regulating, and responding to, variable climate. Prerequisite: BIL 160

Scientific Programming in the Atmospheric Sciences (3 cr) Offered Every Other Spring Semester An introduction to scientific programming in a Linux environment using the FORTRAN 90/95 language with specific applications to meteorology. Prerequisite ATM 103, CSC 120, MTH 162 and MTH 210 or permission of instructor

Biological Oceanographic Techniques (3 cr) Offered By Announcement Only Methodology of use to biological oceanographers. Field sampling of plankton biomass and productivity, benthic biomass, and selected physical parameters. Applications of modular techniques and remote sensing to oceanographic problems. (Selected readings) Prerequisite: MSC 230

Marine Genomics (3 cr) Spring Semester Intensive lecture/laboratory course with emphasis on using genomic tools to address an independent research project of importance in the marine sciences. Prerequisite: BIL 250

Ocean Policy (3 cr) Offered Fall Semester Analysis of ocean policy issues in US fisheries, marine conservation and marine protected areas, marine pollution, coastal management and regulation of offshore oil and gas activities.

Economics of Natural Resources and the Environment (3 cr) Offered Spring Semester A comprehensive overview of the economics of national, international, and global environmental problems. A unifying theme throughout is sustainable development, defined as "maximizing the net benefits of economic development while maintaining the services and quality of natural resources over time". Economic reasoning is used to examine causes and consequences of environmental and resource problems, and measures for dealing with them.

Survey of Marine Mammals (3 cr) Offered Spring Semester The evolution and ecology of the cetaceans, pinnipeds, manatees and allies. The natural history, zoogeography, physiology, husbandry, and biochemical aspects of each species are emphasized. Prerequisites: MSC 230.

Life in Moving Fluids (3 cr) Offered Fall Semester The physical characteristics of air and water are described in relation to various flow phenomena that play a part in life functions. Adaptations of form and function reflect the very different properties of the media (air and water)of terrestrial and aquatic life. Energy conversion and transfer limit form and function and enable a wide variety of survival strategies. Prerequisite: PHY 101, MSC 230, or BIL 265

Readings in Marine Science (1-2 cr) Offered Fall and Spring Semesters Library research with faculty supervision; bibliography to be submitted in preparation for laboratory and/or field research project.

Environmental Analysis (3 cr) Offered Fall Semester A laboratory course using the Environmental Protection Agency’s methods of sampling, sample preparation and analysis for priority pollutants; methods of ultra-micro chemical analysis, Quality Assurance and Quality Control. Prerequisite: CHM 203

Atmospheric Dynamics I (3 cr) Offered Spring Semester Derivation and scaling of the equations of atmospheric motion; hydrostatic and geostrophic balance; circulation and vorticity. Prerequisite: ATM 305.

Atmospheric Dynamics II (3 cr) Offered Fall Semester Baroclinic and barotropic instability; boundary layer dynamics; mathematical principles of numerical weather prediction; maintenance of the general circulation. Prerequisite: ATM 405.

Weather Analysis (3 cr) Offered Fall Semester Three-dimensional analysis of synoptic-scale weather systems; application of the fundamental laws of atmospheric dynamics to observed weather patterns; practical questions of worldwide data exchange and display. Prerequisite: ATM 305, ATM405.

Physical Meteorology (3 cr) Offered Spring Semester Cloud microphysics: nucleation, condensation growth, coalescence, ice crystal growth, rain production, and Atmospheric radiation: solar and infrared radiative transfer. Prerequisite: ATM 305.

Marine Conservation (3 cr) Offered By Announcement Only An advanced undergraduate course in conservation science with case studies and field work; it is designed to cover marine ecology and the science information needs of tropical marine parks and protected areas with a focus on the particular threats to Caribbean protected areas; Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.

Projects in Marine Science (1-3 cr) Offered Fall and Spring Semesters Individual, independent research with faculty supervision. A formal written report is required. Prerequisite: MSC 371, and permission of the coordinator during the semester preceding registration.

Coral Reef Management (3 cr) Offered Spring Semester This interdisciplinary course examines the nature of coral reef science and management; biological, environmental, ecological and socioeconomic aspects of coral reef science, coral reef management problems and approaches at local to global scales, and the implications of climate change for coral reef science and management. Prerequisite: MSC 230

Spatial Applications in Marine Science (3 cr) Offered Fall and Spring Semesters The concepts and marine applications of Geographic Information Systems. Every class period will entail short class lectures and hands on computer based GIS exercise on marine science related issues. Students will learn how to use ArcGIS 9.2 and create simple GIS models primarily using vector data.

Environmental Physiology: Oxygen, Water and Ionoregulatory Stress (3 cr) Fall Semester This is an intensive laboratory course that combines and elaborates on concepts learned in BIL 265. Topics will include homeostasis, interactions with the external environment, and life with limited oxygen and water. Lectures will be highly discussion-based; students will be expected to read primary research articles as suggested by the professor before lecture to foster participation in those discussions and form hypotheses about accompanying laboratory. Each lab will be written up as a formal laboratory report (i.e., Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results and Discussion). Prerequisite: BIL 265 and permission of instructor.

Political Ecology of the Galapagos (3 cr) This field course in the Galapagos National Park offers a rare chance to examine the human interactions in this highly politicized landscape of conservation. Students practice the political ecology approach for doing ethnographic fieldwork and explore how it can lead to wiser resource management. PREREQUISITE: PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTOR

Terrestrial Biology and Adaptations of the Galapagos. (3 cr) This course will examine the terrestrial plant and animal life of Isabela Island, discuss the biology and how it adapted to life on Isabela. Through field and laboratory exercises we will explore the power of organisms’ DNA in shaping life into unique forms like those famously present in today’s Galapagos. PREREQUISITE: BIL 160 AND PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTOR.

Marine Ecology of the Galapagos (3 cr) This course focus on marine ecosystems of the Galapagos, emphasizing near-shore environments. Topics will include how the unique location and oceanography of the Galapagos have shaped the species composition of resident and migrant marine animals. The role of genetic drift, local habitat characteristics and natural selection on marine ecosystems will be examined. This is a field intensive course with time spent in intertidal, near-shore and off-shore island environments. PREREQUISITE: BIL 160 OR MSC 230 AND PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTOR

Oceanography, Climatology and Conservation Biology of the Galapagos. (3 cr) The Galapagos are located in a uniquely productive area of the sea, which has allowed the development of a rich and unique marine biota. The first week of the course will carry the students through the dynamic, climatic, and oceanographic circumstances that determine the unique character of the Galapagos. The second week will cover scientific evaluation of the threats to the marine biodiversity of the Galapagos, focusing on sharks, penguins, sea turtles and other at-risk species and habitats. PREREQUISITE: BIL 160 OR MSC 230 AND PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTOR.

Origin and Geology of the Galapagos Islands. (3 cr) This course will explore the origin and geology of volcanic oceanic islands, using the Galapagos Islands as a natural laboratory. Though all share a common origin in plate tectonic theory, each island presents a host of environments that originate in the processes of volcanic action, erosion and hydrology. Individual islands therefore develop distinctive ecosystems within which organisms interact and evolve. The emphasis of this course will be to lay out the underlying geological processes that have led to the formation of the islands and to their present state, and then to explore the ways the physical environment has influenced adaptation and biodiversity. PREREQUISITE: GSC 110 AND PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTOR.