Marine Science Course Descriptions

Survey of Oceanography (3 cr)
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 Atmospheric Science (3 cr)
Structure, physics, dynamics and thermodynamics of the atmosphere; weather phenomena weather forecasting, climate and climate change. Contemporary topics cover in this clas include global warming, the ozone hole, hurricanes and El Niño. Not for major or minor.

Survey of Modern Meteorology
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. Prerquisite : MTH 108 Open to majors or minors with permission of instructor.

Current Issues in Atmospheric Chemistry (3 cr)
Topics include: basic composition and chemistry of the atmosphere; chemical processes involved in regional air pollution and acid rain; health effects of air pollution; global change in the composition and climate of the atmosphere; stratospheric ozone, and global warming. The treatment will only utilize basic pre- calculus mathematics and high-school level chemistry. Prerequisite: Pre-calculus math, high school chemistry or permission from instructor.

Hurricanes and Society (3 cr)
An interdisciplinary course on the meteorology of hurricanes, a review of historically significant stroms, forecasting methods, and the societal and economic impact of storms. No prerequisites.

Introduction to Marine Science (3 cr)
Geological, physical, chemical and biological processes of the world's oceans; the role of the oceans in global dynamics and ocean management. Field trips included.

Current Weather Topics (1 cr)
Weather and climate-related phenomena such as hurricanes, severe storms, global warming, and acid rain.

Research Diving Techniques (2 cr)
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.

Chemical Oceanography (3 cr)
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)
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

Climate and Global Change (3 cr)
The Earth’s climate system and the role of natural and anthropogenic processes in shaping climate change. Prerequisite: MSC 103, or GSC 110 or GEG 120.

Introduction to Marine Biology (3 cr)
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)
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 (2 cr)
Application of physical principles to weather forecasting; use and interpretation of computer-generated forecast guidance products of the U.S. Weather Service. Prerequisite: MSC 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 (2 cr)
Techniques for measuring meteorological variables at the ground and in the free atmosphere. Prerequisite: MSC 103: PHY 101 or 205

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

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

Coastal Law (3 cr)
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)
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

Field Oceanography (4 cr)
A variety of oceanographic settings will be studied using physical, chemical, geological and biological oceanographic techniques. Prerequisite: Six credits in Marine Science and the permission of instructor.

Scientific Programming in the Atmospheric Sciences (3 cr)
An introduction to scientific programming in a linux environment using the FORTRAN 90/95 languate with specific applications to Meteorology. Prerequisite: MSC 103 or CSC120, MTH 112, MTH 210.

Biological Oceanographic Techniques (3 cr)
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

Survey of Marine Mammals (3 cr)
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.

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

Introduction to Atmospheric Modeling (4 cr)
Basic equations for physical and chemical processes in the atmosphere, with emphasis on the solution of photochemical "box" models with multiple constituents, aerosol models, aqueous chemistry models, and multi-box models of biogeochemical cycling. Numerical approximations for the solution of the relevant differential equations. Analysis of implications and limitations of model results, and comparison of observations. The course includes a computer lab to run diverse models. Prerequisite: MSC 103, 104, 241 and 305. MTH 111, 112, 210 and 311.CHM 364. MTH 312.

Atmospheric Dynamics I (3 cr)
Derivation and scaling of the equations of atmospheric motion; hydrostatic and geostrophic balance; circulation and vorticity. Prerequisite: MSC 305. Prerequisite or corequisite: MSC 305

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

Weather Analysis (3 cr)
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: MSC 305.

Tropical Meteorology (3 cr)
Structure and behavior of the tropical atmosphere; wave perturbations of the Trades and the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone; structure and dynamics of tropical cyclones; interaction between cloud- and synoptic-scale motions; air-sea interaction. Prerequisite: MSC 305.

Physical Meteorology (3 cr)
Atmospheric radiation; absorption and scattering principles of remote sensing of the atmosphere; cloud microphysics; nucleation, coalescence, ice crystal growth, atmospheric electricity and lighting. Prerequisite: MSC 305.

Marine Conservation (3 cr)
Nature of marine biodiversity, what threatens it, and what can be done to recover the biological integrity of estuaries, coastal seas, and oceans. Topics include: distincitive aspects of marine poulations and ecosystems; threats to marine biological diversity, singly and in combination; place-based managemen of marine ecosystems; and the human dimensions of marine conservation. Prerequisite: MSC 230.

Projects in Marine Science (1-3 cr)
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.

Projects in Atmospheric Chemistry (1-3 cr)
Individual, independent research projects with faculty supervision. A formal written report is required. Prerequisite: MSC 241, 402 or permission of the coordinator during semester prior to registration.

Coral Reef Science and Management
The interdisciplinary 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 or BIL 230.

Spatial Applications in Marine Science (3 cr)
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.

Special Studies in Marine Science (3 cr)
Interdisciplinary capstone course in Marine Science. Content of the course will vary by semester. Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing and permission of instructor.