The chemical and physical structure of the Oceans and the variation in the fundamental properties of sea water. The forces acting on seawater: pressure gradients, slope forces, wind stress, bottom stress, Coriolis force, centrifugal force. The effects of Salinity (definition of salinity in terms of electrical conductivity, variations in the surface ocean and coastal areas), Density (influence on vertical movement in the ocean), and Temperature (thermocline formation, heating, cooling and mixing, variation with depth and season).

The global wind system and the effect of wind on surface water. The poleward transport of heat by the atmosphere, large scale circulation in the mid latitudes, and vertical convection in the atmosphere. Vorticity (planetary, relative absolute, potential vorticity examples, sandbanks, upwelling). The wind-driven currents of the sea surface, and the types of surface flows. Frictional coupling within the ocean and Ekman drift at the surface. Ekman spiral at surface and bottom. Langmuir circulation. Penetration of wind-driven flow. Inertia currents. Geostrophic currents. Equatorial current systems and upwelling in low latitudes. Circulation in high latitudes: Arctic and Southern Oceans. El Nino phenomena: climatic fluctuation that affects currents in the Pacific. Monsoonal circulation: winds and current system of the Indian Ocean. Deep Ocean Circulation: water masses (Upper/Intermediate/Deep/Bottom) and density driven water flow.

The factors that control sedimentation and analysis of the formation and types of sediments. Shelf and deep sea sedimentation. Circulation and sedimentation in estuaries. The effects of sedimentation on tidal flats, estuaries and deltas. Sediment movement by eddies, waves and ocean currents.

Wind generation of waves and types of waves (gravity, capillary, Rossby, Shelf, Internal). The motion of water particles beneath the waves, wave phase velocity, wave energy, density and propagation. The growth of waves in the fetch area. Storm waves outside of the generating area. Waves in shallow water and approaching beaches. Snell’s law, increase in wave height at beaches. Other types of progressive waves, tsunamis, and episodic waves. The role of long waves in ocean circulation. Basic wave prediction.

The main characteristics of sound waves in the ocean. Uses of acoustic energy in the oceans. The speed of sound. Refraction and sound channels. Sonar.

The Gulf Stream system, the North Atlantic drift, and their influence in the North Atlantic Ocean. Gulf Stream rings and vorticity. Other sub-tropical gyres.

Marine pollution and aspects of human tenancy. Municipal and industrial effluent and methods of monitoring pollution. The consequences of a rapidly expanding aquaculture industry and coastal development.

The effects of plankton (seasonal and algal blooms) and other plankton-related phenomena. Bioluminescence and the changing colours of the sea.

The course will cover how industrial sectors such as fisheries, aquaculture, marine renewable energy and shipping are affected by oceanographic processes and how the demands from these sectors are influencing oceanographic research.

Students will be given a practical demonstration of basic instruments used in oceanographic research. These instruments will include tide gauge, Sechi disk, plankton net, current meters, CTD meters, Ekman and Niskin water bottles, Grab samplers and Weather Buoys.