spring 2015
BIO-2516 Ocean Climate - 10 ECTS

Type of course

The course is available for students at the study program Biologi, klima og miljø. The course is also available to exchange students and free-movers at a biology study program.The course is available as a singular course.

Admission requirements

Applicants from Nordic countries must have:

Generell studiekompetanse, samt følgende spesielle opptakskrav:

Matematikk R1 eller matematikk S1+S2 og i tillegg ett av følgende programfag:

Matematikk (R1+R2)

Fysikk (1+2)

Kjemi (1+2)

Biologi (1+2)

Informasjonstekn (1+2)

Geofag (1+2)

Teknologi og forskningslære (1+2)

 

Application code: 9336 (Nordic applicants). All participants must have taken introductory level university courses, and achieved pass grades, in these subjects.

International applicants: Higher Education Entrance Qualification and certified language requirements in English. It is a requirement that students have some prior knowledge of biology and ecology, chemistry and mathematics. A list of the requirements for the Higher Education Entrance Qualification in Norway can be found on the Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education website - nokut.no


Course overlap

If you pass the examination in this course, you will get an reduction in credits (as stated below), if you previously have passed the following courses:

BIO-2514 Marine ecology 1.5 stp
BIO-2510 Basic Physical Oceanography 8 stp
GEO-3121 Marine Geology 1.5 stp

Course content

Included in the course is basic physical and chemical properties of seawater, behaviour of light and sound in seawater, atmosphere-ocean energy balance, ocean-atmosphere interactions, ice-related issues, tides, mixing, large and small scale circulations, effects of earth rotation (Coriolis, Ekman), and movement of water masses and its causes. Further general circulation patterns in the worlds oceans are dealt with. Special focus will be on some selected areas, e.g. Arctic, Barents Sea (Regional physical oceanography). Geophysical mechanisms that are important for biological processes will have special focus and some selected important biological processes will be described. The laboratory exercises will demonstrate some basic physical principles important for ocean processes. During the seminars the students will present and invite to discuss some central physical themes.The cruise focuses on instrumentation and processing of data. It is advisable to have mathematical knowledge from high school level.

Objectives of the course

Knowledge: Water properties Water movement Radiation Heat flux Atmospheric exchange Skills: Characterize and identify water masses Understand geophysical mechanisms important for biological processes in the ocean Use oceanographic instrumentation General competence: Understand sea water behavior and movement both locally and in the word oceans.

Language of instruction and examination

English.

Teaching methods

Lectures (40 h), seminars (8 h), laboratory exercises (8 h), data-lab (4 h). Cruise 4 days

Assessment

Oral exam. Letter grades, A-F.

There are two work assignments;lab and cruise reports.

There will be a re-sit examination for students that did not pass the previous ordinary examination.


Recommended reading/syllabus

Townsend - Oceanography and Marine Biology, material on Fronter, and other material given during class

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  • About the course
  • Campus: Tromsø |
  • ECTS: 10
  • Course code: BIO-2516