Associate Professor of Earth Science
Peer Online Course Review (POCR) Lead
Heather Kokorowski
Oceanography Lecture (OCEANO 1)
This course introduces the student to the geological, chemical, physical and biological aspects of Earth’s ocean. Topics include how ocean basins are made and destroyed through plate tectonics, the physiography of ocean basins and continental margins, the chemical and physical aspects of seawater, ocean-atmosphere interactions, ocean circulation, waves, tides, and shorelines, with some emphasis on human impacts on marine ecosystems including climate change and pollution. Students interested in earning lab credit are encouraged to enroll in OCEANO 10.
Oceanography Lab (OCEANO 10)
In this course, students examine oceanographic data, maps, and charts to describe the geological, chemical, physical and biological aspects of Earth’s ocean, and interpret processes responsible. Students investigate topics that include how the movement of tectonic plates create seafloor features, how changes in the ocean and atmosphere create phases of El Niño Southern Oscillation, and how density stratification of the water column affects seasonal phytoplankton blooms. Students inspect and describe marine sediments and explore the causes and effects of tsunami. Students also consider the effects of human activities on marine ecosystems, including pollution and climate change.