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Episode 1
The
Water Planet:
From the Big Bang
theory to the formation of planet Earth through the origins of
life, scientists summarize the profound influence of water on
our planet and introduce the science of oceanography. |
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The
profound influence of water and the ocean on planet
Earth |
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The
formation of the solar system and the origin of
Earth |
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The origins
of life on Earth |
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The science
of oceanography |
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Episode 2
First Steps:
The evolution of
oceanography and the technology that has driven it are
investigated, from the early cartographers through the
remarkable voyages lead by individuals who had little more to
guide them than a sense of adventure. |
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Cartographers,
early Greek exploration and Chinese contributions |
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The Age of
Discovery: From Prince Henry to Magellan |
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Voyaging for
Science: James Cook, Matthew Maury, Charles Darwin and the
HMS Beagle, and the Challenger Expedition, including major
milestones in oceanic exploration, such as the development
of the first chronometers and breakthroughs in sampling |
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The last
hundred years: voyages for science in the twentieth century |
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The rise of
oceanographic institutions |
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Episode 3
Making the Pieces Fit:
In 1965, John Tuzo
Wilson supplied the final piece of the puzzle necessary to the
development of the plate tectonics paradigm, which had its roots
in Wegener’s 1912 theory of continental drift. |
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Toward
a new understanding of Earth:
The search for patterns and order in the development
and location of Earth’s features |
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Alfred
Wegener and the theory of
continental drift |
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The
work of Benioff and Wadati
(orderly pattern of deep Earthquakes) |
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From
seafloor spreading to plate tectonics |
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John Tuzo
Wilson and the Mechanism of Plate Tectonics:
Lithospheric plates floating on the heated and expanding
asthenosphere (including discussion of “the layered
Earth,” i.e. the evidence for layering, classification
of layers, isostatic equilibrium, and sources of
internal heat)
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Episode 4
World in Motion:
Though many
questions remain unanswered, the evidence for plate tectonics is
found virtually everywhere it is sought and continues to mount
today. Polar wandering and the characteristics of plate
boundaries, hot spots, and earthquakes continue the study of
plate tectonics. |
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The
confirmation of plate tectonics (paleomagnetic orientation;
polar wandering) |
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Characteristics
of plate boundaries (divergent, convergent, and transform) |
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Hot Spots:
Volcanoes, volcanic islands, atolls, guyots |
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Earthquakes |
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Episode 5
Over the Edge:
Bathymetry is the
study of the topography of the ocean floor. This examines the
seafloor from the continental margins to the abyssal plain,
trenches, and hydrothermal vents with their newly-discovered
biota. New technology and techniques continue to expand access
to seabed studies. |
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The topography
of ocean floors |
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The continental
margin: continental shelf, slope, and rise |
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Exploring the
deep ocean floor: challenges and solutions |
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The deep ocean
floor: oceanic ridges, hydrothermal vents, abyssal plains,
seamounts and
guyots, deep trenches, island arcs |
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Episode 6
The Ocean's Memory:
This examines
marine sediments, which provide an important record of an ocean
basin’s history. The study of marine sediments employs the same
techniques devised by terrestrial geologists, and is of
commercial and scientific interest across many disciplines. |
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The challenges
of studying sediments |
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Sediments as
historical records: what they tell us, how long they last |
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Sediment
characteristics and classification (size,
source/composition, and distribution) |
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The economic
importance of sediments |
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Episode 7
It's in the Water:
The
chemistry of water and its unique physical properties and
behavior are studied, as well as the temperature, density, and
salinity of the ocean’s water. Also considered is the profound
impact of the ocean on global temperatures. |
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The
importance of water, including its influence on
global temperatures |
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Physical properties of water: its chemistry,
different forms, behavior changes
as it absorbs or loses heat |
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Temperature and water density |
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Salinity: Components and sources of the ocean’s
salts |
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Chemical equilibrium and the principle of constant
proportions |
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Dissolved Gases |
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Acid-Base Balance |
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Episode 8
Beneath the Surface:
The
ocean is a dynamic structure. This explores the stratification,
movement, and surface conditions of that structure as well as
how light and sound are affected by the ocean environment. |
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The
Ocean structure: density stratification,
water movement, surface conditions |
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Refraction, light and sound |
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Episode 9
Going to Extremes:
Through a comparative study of the polar and tropic oceans,
students are given the opportunity to integrate and apply the
facts and principles presented to this point in the course. |
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Locations and
interviews illustrate a series of interrelated and dynamic
oceanographic
principles and elements |
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Episode 10
Something in the Air:
The
interaction of the ocean, the atmosphere, and the land form an
inseparable system. The atmospheric composition, properties, and
circulation of this system as well as the Coriolis effect, wind
patterns, and air masses are studied in this. |
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Introduction: The impact of Hurricane Mitch |
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Atmospheric composition, properties and
circulation |
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The
Coriolis effect |
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Wind
patterns |
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Air
masses and cyclones |
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Episode 11
Going with the Flow:
Surface currents transfer water and heat from tropical to polar
regions and influence weather, climate, and biological activity
in the upper-water region. Using the El Niño phenomenon for
illustration, the effects of surface currents on climate are
studied. |
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Wind
over water |
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Surface
currents and gyres |
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Effects
of surface currents on climate, including upwelling
and downwelling (focusing on El Niño) |
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Episode 12
Deep Connections:
Like
wind-powered surface currents, the density-driven thermohaline
circulation plays a major role in global heat transfer and in
distributing dissolved gases and nutrients. Chemical tracers are
just one method used to study these deep water currents. |
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Formation and
fate of deep water masses |
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Deep ocean
storms |
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Tracers |
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Episode 13
Surf's Up:
Starting with the disturbing forces that initiate movement of
energy through the water, the formation and propagation of both
surface and internal waves are studied in this. |
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Introduction:
The water mechanics of surfing, introduction to waves |
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Ocean waves
(including the distinct parts of ocean waves,
classification, and water depth) |
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Wind waves
(including rogue waves and waves approaching shore) |
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Wave
refraction, diffraction, and reflection |
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Internal waves |
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Episode 14
Look Out Below:
Tsunami, seiches, storm surge, and seismic sea waves are very
large, potentially destructive waves that can be triggered by
earthquakes, volcanic activity, cyclones, and tidal effects.
These waves and long-term sea level change are this lesson's
focus. |
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Introduction: A look at the destructive impact of a
well-documented tsunami |
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Storm
surges |
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Seiches |
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Tsunamis
and seismic sea waves |
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Long-term
sea level change |
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Episode 15
Ebb and Flow:
This examines tides and the forces that generate them. The
equilibrium theory and the dynamic theory of tides are
presented. |
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Tides
and the forces that generate them |
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The
equilibrium theory of tides (the role of the sun and
moon) |
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The dynamic
theory of tides |
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Tidal
currents and tidal power |
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Episode 16
On The Coast:
A
look at the features of coasts and the forces that shape them,
including the characteristics of coasts. Coral reefs, estuaries,
lagoons, and wetlands are examined. |
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An
introductory look at coasts, with a discussion of
the forces that have shaped them |
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Large-scale features of coasts (e.g. sand spits, bay
mouth bars, barrier islands, sea islands) |
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Coasts
formed by biological activity (e.g. coral reefs) |
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Estuaries,
lagoons and wetlands |
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Characteristics of U.S. coasts |
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Episode 17
Due West:
The
impact of human activity on coastal areas is examined through
studies of four areas along the California coast. Using these
studies, harbor and beach creation and maintenance, erosion,
water pollution, and wetlands preservation are investigated.
Human impact on the southern California coast (the bad and the
good), shown through:
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Harbor/beach creation and maintenance |
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Erosion/landslides |
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Water
Pollution |
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Wetlands
preservation |
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Episode 18
Building Blocks:
A
scientific definition of life is offered and evolution of life
in the marine environment is examined. The theory of evolution
by natural selection is presented and biogeochemical cycles are
examined.
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A working
definition of life (including discussion of matter and
energy) |
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Biogeochemcial cycles |
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Evolution
and life in the ocean: the theory of evolution by
natural selection |
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Evolution
in the marine environment |
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Episode 19
Water World:
The
history of biological classification is presented, and the six
kingdoms into which taxonomists currently divide all life are
reviewed. The environmental factors and processes that affect
marine life are discussed. |
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The biological
classification (taxonomy) of ocean life |
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Physical
factors affecting marine life (light, temperature, salinity,
gas, nutrients, dissolved gases, acid-base balance, and
pressure) |
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Marine
processes that affect ocean life (e.g. diffusion, osmosis,
and active transport) |
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Classifications
of the marine environment (by light, location and
environment) |
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Episode 20
Food for Thought:
Primary productivity in the marine environment is accomplished
mainly by plankton. The types of plankton, their distribution,
and productivity are presented along with methods for measuring
primary productivity and factors that limit productivity. |
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The capture and
flow of energy |
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Primary
productivity (including how it’s measured, and limiting
factors) |
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Plankton:
types, distribution, production of energy, and effects of
seasons |
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Larger marine
producers (e.g. algae and seaweed) |
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Episode 21
Survivors:
A
study of the oxygen revolution, the origins of life, and
evolution and classification of the invertebrates from least
complexity of body form and function to greatest complexity. |
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The
oxygen revolution and the origin of animals |
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Burgess
shale, architectural forms |
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Survivors:
the intertidal zone |
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Invertebrate chordates |
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Episode 22
Life Goes On:
Continuing where the previous left off, the marine vertebrates,
their feeding, defense, and the ways in which the marine
environment has shaped their evolution are examined. In addition
to fish, the marine reptiles, birds, and mammals are considered. |
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Vertebrate evolution |
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Gas
exchange |
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Osmotic
considerations |
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Feeding
and defense |
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Fish |
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Marine
Reptiles (sea turtles, marine crocodiles, sea snakes) |
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Marine
Birds (tubenoses, pelicans, gulls, penguins) |
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Marine
Mammals (orders Cetacea,
Carnivora, and Sirenia) |
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Episode 22
Living Together:
In
order to explain the distribution and abundance of organisms,
their biological interrelationships and physical limiting
factors must be understood. Various marine communities such as
those of the rocky intertidal, sandy shores, estuaries,
hydrothermal vents, and the bathypelagic zone are explored in
this. |
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Introduction:
The concept of community (marine and otherwise) |
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The influence
of physical and biological factors |
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Competition,
growth rate and carrying capacity, types of distribution,
change |
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Examples of
marine communities (rocky intertidal, seaweed, sand beach
and cobble beach, salt marshes and estuaries, coral reefs,
the open ocean, the deep-sea floor, hydrothermal vent) |
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Symbiotic
interactions and dependencies |
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Episode 23
Treasure Trove:
This
surveys the major physical, biological, energy, and
non-extractive resources of the oceans and details their
economic worth, means of extraction, distribution, abundance,
present status, and future prospects. |
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Physical
resources (including petroleum and natural gas, various
minerals and deposits, and fresh water) |
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Marine energy
resources (waves and currents, thermal gradient) |
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Biological
resources (various animals and plants used for food and
pharmaceutical purposes, fishery management, aquaculture) |
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Non-extractive
resources |
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Classification
as renewable or nonrenewable |
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Legal issues |
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Episode 25
Dirty Water:
In
excessive amounts, even natural materials can be problematic,
and sometimes cleanup can be more damaging than the polluting
event. This examines pollution and pollutants on both a local
and global level. |
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Characteristics of a pollutant |
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Types
of pollution (examples, costs) |
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Habitat
destruction |
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Global
changes |
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What
can be done? |
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Episode 26
Hands On:
A
look at some of the factors, beyond the search for empirical
truth, that motivate oceanographers. Concentrating on global
oceanographic initiatives, the study guide and text readings
encourage students to review, synthesize, and integrate some of
the larger ideas from the course. |
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An in-depth
look at the science of oceanography at a major research
institution |
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