Oceanography: a key to better understand our world

  • 4.5
Approx. 29 hours to complete
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Course Summary

Explore the wonders of the ocean with this comprehensive course on oceanography. Learn about the physical, chemical, and biological processes that shape our oceans and gain a deep understanding of the challenges facing our marine ecosystems.

Key Learning Points

  • Understand the physical, chemical, and biological processes that shape our oceans
  • Gain a deep appreciation for the interconnectedness of marine ecosystems
  • Learn about the challenges facing our oceans and the importance of ocean conservation

Related Topics for further study


Learning Outcomes

  • Gain a comprehensive understanding of oceanography and its various subfields
  • Develop an appreciation for the interconnectedness of marine ecosystems
  • Understand the challenges facing our oceans and the importance of ocean conservation

Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course

  • Basic understanding of science and math concepts
  • No prior knowledge of oceanography required

Course Difficulty Level

Intermediate

Course Format

  • Online
  • Self-paced

Similar Courses

  • Marine Ecology
  • Climate Change and the Ocean

Related Education Paths


Related Books

Description

The course for a round the world regatta leads the boats through the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic, Southern Indian and South Pacific Oceans. On their voyage, the skippers come across a large variety of oceanographic situations: strong currents, floating ice, wave formations of every kind and biological diversity.

Outline

  • 1A - The Mediterranean: a model of an ocean - Temperature, salinity and pressure.
  • Video Course Presentation
  • 1.0 Video Introduction
  • 1.1 Video Temperature, salinity, density
  • 1.2.1 Video Introduction: Vertical profiles for T and S on the Catalan coast, NW Mediterranean.
  • 1.2.2 Video Vertical stability
  • Introduction
  • Course structure
  • 1. Introduction to the module 1 (A and B)
  • 1.1 The Mediterranean: a model of an ocean - Temperature, salinity and pressure
  • 1.1.1 Temperature
  • 1.1.2 Salinity
  • 1.1.3 Pressure
  • 1.1.4 Density and the T/S diagram
  • 1.2 The annual hydrographic cycle opposite Barcelona
  • 1.2.1 Vertical profiles for T and S on the Catalan coast, NW Mediterranean.
  • 1.2.2 Vertical stability
  • 1.2.3 Stability gains and losses
  • 1.2.4 The construction and destruction of the thermocline
  • Quiz 1A

  • 1B - The Mediterranean: a model of an ocean - Water masses and circulation
  • 1.3 Video: The formation of dense water and water masses
  • 1.4 Video: The Mediterranean a model of an ocean
  • 1.5.1 Video The pressure gradient force
  • 1.5.2 Video: The Coriolis Force
  • 1.3 The formation of dense water and water masses
  • 1.4 The Mediterranean a model of an ocean
  • 1.4.1 The Mediterranean, a negative estuary
  • 1.4.2 The circulation of the Mediterranean's main masses of water
  • 1.5 Fundamental concepts of marine dynamics
  • 1.5.1 The “pressure gradient force”
  • 1.5.2 The Coriolis Force
  • 1.5.3 Dynamic topography and geostrophic circulation
  • Quiz 1B

  • 2. The Global Ocean
  • 2.1.1 Video: From the Mediterranean to the ocean. Changing scales past Gibraltar
  • 2.1.2 Video: The water cycle on the planet
  • 2.1.3 Video: The confinement of the ocean and the freedom of the atmosphere. Exchanges of energy and evaporation. Heating and cooling. Consequences of ocean dynamics.
  • 2.1.4 Video: Vertical structure by density. Intrusions and intermediate waters
  • 2.2.1 Video Circulation, water masses and the internal structure of the oceans. Geostrophy or how ocean structure reflects circulation and how the circulation affects structure
  • 2.2.3 Video Wind-induced circulation. Ekman and upwelling.
  • 2.3.1 Video Instabilities. Inertial motion. Mesoscale.
  • 2.3.2 Video Deep and intermediate water formation
  • 2.3.3 Video Climate impact. Heat distribution on the planet. Hidden heat.
  • 2.3.4 Video Non-linearity and instabilities: Niños and Niñas
  • 2.4.1 Video A three-dimensional environment, with little or no visibility and no fixed references
  • 2.4.2 Video A sea full of life: the pelagic and benthic environments. Near to and far from the coast. In light and darkness.
  • 2. Introduction Planet Earth is also 'planet water'
  • 2.1.The Global Ocean
  • 2.1.1 From the Mediterranean to the ocean. Changing scales past Gibraltar
  • 2.1.2 Water cycle on the planet
  • 2.1.3 The confinement of the ocean and the freedom of the atmosphere. Exchanges of energy and evaporation. Heating and cooling. Consequences of ocean dynamics.
  • 2.1.4 Vertical structure by density. Intrusions and intermediate waters
  • Introduction Ocean Circulation
  • 2.2.1 Circulation, water masses and te internal structure of the oceans. Geostrophy or how ocean structure reflects circulation and how the circulation affects structure
  • 2.2.2 Thermohaline circulation. Water transport and the conveyor belt
  • 2.2.3 Wind-induced circulation. Ekman and upwelling.
  • 2.3 Introduction Other scales of motion
  • 2.3.1 Instabilities. Inertial motion. Mesoscale.
  • 2.3.2 Deep and intermediate water formation
  • 2.3.3 Climate impact. Heat distribution on the planet. Hidden heat.
  • 2.3.4 Non-linearity and instabilities: Niños and Niñas
  • 2.4 Introduction The ocean as an environment. A sea full of life
  • 2.4.1 A three-dimensional environment, with little or no visibility and no fixed references
  • 2.4.2 A sea full of life: the pelagic and benthic environments. Near to and far from the coast. In light and darkness.
  • Quiz 2

  • 3A. Satellite oceanography: all eyes on the planet (I)
  • Video: 3A. Introduction
  • 3.1.1 Video Can we do something similar for the ocean?
  • 3.1.2 Video Why do we want to use remote sensing for oceanography?
  • 3.2.2 Video Sensing the ocean surface from a satellite
  • 3.1 What is remote sensing? Why do we want to observe the ocean from space?
  • 3.1.1 Can we do something similar for the ocean?
  • 3.1.2 Why do we want to use remote sensing for oceanography?
  • 3.1.3 Advantages and disadvantages of ocean remote sensing
  • 3.2 Electromagnetic radiation emitted and reflected by the ocean
  • 3.2.1 Oceans and electromagnetic radiation
  • 3.2.2 Sensing the ocean surface from a satellite
  • 3.2.3 Sea Surface Temperature (SST)
  • 3.2.4 Ocean colour
  • Quiz 3A

  • 3B. Satellite oceanography: All eyes on the planet (II)
  • 3.3.1 Video Microwave radiometers
  • 3.3.2 Video Sea surface salinity determined by microwaves
  • 3.4.3 Video How is this used in satellite oceanography?
  • 3.4.3.1 Video scatterometer wind vector retrieval
  • 3.4.4 Video Radar altimeter: the revolution in operational oceanography
  • 3.5.1 Video Beyond satellite measurements: navigation and communications
  • 3.5.2 Video The Argo array of profiling floats
  • 3.5.3 Video Operational oceanography
  • 3.3 A very interesting atmospheric window: the microwave domain
  • 3.3.1 Microwave radiometers
  • 3.3.2 Sea surface salinity determined by microwaves
  • 3.3.3 Sea ice observation and icebergs tracking
  • 3.3.4 Surface wind speed and direction
  • 3.4 Active sensors: satellites that illuminate the oceans
  • 3.4.1 Lidar: using a laser to observe the ocean
  • 3.4.2 Radars: active sensors to illuminate the ocean through clouds
  • 3.4.3 Side-looking radars to image the ocean surface and quantify its roughness
  • 3.4.4 Radar altimeter: the revolution in operational oceanography
  • 3.5 Other satellite applications in oceanography and final summary
  • 3.5.1 Beyond satellite measurements: navigation and communications
  • 3.5.2 The Argo array of profiling floats
  • 3.5.3 Operational oceanography
  • 3.5.4 Final summary
  • Quiz 3B

  • 4. Ocean chemistry: a chemical industry with wall-less pipes
  • 4. Video Introduction: Ocean chemistry
  • 4.1 Video: Water, solutes and particles
  • 4.2 Video The biosphere's vertical axis and the vertical segregrations of the elements
  • 4.3 Video The carbon carbonate system
  • 4.4 Video The chemistry of the global ocean conveyor belt
  • 4.1 Water, solutes and particles
  • 4.1.1 General Introduction: A complex chemical plant with no pipes
  • 4.1.2 Water
  • 4.1.3 The chemical composition of sea water
  • 4.1.4 Solute or particle: chemistry and gravity
  • 4.2 The biosphere's vertical axis and the vertical segregrations of the elements
  • 4.2.1 Production: light, nutrients and organisms
  • 4.2.2 Vertical segregation and the role of auxiliary energy in production
  • 4.2.3 New production and recycled production
  • 4.3 The carbon carbonate system
  • 4.3.1. Forms of inorganic carbon
  • 4.3.2 Processes which modify dissolved inorganic carbon
  • 4.3.3 Changes in alkalinity and pH
  • 4.3.4 CO2 exchanges with the atmosphere
  • 4.4 The chemistry of the global ocean conveyor belt
  • 4.4.1 The vertical and horizontal segregation of the nutrient elements
  • 4.4.2 Apparent oxygen utilisation and the apparent production of nutrients
  • 4.4.3 Respiration, acidification and dissolution of carbonate
  • 4.4.4 The global ocean distribution of chemical elements of interest for life
  • Quiz 4

  • 5. Ocean basins: a memory sustained for millions of years
  • 5 Video: Introduction: The result of the evolution of the Earth's crust. Ocean basins
  • 5.1.1. Video: A bit of history
  • 5.1.2. Video The result of the evolution of the Earth's crust
  • 5.2.1 Video Paleoceanography Introduction
  • 5.2.2 Video The marine record of glacial and interglacial cycles of the Quaternary
  • 5.2.3 Video The role of the oceans in the rapid advance of climatic variability
  • 5.2.4 Video The Carbon cycle as feedback for climate change
  • 5.2.5 Video Summary
  • 5.3.1 Video The marine sediment system as a response to the conditions and evolution of the medium
  • 5.4 Video Typologies of marine biogenous and hydrogenous sediment
  • 5.4.1 Video Biogenous sediment
  • 5. Introduction:The result of the evolution of the Earth's crust.Ocean basins
  • 5.1.1. Some history
  • 5.1.2. The result of the evolution of the Earth's crust
  • 5.1.3 The diversity of the ocean domains: from continental margins to great trenches. The great ocean basins
  • 5.2 Paleoceanography
  • 5.3 Marine sediment distribution
  • 5.3.1 The marine sediment system as a response to the conditions and evolution of the medium
  • 5.3.2 The conditioning factors for the distribution of terrigenous sediment and rates of sedimentation
  • 5.3.3 The marine sediment system as a response to conditions and the evolution of the environment
  • 5.4 Typologies of marine biogenous and hydrogenous sediment
  • 5.4.1 biogenous sediment
  • 5.4.2 Evaporite sediment and chemical precipitation (hydrogenous)
  • 5.4.3 Marine productivity and the preservation of organic matter in sediment
  • 5.4.4 Other deposits of interest
  • 5.5 Important points along the BWR course and their oceanic and structural significance
  • Quiz 5

Summary of User Reviews

The Oceanography course on Coursera has received positive reviews from many users. The course is highly informative and engaging, providing insights into the world's oceans and the life within them. Users have found the course to be a great way to learn about oceanography and have given it high overall ratings.

Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course

The course content is highly informative and engaging, providing insights into the world's oceans and the life within them.

Pros from User Reviews

  • The course content is highly informative and engaging
  • The instructors are knowledgeable and accessible
  • The course materials are well-organized and easy to follow
  • The course provides a great way to learn about oceanography
  • The course includes a wide range of topics and perspectives

Cons from User Reviews

  • The course may be too basic for some users
  • The workload can be overwhelming at times
  • The course may not be suitable for those without a background in science
  • The course does not provide enough hands-on experience
  • The course may not be challenging enough for advanced learners

Keywords

English
Available now
Approx. 29 hours to complete
Jordi Serra
Universitat de Barcelona, Fundació Navegació Oceànica Barcelona
Coursera

Instructor

Jordi Serra

  • 4.5 Raiting

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