ES5003 BLUE PLANET: HOW THE OCEAN WORKS

The oceans are the largest habitat on our planet, and they are a fascinating environment that is physically, chemically, and biologically different from the land environment we humans are used to. Yet we depend on healthy oceans in many ways, for example to regulate our climate and provide food. This course aims to teach you how the oceans work as a system, and so will cover physical, chemical, and biological oceanography. You will learn about coastal environments and the open ocean, and from shallow waters to the deep abyssal plains. We will look at how ocean currents flow and why they are important, at why seawater has the chemical composition that it does, at how organisms have adapted to live in ocean environments, and at how different marine ecosystems, including coral reefs, function. The course will also examine in what ways we are threatening the health of the oceans, and how we can better preserve the oceans. The course thus aims to foster a fascination and appreciation for the oceans, and to promote ocean literacy amongst students from diverse disciplinary backgrounds. As an unrestricted elective, the course will be accessible to all students with an interest in the oceans, regardless of your major programme (non-science students with an interest in the oceans are extremely welcome).