Physical Oceanography in Fjords
Postgraduate course
- ECTS credits
- 10
- Teaching semesters
- Spring
- Course code
- GEOF337
- Number of semesters
- 1
- Teaching language
- English
- Resources
- Schedule
Course description
Objectives and Content
Objectives
The course aims to provide the students with practical and theoretical knowledge and understanding of the circulation, exchange processes and response to external forcing in fjords. The fieldwork from a dedicated cruise aims to provide training on the use of relevant oceanographic instrumentation, on data analysis and reporting, and help to put the theory in context.
Content
The course describes the basic features of circulation, water masses and mixing processes in fjords. An introduction to how external forcings affect the different layers in the fjord will be supplemented by fieldwork in a fjord and key scientific literature on selected aspects of fjord physics. Estuarine circulation, water exchange with adjacent coastal waters, renewal of deep water masses, tidal interaction with fjord constrictions, vertical diffusion driven by internal waves, physical-biological interactions, dynamics of Arctic fjords, and the hydrography of selected important fjords will be discussed.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of the course the student should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:
Knowledge
The student
- has thorough knowledge of the main features of the fjord stratification and circulation
- has good understanding of the response to external forcing and the processes contributing to vertical mixing in fjord basins
- has knowledge of the observational methods related to describe the physical oceanography in fjords
Skills
The student
- can use simple physical concepts to explain the circulation and mixing in a fjord
- can analyze and present data from observations to describe the physical oceanography in a fjord
General competence
The student
- can relate wind and tidal forcing to vertical mixing and circulation in ocean
- can generalize and relate the knowledge and skill gained to applications such as harvesting energy from tides and currents, environmental effects of fish farms, and dispersal and mixing of pollutants
- can prepare a scientific report and presentation
ECTS Credits
Level of Study
Semester of Instruction
Spring, the course will only be taught if enough students enrol.Enrolment to this course is based on application. Application deadline is wednesday in week 2 for the spring semester.Please, see this page for more information: www.uib.no/en/matnat/53431/admission-courses-limited-capacity
Mandatory attendance at first lecture.
Please notice that it is not possible to follow both courses GEOF232 and GEOF337 in parallel.
Place of Instruction
Required Previous Knowledge
Recommended Previous Knowledge
Credit Reduction due to Course Overlap
Access to the Course
Teaching and learning methods
Compulsory Assignments and Attendance
Compulsory assignments and attendance:
Active participation in seminars and fieldwork. Seminar presentation of at least one assigned scientific paper (valid for four semesters: the semester mandatory activities have been approved and the three following semesters.)
Forms of Assessment
Forms of assessment are:
- Oral examination, (counts for 60 % of the final grade)
- Semester report and presentation (40%).
The students has to pass the oral exam. The report and the presentation are valid the semester it was submitted and the following semester. The results from the two parts (oral examination and semester report/presentation) are added together to determine the final grade.