Assigned readings are given in the following table, followed by a list of suggested additional texts.
All chapters listed in this table are from the required course text, which is freely available online.
Stewart, Robert. Introduction to Physical Oceanography. August 2005 version.
The table below provides information on the course’s lecture (L), and lab (Lab) sessions.
| SES # | TOPICS | READINGS |
|---|---|---|
| L1 | Introduction to Ocean Systems and Engineering |
Chapter 1
Hydrostatic Pressure (PDF) Slides: Introduction Part 1 (PDF) |
| L2 | Sea Floor; Measurements in the Ocean; Accuracy of Measurements |
Chapter 3
Slides: Introduction Part 2 (PDF - 2.5 MB) |
| L3 | Atmospheric Effects on the Ocean; Wind and Heat | Chapter 4 |
| Lab 1 | SeaPerch II ROV: Introduction to SeaPerch, Construction Plan, Lab Procedures | |
| L4 | Ocean Seawater Properties | Chapter 6 |
| Lab 2 | SeaPerch II: Building and Motors | |
| Lab 3 | Extra SeaPerch II Lab Session, In Place of Lecture: Building Motors and Electronics (cont.) | |
| L5 | Light Propagation in the Ocean | Chapter 6 |
| Lab 4 | SeaPerch II: Continue Work | |
| L6 | Sound Propagation in the Ocean: Basics, Speed of Sound, Sound Channel | Chapter 3 |
| L7 | Acoustics 1 | |
| Lab 5 | SeaPerch II: Completion | |
| L8 | Acoustics 2 | |
| L9 | Acoustics 3 | Introduction to Sonor (PDF) (Courtesy of Prof. John Leonard. Used with permission.) |
| Lab 6 | Field/Pool Test of SeaPerch II ROV | |
| L10 | Acoustics 4 | |
| L11 | Introduction to GFD; Conservation of Mass/Momentum/Energy | |
| Lab 7 | Start Final Project | |
| Exam 1 (In-class) | ||
| L12 | Turbulence, Scaling, Boundary Layers |
Chapter 8
Slides: Vorticity in the Ocean (PDF) |
| Lab 8 | Final Project (cont.) | |
| L13 | Ocean Mixing and Stability | Chapter 8 |
| L14 | Coriolis Force and Ekman Forcing |
Chapter 9
Slides: Motion of the Upper Ocean (PDF) |
| Lab 9 | Final Project (cont.) | |
| L15 | Geostrophic Flows 1 |
Chapter 10
Slides: Geostrophic Currents (PDF) |
| Lab 10 | Final Project (cont.) | |
| L16 | Geostrophic Flows 2 | Chapter 10 |
| L17 | Measuring Currents: Lagrangian vs. Eulerian | Chapter 10 |
| Lab 11 | Final Project: Testing | |
| L18 | Deep Ocean Circulation | |
| L19 | El Nino and La Nina | |
| Lab 12 | Final Project: Testing, Integration with ROV | |
| L20 | Coastal Processes: Tsunamis | |
| Lab 13 | Final Project: Testing Complete ROV System | |
| L21 | Guest Lecture: Hydrothermal Vents in the Ocean | |
| L22 | Guest Lecture: Chemical Sensing in the Ocean | |
| Lab 14 | Final Presentations | |
| L23 | Trip to WHOI: Launch ROV and Visit WHOI Labs |
Additional Texts
Chapters will be distributed from these two books as necessary.
Denny, Mark W. Air and Water: The Biology and Physics of Life’s Media. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1993. ISBN: 9780691087344.
Van Dorn, W. G. Oceanography and Seamanship. Centerville, MD: Cornell Maritime Press, 1993. ISBN: 9780870334344.
Reference Texts
Medwin H., and C. S. Clay. Fundamentals of Acoustical Oceanography. New York, NY: John Wiley and Sons, 1998.
Littlefield, B., and D. Hanselman. Mastering MATLAB® 6, A Comprehensive Tutorial and Reference. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2001.
Supplemental Texts
Urick, R. J. Principles of Underwater Sound. 3rd ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 1983.
Knauss, J. A. Introduction to Physical Oceanography. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1997.
Open University. Ocean Circulation. San Diego, CA: Pergamon Press, 1989.
