Ocean Climate

The course is available for students at the study program Biologi, klima og miljø, Miljøledelse og forurensningsbiology and exchange students at a biology study program. Students from other Departments for instance geology and physics are also welcome. The course is available as a singular course.

Students are encouraged to also take BIO-2010 Marine ecology and BIO-2513 Marin biodiversitet (Please note! Norwegian taught course)

The course provides a descriptive introduction to physical processes in the ocean and the ocean¿s role in the climate system. The students will be given an introduction to the physical setting of the oceans, the basic physical and chemical properties of seawater, basic principles of ocean circulation and mixing in the ocean, tides and waves. We will discuss interactions between atmosphere and ocean, the ocean¿s role in the global heat budget and the climate system, and connections to anthropogenic climate change. Lectures will be supplemented by laboratory exercises and seminars to further explore the most important physical processes. The course includes a scientific cruise to the Lofoten area. The students will get experience in handling oceanographic instruments for data acquisition and programming for data analysis, and will produce a cruise report. At the end of the course, the students will be able to explain the basic physical processes in the ocean and the oceans impact on the climate system, and use their knowledge of ocean physics to analyse and interpret oceanographic data.

Nordic applicants: Admission requirements are generell studiekompetanse + REALFA. Application code: 9336

International applicants: Higher Education Entrance Qualification and certified language requirements in English. A list of the requirements for the Higher Education Entrance Qualification in Norway can be found on the Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education website - nokut.no  

All applicants: Basic knowledge in physics and mathematics is an advantage.

At the end of the course, the students will be able to:

• explain and use oceanographic terminology
• describe the basic physical and chemical properties of sea water
• demonstrate basic principles of density and wind driven circulation in the ocean
• sketch simple explanations of basic models for ocean circulation, e.g. geostrophic circulation or Ekman transport
• provide an elementary explanation for tidal forcing
• distinguish and classify different types of waves
• discuss the ocean¿s role in the climate system
• use oceanographic literature such as scientific papers to obtain relevant information
• make standard oceanographic observations, and analyse and interpret the results.

If you pass the examination in this course, you will get an reduction in credits (as stated below), if you previously have passed the following courses:

• BIO-2514 Marine ecology 1.5 stp
• BIO-2510 Basic Physical Oceanography 8 stp
• GEO-2010 Marine Geosciences 1.5 stp

Language of instruction and examination

3 hour written exam (70% of final grade) and seminar presentation (30% of final grade). Letter grades A-F where A-E are required to pass, F is fail.

In order to sit an examination, the student must complete and gain approval for any coursework requirements.

Coursework requirements: approved cruisereport and laboratory report.

Students who fail the exam will be able to take a re-sit exam. In the re-sit exam the grades from the seminar presentation (ordinary exam) will apply, and there will only be a new written exam.