Physical-biological Oceanography (MARS3012)
Course level
Undergraduate
Faculty
Units
2
Duration
One Semester
Class hours
3L2P + 4 day field trip
Prerequisite
GEOS2100 or MARS2014 or equivalent; STAT1201 or equivalent
Restricted
Permission to enrol by Head of School
Assessment methods
Laboratory Report, Field Report, Examination
Course enquiries
Dr. Scarla Weeks (s.weeks@uq.edu.au)
Study Abroad
This course is pre-approved for Study Abroad and Exchange students.
Work Integrated Learning
Field Experience
Current course offerings
| Course offerings | Location | Mode | Course Profile |
| Semester 1, 2024 (19/02/2024 - 15/06/2024) | St Lucia | In Person | Course Profile |
Please Note: Course profiles marked as not available may still be in development.
Course description
Course will not be offered in 2017
This course will provide students with a clear understanding of the physical and biological processes in the ocean, and the influence of physical dynamics on biology - from open ocean to coral reefs, from phytoplankton to fisheries to charismatic megafauna. Our changing climate is affecting the circulation and properties of our oceans, and the biology is responding. In order to understand the effects of climate change, we first need to understand how the ocean works. This course will challenge students with understanding the functioning of our oceans, and how the patterns and distribution of life in the ocean are controlled by the physical oceanography. The course consists of integrated lectures on physical-biological oceanography and climate change effects to provide the interdisciplinary foundation increasingly required in the contemporary environmental sciences. It covers the influence of the oceans on human activities and the influence of human activities on the characteristics of the oceans. The field study will involve students working in groups to measure various physical and biological oceanographic parameters in Moreton Bay, and to identify plankton samples in the laboratories at Moreton Bay Research Station. Practicals will focus on learning to acquire and work with satellite oceanography data.
MARS3012 has restricted enrolments due to the number of places available on the compulsory field trip. To express your interest in applying for this course, please see https://sees.uq.edu.au/student-support/student-field-trips. Expressions of Interest will close at the end of June and successful students will subsequently be invited to enrol. Additional fees payable for field trip attendance. In the event that students complete the field trip and then subsequently withdraw from this course without financial liability, the School reserves the right to charge full cost recovery for this field trip.
