Marine Geology

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Describe and draw plan and profile sketches of the major topographic features of the ocean floor.
2. Describe the formation of the major topographic features of the ocean floor in terms of plate tectonic processes.
3. Show an understanding of the physical and chemical properties of sea water.
4. Show an understanding of the origin and character of surface and deep ocean currents.
5. Describe the formation of tides and waves and their effect of ocean basins and coastal margins.
6. Describe the processes of erosion and deposition at coastlines and the resulting coastal landforms.
7. Describe and identify sediment found in coastal margins and their ancient lithified analogs. Show an understanding of the processes involved in the formation of such sediment.
8. Describe and show an understanding of the physical and biological processes which control the development of deltaic and estuarine environments.
9. Describe the character of the Fraser Delta and its development over geologic time.
10. Show an understanding of the sedimentation process and resulting sediment character and distribution on the ocean floor.
11. Describe the change in land/sea relationship over time, how this is determined, and its effect on the distribution of life in the oceans.
12. Describe the formation of a variety of oil/gas and ore deposits in the ocean.
13. Describe the importance of the oceans as generators of weather and climate patterns and the interaction of the oceans and the atmosphere.
14. Describe the likely sources of contamination of the oceans and discuss the various remedial methods used to mitigate the impact of these contaminants.