Foundations of Ocean Science

This introductory unit establishes foundational knowledge of ocean systems, including physical processes, major habitats, and representative marine life, while connecting ocean function to global climate and human uses. It prepares students for deeper study of marine management, conservation, and applied oceanography in subsequent units.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze the structure and characteristics of the ocean by comparing horizontal (coastal, epipelagic, mesopelagic) and vertical zones (light, temperature, pressure) and by identifying major seafloor features and plate tectonic processes that shaped them.
• Demonstrate knowledge of key marine organisms and communities by identifying representative taxa (microbes, algae, porifera, cnidarians, mollusks, crustaceans, fishes, seabirds, marine mammals, sea turtles, mangroves, kelp forests) and explaining their adaptations and ecological roles.
• Apply principles of physical oceanography to explain wave generation, ocean circulation, the role of the ocean in weather and climate regulation, and factors driving sea level change (including melting sea ice).
• Evaluate human interactions with the ocean by assessing fisheries importance, legal frameworks, monitoring indicators of ocean health, and mitigation strategies (e.g., carbon footprint reduction, shoreline management) and proposing at least two evidence-based stewardship actions.