2020-2021 / OCEA0090-1

Dynamics of marine ecosystems

Duration

20h Th, 20h Pr

Number of credits

 Master in oceanography (120 ECTS)4 crédits 

Lecturer

Marilaure Grégoire

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the second semester

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

The course focuses on the description and understanding of the interactions between marine physical and biogeochemical processes from the small to the large space and time scales.
Table des matières:
Chapter I : The geohydrodynamic context

  • Introduction
  • Space and Time scales, spectral window
  • Mathematical modelling


Chapitre II The geohydrodynamic variability
I The internal forces
  • A. The molecular effects
  • B. The stratification and internal waves
  • C. The Coriolis effect
  • D. The earth curvature effect

II The external forces
The heat exchange at the air sea interface

Chapitre III: Processes on a scale of less than 1 kilometer
  • Biology and boundary layers
  • Vertical structure of the open ocean: biology of the mixed layer
  • Vertical structure in coastal waters: freshwater run-off and tidal mixing.

Chapitre IV: Processes on a scale of 1-1000 kilometers
  • Vertical structure in coastal waters: coastal upwelling regions
  • Fronts in coastal waters
  • Tides, tidal mixing, and internal waves

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

To study the marin system in an interdisciplinary view combining the physics, biology and biogeochemsitry for different systems and at different space and time scales. 

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Face to face teaching. 

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

5-6 theoritical course

Organisational adjustments related to the current health context

Recommended or required readings

Available

Assessment methods and criteria

Below you will find information on the evaluation methods planned for in-person and remote exams as well as those planned for hybrid sessions. Depending on how the health crisis evolves, the chosen method will be communicated to you no later than one month before the start of the exam session.

Any session :

- In-person

oral exam

- Remote

oral exam AND written work

- If evaluation in "hybrid"

preferred in-person


Additional information:

Oral examination (June, August): Oral presentation of the homework during which the student will have to answer questions on the homework and on the lecture.
The homework needs to be sent by email before May 30th at midnight. 

Work placement(s)

There is no work displacement foreseen in the frame of this lecture

Organizational remarks

The lecture takes place during the second part of the year (usually, first week of February)

Contacts

Marilaure Grégoire
MAST research group
Department of Astrophysics, Geophysics and Oceanography