Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Requisite: Mathematics 3B or 31B. Introductory course for physical sciences, life sciences, or engineering majors interested in environmental issues. Observations of temperature, salinity, density, and currents. Methods. Wind-driven and geostrophic currents. California Current and Gulf Stream. Internal waves. Surface waves and tides. Air/sea interactions. Coastal upwelling. Biological/physical interactions. El niño. Role of ocean in climate and global change. Santa Monica Bay field trip. Letter grading.

Review Summary

Clarity
8.3 / 10
Organization
8.3 / 10
Time
5-10 hrs/week
Overall
5.0 / 10

Reviews

    Quarter Taken: Fall 2023 In-Person
    Grade: A-

    There isn't a textbook but the slides are sometimes difficult to interact with because it's hard to know which equations are important or not. The class is much more difficult than expected. Everything is pretty fair, grading is hard, prof and TAs were great, it's just not the most interesting material. It is a lot of physics. The math is fairly simple, lots of plug and play, it's just hard to figure out where to plug.

Course

Previously taught
23F
Formerly offered as
ATMOSCI 103

Grading Information

  • No group projects

  • Attendance required

  • 1 midterm

  • Finals week final

  • 100% recommend the textbook

Previous Grades

Grade distributions not available.