Marine Geophysics and oceanography

If the teaching is given in a mixed or distance mode, the necessary changes may be introduced with respect to what was previously declared,  to respect the program envisaged and reported in the syllabus

Attendance at the course is compulsory for at least 70% of the lessons. However, it is advisable to attend most of the lessons, because in the classroom basic concepts are also recalled which are not strictly part of the program but preparatory to understanding the topics covered.

Information for students with disabilities and/or DSA: To guarantee equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, interested students can request a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, based on the educational objectives and specifications needs.

  It is also possible to contact the CInAP (Centre for Active and Participatory Integration - Services for Disabilities and/or DSA) supervisor of our Department, prof. George De Guidi

Localization of the measures at sea: navigation using electromagnetic waves; Satellite Navigation: GPS and GLONASS; acoustic navigation; integrated navigation systems. Representation of the seabed by means of Sonar and Lidar: Electromagnetic and acoustic waves in the ocean, velocity and attenuation; echo-soundings, bathymetric data representation; radar, lidar. Marine seismic exploration: seismic data acquisition at sea, seismic sources at the sea, hydrophones, OBS (ocean bottom seismographs); representation of seismic data. Seismic Chirp. Gravity measurements in the sea. Thermal measurements at sea; heat flux in the oceans. Magnetic measurements in the sea; magnetic anomalies and expansion in the mid-ocean ridges. Study of the oceanic lithosphere: the sedimentary cover, the crust and the upper mantle. Study of divergent margins, transforms and subduction zones. The marine geophysics for application purposes: mineral resources and geological hazards.

Historical background of oceanography. The marine and oceanic basins: origin and evolution. Morphology and physiographic characteristics of the Oceans and Mediterranean Sea. Nature and characteristics of the seabed and oceanic floor. Physical and chemical factors (temperature, salinity, density) and their role in the stratification of the water masses. Influence of the atmosphere. The winds. Cyclones and anticyclones. Tropical and extratropical cyclones. Climate changes. Wind waves and tides and their influence on coastal areas; currents and circulation in the Oceans and in the Mediterranean Sea. Effects of tsunamis and storms on the coasts

Jones E. J. W., 1998: Marine Geophysics. J.W. Wiley & Sons, 466 pp.
Pinet P.R. 2003. Invitation to Oceanography. Jones & Bartlett Publisher. Sudbury, Massachussets.
Stewart R. H., 2008. Introduction To Physical Oceanography, Texas A&M University

The final exam takes place in oral form and may include written or practical tests, both in progress and during the exam sessions, on the topics covered. The student can also prepare a power point presentation on a topic of his choice among those of the course, during which the commission will ask questions to evaluate the student's level of learning.

The written exam, if provided, consists of an open-ended question test on the topics of the course; the practical test, if foreseen, n a computer processing of some of the topics addressed during the exercises.

The oral exam consists of an interview with the examining commission, during which the candidate will have to explain the knowledge acquired on two / three topics of the course. During the exam, the commission can ask the student for clarifications on what she is exposing to clarify any inaccuracies or better clarify the topic she is dealing with.

  The verification of learning can also be carried out at distance mode if the conditions require it.

If required, the written and/or practical exam will contribute to the final grade with a third weight on the final assessment. The latter, aimed at assessing the student's level of learning, will be based on the ability to correctly present the acquired concepts orally, show adequate mastery of the scientific method of investigation and data analysis techniques; the ability to develop and use geophysical tools for marine geophysics and oceanography applications, both for understanding processes in the marine environment and for application purposes; finally, adequate knowledge of the main scientific vocabulary in English is required, with reference to the disciplinary lexicon.

The questions concern the whole course and are aimed at verifying the understanding that the student has acquired on the methods of ocean exploration through the use of geophysical techniques and:

- the role that deep-ocean observations have played in establishing the modern theory of plate tectonics, transforming Earth sciences in unexpected ways.

- that the measurements in the more superficial waters have revealed how the continental margins are formed, how they sink and are covered by sedimentary accumulations.

- The structural details that are highlighted by seismic and other methods make geophysics an indispensable tool in the search for oil and other natural resources.

- the main characteristics of the ocean floor and their evolution.

In addition, students must demonstrate knowledge of what are:

- the main chemical-physical characteristics of water and their structuring

- the movements of the sea.

- the influence of the seas in the formation and distribution of the various marine areas

-cyclones and anticyclones; the formation of tropical and extratropical cyclones