Enroll Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/oceanography
Have you ever wondered about the vast, mysterious world that covers over 70% of our planet? Coursera’s ‘Oceanography: a key to better understand our world’ is your passport to exploring this incredible realm. This course, inspired by the epic journey of a round-the-world regatta, takes you on a fascinating voyage through diverse oceanographic landscapes, from the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans.
Led by experienced instructors, the course breaks down the complex science of oceanography into digestible modules. You’ll start with the fundamentals, learning about the classification and formation of the ocean floor. The initial modules delve into the physical characteristics of water, exploring temperature, salinity, and pressure, and how these factors influence water masses and circulation. The Mediterranean Sea serves as a brilliant model to understand these concepts, illustrating everything from the formation of dense, deep water to geostrophic circulation driven by the Coriolis force.
As the course progresses, you’ll broaden your perspective to the Global Ocean, examining its role on a planetary scale and how it impacts life on Earth. A particularly engaging aspect is the introduction to satellite oceanography. Modules 3A and 3B illuminate how satellites provide us with an ‘all-seeing eye’ on our oceans, detailing remote sensing techniques and the importance of electromagnetic radiation and microwave data for navigation and scientific study.
Delving into ocean chemistry, you’ll uncover the intricate workings of the marine environment, understanding the vertical axis of the biosphere, element segregation, and the crucial carbon carbonate system and its link to the ocean conveyor belt. This knowledge is vital for grasping the ocean’s relationship with global climate.
Finally, the course explores ocean basins, revealing how the Earth’s crustal evolution has shaped these immense underwater landscapes over millions of years. You’ll learn about the journey from continental margins to the vast ocean abysses.
Overall, ‘Oceanography: a key to better understand our world’ is an exceptionally well-structured and informative course. It strikes a perfect balance between theoretical knowledge and practical applications, making complex topics accessible and engaging. Whether you’re a student, a sailing enthusiast, or simply curious about our planet’s oceans, this course offers invaluable insights. Highly recommended!
Enroll Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/oceanography