An image of a fish

Lesson 1 - The Marine Environment

Introduction

In this lesson you will learn about the way scientists study the ocean and what they have learned about the sea floor. This will include sea floor spreading and continental drift. We will emphasize the global scale of the geology of Earth's oceans.
 
Getting Started Maps of the Earth generally ignore the sea floor. Details end where the water begins, and oceans are colored a uniform blue. This does not mean that the ocean bottom is featureless. In fact, some of the Earth's greatest topographical relief is underwater. The sea floor sports mountains higher than Mount Everest and trenches deeper than the Grand Canyon.

The basic geological characteristics of the sea floor are unique. Understanding the forces that have sculpted the topography beneath the waves gives a more global veiw of the Earth. To better understand these forces, compare the ocean bottom to more familiar features on dry land.


Focus on Learning

 

Use the course competencies listed below to focus your learning and use the lesson objectives to sharpen that focus.
 
Competencies By the end of the lesson , you should be able to:

  1. Describe how scientists use inductive and deductive reasoning to create and test ideas.
  2. Describe the major topographic features of the sea floor and the forces that created them.
 
Objectives

To master the competencies, you should be able to:

  1. Describe how scientists use inductive and deductive reasoning to create and test ideas.
  2. Describe the major topographic features of the sea floor and the forces that created them


Reading Assignments

Reading Assignment Reading is a very important component of an internet course. Read the assigned pages from your textbook and coloring book before proceeding to the Instruction section.
   
Textbook Read the Assignments in Castro and Huber's Marine Biology Textbook:
1.1 Marine Science: Chapter 1
1.2 The Sea Floor: Chapter 2
   
Coloring Book Read the Assignments in Niesen's Marine Biology Coloring Book:
1.1 Marine Science: Plates 114 and 115
1.2 The Sea Floor: None
   
Complete the optional Reading Self Test after completing the reading assignments. Have your textbook open as you work on it. The self test is a warm up for the reading quiz that follows.
   
Reading Self Test
Log-in to BlackBoard and navigate to the Reading Self Test located in the Lesson Folder within Course Content:
Reading Self Test 1 The Marine Environment
 



Instruction

Complete the Lecture Exercise below. The lecture exercise consists of two sets of online notes and a notes self test.
   
Study the online notes. Have your books and notebook open as you work on them. Add the information you find in the notes to your notebook or print them and add them to your notebook. The notes can be opened when completing the self test and quiz. The information you find in these notes is very helpful when completing the graded note quiz when assessing your learning below.
   
Online Notes
Read the Online Notes by Clicking the Links Below:
Notes 1.1 Marine Science
Notes 1.2 The Sea Floor
   
Complete the optional Notes Self Test after studying the online notes. Have the online notes, your books and notebook open as you work on it. The self test is a warm up for the note quiz that follows.
   
Notes Self Test
Log-in to BlackBoard and navigate to the Notes Self Test located in the Lesson Folder within Course Content:
Notes: Self Test 1 The Marine Environment
   
Complete the Laboratory Exercise below. The laboratory exercise consists of four lab activities and a lab self test.
   
Complete the Lab Activities. Have your books and notebook open as you work on them. Add the information you find in the lab activities to your notebook. The information in these activities is very helpful when completing the graded lab quiz when assesing your learning below.
   
Lab Activities
Complete the Lab Activities by Clicking the Links Below:
Lab Activity 1.1 Marine Geography
Lab Activity 1.2 Plate Tectonics
Lab Activity 1.3 Geological Provinces
Lab Activity 1.4 Sea Floor Topography
   
Complete the optional Lab Self Test after completing the lab activities. Have the online lab activities, your books and notebook open as you work on it. The self test is a warm up for the lab quiz that follows.
   
Lab Self Test
Log-in to BlackBoard and navigate to the Lab Self Test located in the Lesson Folder within Course Content:
Lab Self Test 1 Marine Geography and Geology



Assess Your Learning

It's time to assess what you have learned from your reading. The following Reading Quiz is a graded assignment. Have your textbook open as you work on it. Be sure to submit your work when you complete it. Good luck!
   
Reading Quiz
Log-in to BlackBoard and navigate to the Reading Quiz located in the Lesson Folder within Course Content:
Reading Quiz 1 The Marine Environment
   
It's time to assess what you have learned from the online notes. The following Note Quiz is a graded assignment. Have your books and notebook open as you work on it. Be sure to submit your work when you complete it. Good luck!
   
Notes Quiz
Log-in to BlackBoard and navigate to the Notes Quiz located in the Lesson Folder within Course Content:
Notes Quiz 1 The Marine Environment
   
It's time to think about and express what you have learned in the lab activities. The following Lab Worksheet is a graded assignment. Feel free to draw upon any of the work you have already done. Be sure to submit your lab worksheet when you complete it. Good luck!
   
Lab Worksheet
Log-in to BlackBoard and navigate to the Lab Worksheet located in the Lesson Folder within Course Content:
Lab Worksheet 1 Marine Geography and Geology
   
It's time to assess what you have learned from your lab activities. The following Lab Quiz is a graded assignment. Have your books and notebook open as you work on it. Be sure to submit your work when you complete it. Good luck!
   
Lab Quiz
Log-in to BlackBoard and navigate to the Lab Quiz located in the Lesson Folder within Course Content:
Lab Quiz 1 Marine Geography and Geology



Express Your Learning

It's time to think about the big picture and express what you have learned in this lesson. The following Essay Quiz is a graded assignment. Feel free to draw upon any of the work you have already done. Be sure to submit your essay quiz when you complete it. Good luck!
   
Essay Quiz
Log-in to BlackBoard and navigate to the Essay Quiz located in the Lesson Folder within Course Content:
Essay Quiz 1 Marine Geography and Geology



Related Web Sites

Here is a website that I like in case you'd like to pursue this topic on the internet:

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Have You Met The Objectives For This Lesson?