Oceanography And Hydrography

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of the course is for students to acquire the basic knowledge in:

• Physical Oceanography (environmental factors salinity-temperature-pressure, ocean geomorphology, marine circulation, wave mechanics)
• Principles of sound propagation in water, sound systems and modern methods and specifications of hydrographic mapping and delineating infrastructure facilities for marine and coastal areas
• marine data in operational form (forecasts, historical measurements).

 

As part of the course, a demonstration of measuring marine instruments and the presentation of research projects of the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR) with a visit to Anavyssos, Attica, are included. The knowledge that students are going to acquire at theoretical and laboratory level is put into practice for coastal and marine studies (Topographical, Port, Hydraulic) and technical works. After the end of the course, students will have understood the basic concepts and principles of Physical Oceanography (Descriptive and Dynamic), and the collection/ processing and visualization of hydrographic field measurements in the riverine, coastal and marine environment.

 

General Competencies

• Search, analysis and synthesis of data and information, using the necessary technologies and software
• Adaptation to new situations
• Decision-making
• Autonomous work
• Teamwork
• Criticism and self-criticism
• Promoting free, creative and inductive thinking

 

COURSE CONTENT

Theoretical Part of the Course

1. PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHY
   • Introduction to the physical parameters and properties of seawater. (Salinity, temperature, density, water types and sea water masses)
   • Ocean geomorphology and deep zones
   • Mixing of water masses. Quality, color and transparency of seawater
   • Maritime traffic – Equations of movement and conservation
   • Currents and operative causes of their creation: Density currents, windgenic, geostropic/baroclinical, inertial, tidal. Currents in absence of friction, shallow ocean, Currents in the presence of friction (Wind circulation, Ekman theory, Sverdrup theory, intensification of flow at the western boundary of oces)
   • Thermohaline circulation (semi-operation of water masses in the ocean, global
   thermosallic belt)
   • Surface and long waves; waves in the absent and in the presence of Earth’s rotation.
   Tides. (forces, main characteristics and action of ocean topography)
   • Propagation of ripples from deep water to the shore. Rifting, refraction, drizzle,
   reflection and breakage of ripples
   • The dynamic circulation of the Mediterranean Sea and the Greek Seas (Aegean,
   Ionian, Levantine)
   • Methods of observation and forecasting of maritime traffic, tidal graphs,
   instruments and methods for measuring physical parameters at sea
   • Numerical models and operational physical oceanography.
2. HYDROGRAPHY.
   • Single- and multi-beam echosounding systems
   • Methods, instrument calibration and errors of hydrographic data
   • Use of Scanners, Lidar, drones, infrared sensors, radar and satellite altimetry in hydrographic mappings
   • Modern methods of surveying and installing coastal and offshore works (telecommunications cables, pipelines, wind turbines, gas/oil extraction platforms), and shoreline changes from natural and man-made causes
   • Oceanographic databases
   • The Copernicus Marine and EMODnet hydrographic data platforms
   • Software EIVA, Qinsy processing and performance of hydrographic measurements.
   • The territorial sea (definition and engraving), EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) and related legislation.

 

Laboratory Part of the Course

1. Calibration of a echosound system
2. Processing and interpretation of hydrographic data
3. Combine satellite data with field measurements
4. Shoreline extraction methods
5. Study of the formation and engraving of the seashore

 

STUDENT EVALUATION

Language of the examination: Greek (English if needed, e.g., Erasmus+students)
Written examination at at the end of the semester (Multiplechoice questions and developmentalquestions, problem solving) or by project

 

RECOMMENDED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Greek:
1. Albanakis, K. (1999). Courses in Oceanography. University Studio Press, Thessaloniki.
2. Giannakidis, A. (2004). Issue of notes “Introduction to Oceanography”, Technical University of Crete, Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering
3. Zervakis V. (2007). Introduction to Dynamic Oceanography,Course Teaching Notes, University of the Aegean.
4. Zafeiropoulos, I. (1998). Oceanography. Translated into Greek from the book “American PracticalNavigation” Vol. I, Part 6, Oceanography-Pub. No 9, EugenidesFoundation.
5. Kapsimali V. and K. Pavlopoulos. (2009). Vithometry and maps, Course teachingnotes, Harokopio University.
6. Koutitas, C. (1996). Introduction to coastal engineering and port works. Ziti Publications.
7. Sukisian, T. Oceania circulation and the phenomenon El Niño, HCMR.

 

English:
1. Barale V. and Gade M. (2008). Remote sensing of the European seas, Springer.
2. Maul G.A. (2012). Introduction to satellite oceanography. Springer Science & Business Media 606pp
3. Mellor, G.L. (1996). Introduction to Physical Oceanography. Princeton Unicersity.
4. Niedzielski Tomasz (2015). Satellite Technologies in Geoinformation Science. Birkhäuser Basel Springer Basel 310pp
5. Pickard, G.L. and W.J. Emery. (1990). Descriptive Physical Oceanography. An introduction. Pergammon Press.
6. Pinet, R. Paul. (2009). “Invitation to Oceanography”, chapter The Growth of Oceanography. Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
7. Practical Navigation” Vol. I, Part 6, Oceanography-Pub. No 9, Eugenides Foundation, Higher Public Schools of merchant navy, Navy Library, Athens.
8. Robinson, Ian S (2010). Discovering the Ocean from Space. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 638pp
9. Stewart R. H. (2008). Introduction to Physical Oceanography. Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University.
10. Stewart, R. H. (2009).” Our Ocean Planet Oceanography in the 21st Century”.
11. Summerbayes, C.P. and S.A. Thorpe. (1996). Oceanography, An Illustrated Guide. Manson Publishing.
12. Thurman, H.V. (1997). Introductory Oceanography. Pentice-Hall.