Earth & Space Sciences

This course examines the technological challenges, economic realities, and ethical and legal considerations we will face as a space-faring civilization in the future. It will address who owns property or natural resources in space; who will be responsible for responsible practices off planet; how will humans survive and thrive in the harsh conditions of outer space; are we destined for a bionic future; can we terraform planets to make them habitable; can we find answers to our origins in the ether beyond Earth; and careers in space-related businesses such as Space Lawyer, Space-Medicine, or Space-Entrepreneur. 

This course explores the structure of the ocean and the driving forces for the ocean circulation. It also includes the discussion about the dynamics working in the ocean and characteristics of Seven Seas. Topics include History of physical oceanography, Observation and data analysis, Mean states of the ocean(wind-driven circulation and thermohaline circulation), Dynamics(Advection, Transport, Budgets, Equation of motion, Geostrophy, Friction, Ekman layer, Potential vorticity, Sverdrup balance, western boundary current), Global ocean circulation, Equatorial circulation and ENSO, Pacific / Atlantic / Indian Oceans, Southern Ocean / Arctic, Waves and tides, Ocean mixing, and Ocean modeling.

This course examines climatology, meteorology, hydro-climatology and oceanography with a focus on the nature and role of key processes. These will be examined in relation to key issues for society such as extreme weather events, drought, floods, air pollution and climate change.