OC2902 Fundamentals of Geospatial Information and Services

This course will give the student an appreciation for the important facts about precision location today, from the true physical shape of the earth to the fusion of geographically labeled data in modern electronic databases. Today's military officer needs to know the fundamentals of precision location systems to operate in the battlespace of the twenty-first century. We have come from precise position being 60 nautical miles in the 1700s to a few meters in the 2000s. We have gone from dead reckoning on paper charts to GPS positions fed to fully automated navigation and weapons systems. The entire process of producing modern geospatially tagged items will be reviewed. This will include the scientific background of the processes and the advantages and limitations of the steps.

Prerequisite

Students will need to have a basic understanding of algebra, geometry and trigonometry. A basic course in physics or equivalent that covers vector, conservation of energy and forces is needed. The student needs to be familiar with basic computer skills including the storage of data in arrays (spreadsheets work is sufficient for example).

Lecture Hours

Lab Hours

Statement Of Course Objectives

Course Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course, students will be able to:

· explain the concept of buoyancy, and what “density” and “density stratification” mean,

· understand the concept of isostacy and how it accounts for the existence of ocean basins,

· differentiate between types of seismic waves, compare and contrast different types of plate interactions,

· list main features of the ocean floor,

· explain why vertical sections of the World ocean are always plotted with exaggerated vertical scale,

· list main classification systems of oceanic sediments,

· list the properties of seawater that make it unique,

· define heat capacity, surface tension, latent heat, and density,

· understand the concepts of heat and temperature,

· define salinity,

· explain the principle of constant proportion,

· describe how pressure depends on depth,

· explain how density depends on temperature, salinity and pressure,

· explain how density depends on temperature, salinity and pressure, define the main factors, which set the surface distribution of temperature and salinity in the ocean,

· define surface mixed layer, pycnocline, thermocline, halocline,

· explain what we mean by “density stratification” of the ocean,

· define main factors, which determine the depth of the ocean mixed layer,

· describe spatial variability of temperature and salinity,

· compare and contrast the vertical structure of the ocean in the polar, mid-latitude and tropical zones,

· report the typical number of layers used to describe the ocean in general in mid-latitudes,

· describe the difference between seasonal and permanent thermocline, analyzed mixed layer depth depending on method of driving,

· describe typical vertical temperature and salinity profiles,

· define water mass and water type,

· describe how the speed of sound depends on ocean state variables,

· use Snell’s law of refraction,

· describe typical propagation paths in deep and shallow water,

· define basic wave terms,

· define group and phase velocity of a wave,

· classify various types of ocean waves based on forces and dispersion relations,

· describe a simple vertical structure of the atmosphere and properties of air,

· describe large-scale atmospheric circulation,

· define Hadley cell, Ferrell cell, polar cell, and polar front,

· define and interpret pressure gradient forces in the atmosphere,

· define geostrophic balance,

· describe equatorial properties and circulation of the ocean,

· describe the formation of mixed layer transport and circulation, coastal upwelling, and western intensification, and

· describe concept of thermohaline circulation and water mass formation.