Physical oceanography, the study of physical processes in the ocean system, is a rapidly developing field. The challenges are numerous: a single datapoint can require an expensive and hazardous expedition. Yet in the context of global climate change, our understanding of the ocean system has never been more important to our future. How are our oceans changing? How will these changes affect us? How are new technologies changing the way we collect and interpret data? In this class, we will cover circulation patterns, momentum balance and geostrophy, fluid physics, oceanic heat transfer, and conservation equations and transport processes within the ocean. As we cover ocean physics, we will also consider the biological component of the ocean system (the "carbon pump") and how it relates to climate change. As a class, we'll ultimately design a marine microorganism experiment to be carried out in an MIT laboratory. Note: Class will be taught lecture style with an open discussion component and in-class exercises. Two special topic lectures will be presented on material selected by the class. This is an introductory class - we will work hard but beginners are welcome!

"How vain to call this planet Earth, when it is clearly Ocean" -- Arthur C. Clark The Age of Discovery saw the ocean as a wild frontier and a vehicle for cultural exchange. How did early voyages influence human perception of the ocean and the evolution of science? What "stories" from modern science influence our ideas of the ocean today? As early explorers risked their lives in the name of discovery, oceanographers perform science under extreme conditions - in storms at sea, on polar icebreakers, in remote locations - in pursuit of meaningful data. In the climate/energy era, physical oceanography has never been more relevant, yet our data sets are limited by expense and equipment. How do we work around these issues? From tales of early mariners to cutting edge oceanographic techniques, we'll consider the role of the sea in our history and culture, and ultimately explore the resulting implications in current science, climate and energy problems.

We're in the midst of an energy revolution! So what technologies actually exist and what can we do with them? How do you make a battery with a virus? A windmill without turbines? A powerplant in the ocean? Come learn about solar concentrators, geothermal heat pumps, carbon nanotubes, hydrogen fuel cells, superconducting cables and more! We'll end with a discussion of smart technology grids and an energy internet: science fiction or inevitable development? You decide!