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MACS 418: Paleoceanography

Marine & Coastal Science · 4 credits

Oceans covers about 70% of Earth’s surface, harboring valuable natural resources and rich biodiversity as well as playing a fundamental role in the hydrologic cycle and the climate system. Human observation of the oceans represents a tiny fraction their existence on Earth and there is much to learn by looking deeper in time. Paleoceanography is the study of the oceans as they were in the past and this course considers the major methods in the field and applies them to regional examples in the north Pacific Ocean and Salish Sea. Specific topics covered will include the geologic settings where paleoceanographic information is archived, common marine dating methods, techniques for estimating important ocean variables ranging from productivity to circulation to temperature, the Cenozoic evolution of the oceans, Milankovitch cycles, and abrupt ocean change. Concepts from geology, chemistry, physics and marine science will be used to explore this interdisciplinary topic through discussion, case studies, data analysis and collaborative research.

Offered in 1 of the 26 listed terms (Spring 2026).

Prerequisites

((GEOL 101 and (GEOL 211A) or GEOL 211 or HNRS 212) and (MACS 210 or MACS 211 or GEOL 340 or ESCI 321 or ESCI 393))

Prerequisite tree

Each course's own prerequisites, down to the first courses in the chain.

From Banner's catalog for Spring 2027. Banner lists only the requisites it enforces, so check the catalog entry too.

Required by (0)

No course lists it as a prerequisite.

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None listed yet.

Instructors

InstructorSectionsTerms
Saenger, Casey1Spring 2026

Every offering in the listed terms (1 section)

TermSecCRNTypeMeetsInstructorEnrolledDelivery
Spring 2026023348LectureTR 10:00am-11:50am · IS 410Saenger, Casey19/20Face to Face Instruction