Oceanographic MethodsEOSC 473/573

Instructors

• biological oceanographer

• interested in the interactions between trace metals and plankton; metals as essential nutrients and also as toxic contaminants

• Study the effects of metals on ecosystem structure and functioning

• Worked extensively in the Southern Ocean, the Arctic Ocean, the Subarctic Pacific, and the CA upwelling region.

• recent work on Fe biological cycling in the Southern Ocean foodweb (from bacteria to whales)

Prof. Maite Maldonadooffice: ESB 2067; telephone: 604-822-4198; email: mmaldonado@eos.ubc.ca

Instructors

• physical oceanographer

• interested in understanding how the oceans work. Heat goes in/out, fresh water and different chemicals are added/subtracted, and resulting changes in density create pressure gradients that drive currents.

• Research projects in BC. The deep fjords and many islands provide a dynamic environment that affect people of BC for both economic and social reasons.

• combines complex fieldwork with careful mathematical analysis. At sea in ships (7m, EOAS whaler to the 80m J. P. Tully. Uses temperature and salinity, & acoustics and optics to visualize flows.

Prof. Rich Pawlowiczoffice: ESB 3019; telephone: 604-827-1356; email: rpawlowicz@eos.ubc.ca

Instructors

• Ph.D. student in the Department of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Sciences

• Geologist and earth science scientist

• Working with Sean Crowe and R. Francois

• Working on the biogeochemical cycling of Chromium in the ocean

Kohen Bauer (TA)office: ESB 3047, tel : 778-988-8251, email: kohenbauer@gmail.com

1. to introduce the methods of field data acquisition & analysis in the 3 major sub‐disciplines of oceanography (physics, chemistry & biology)

2. to give hands‐on experience in the sampling techniques fundamental to these 3 sub‐disciplines

3. to introduce & give hands‐on experience in the various aspects of a modern field‐based oceanographic research program (project planning, proposal writing, fieldwork, data report writing, conference‐style presenting, and scientific journal‐style writing)

Course Aims

1. lectures on the whats, whys, & hows of field data acquisition & analysis in physical, chemical & biological oceanography (see Course Schedule in the Syllabus)

2. Instruction on the techniques & processes of modern scientific research (e.g. proposal writing, paper writing) (see Course Schedule in the Syllabus)

3. hands‐on sampling exercises (Days 1‐3 at Bamfield)

4. a field‐based research project (Days 4‐5 at Bamfield & rest of term)

Course Structure

1. Fieldwork Participation ‐ 5%2. Sampling Exercise Report (in groups) – 10%3. Research Project

‐ 2‐page research proposal – 10%‐ 10 minute oral conference style presentation –

20% ‐ final project report in the form of a scientific 

journal article – 55%

Evaluation

• Jan 5 – Feb 14: Lectures (Tu‐ Th 9:30‐10:50a)• Jan 24: Deadline to pay course fee ($420)• Feb 5: Research Pre‐proposal due• Feb 19 – 25 (Spring Break): 1 week field trip to 

Bamfield Marine Science Centre• Feb 22: Final Research Proposal due• Mar 7: Group Bamfield “Data Report”s due• Mar 28: Conference Presentation Abstract due• Mar 30: Draft Paper due• April 4, 6: Conference Presentations• Apr 28: Final Paper due

Key Dates

Class Resources

https://sites.google.com/site/eosc473/home

https://sites.google.com/site/eosc473/home

Modern Oceanographic Science

What is oceanography?= a science concerned with understanding how the ocean works, what are the chemicals in seawater, and what control the distribution of chemicals in seawater, as well as the biota (interested in pelagic ecosystems, and mainly plankton)

3 major sub‐disciplines:1. Physical Oceanography2. Biological Oceanography3. Chemical Oceanography

What is oceanography?Physical Oceanography= a science concerned with aspects of fluid mechanics on a rapidly rotating spherical Earth (“geophysical fluid dynamics”)

• concerns the flow of water (tides & currents), heat & salt (the latter two which determine the water’s density and therefore its dynamics)

• basic tools: classical physics & mathematics (e.g. force balances, partial differential equations)

What is oceanography?Biological Oceanography= a science concerned with the free‐floating microscopic life in the ocean

• concerns the production (i.e. the rates of conversion of inorganic nutrients into organic matter) and fate (i.e. the reverse) of organic matter; the channeling of primary production to upper trophic levels and/or burial in marine sediments

• basic tools: biology (statistics is often important)

What is oceanography?Chemical Oceanography= a science concerned with the dissolved content in the ocean, its fluxes through the ocean & its boundaries, and its chemical transformations

• aims to understand the biogeochemical cycles of nutrients and pollutants, and the concentration &large‐scale distribution of chemical elements & their isotopes

• basic tools: chemistry

How does modern science work?

• DETERMINE GAP IN KNOWLEDGE• DEFINE A HYPOTHESIS• GET FUNDING• EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN• DATA COLLECTION• DATA PROCESSING• MODELLING• INTERPRETTING THE DATA• DISSEMINATING KNOWLEDGE/COMMUNICATING RESULTS (PUBLISHING, CONFERENCES)

• COLLABORATION• IDENTIFYING FUTURE DIRECTIONS/QUESTIONS

Steps in a scientific investigation

1. Think of a problem/question2. Do some preliminary research (to see if answer is 

already known)3. Refine the problem (figure out what the problem really 

is)4. Write a proposal (and get it funded)5. Gather data (fieldwork, labwork and/or numerical 

computation)6. Analyze the data7. Interpret the results8. Communicate the findings

Steps in a scientific investigation (for this course)

Communicate the findings:1. informally, through conversations 2. semi‐formally, through presentations  

(“conferences'')3. formally, through publications (``papers'')

1. People (salaries)2. Overhead (where you work)3. Equipment (to make and analyze measurements)4. Field Expenses (fieldwork needed to make 

measurements)5. Sample analysis (for things not done in your lab)6. Collaboration (conferences, visits)7. Communication (conferences, publications)

The cost of science

1. People (salaries)

The cost of science• Scientist/Professor:  $40‐$120/hour + benefits ($60k‐$200k/year)

• Post doc/Technicians:  $20‐$40/hour + benefits ($35k‐$70k/year)

• Grad students: $20k/year, but this includes ``learning'', as well as ``work''

• Undergrad students: $15k‐$30k/year, often pro‐rated for part of year only

2. Overhead (where you work) 

The cost of science

• = cost of running buildings, administration (finance, janitors, legal), telephones, internet, library

• can be as much as the direct salary cost, although typically ~ 50% of salary costs

3. Equipment (to make and analyze measurements)

The cost of science

• a typical piece of laboratory or field equipment can cost anywhere from $1k‐$100k or more

• many basic tools of science have a cost of around $30k • a ``typical'' laboratory might contain $250‐$1000k or more in equipment, amortized over 5 or 10 years

4. Field Expenses (fieldwork needed to make measurements)

The cost of science

1. Travel (to & from sampling sites)• Airfare/transport ($100 to $5000 per person)• Food ($50/day)• Lodging ($100/day)

2. Shiptime (includes transit time to/from area of interest)• Trailerable vessel ‐ $1k/day• Small vessel (fishing boat), day use only ‐ $2k‐4k/day• Medium research vessel, perhaps 24 hour ops ‐ $7k‐10k/day• Large research vessel ‐ $20k/day• Icebreakers ‐ $30k‐50k/day• Aircraft, hovercraft ‐ $1k/hour

Note that a typical program might require 2‐3 weeks of ship time per year.

5. Sample analysis (for things not done in your lab)

The cost of science

• on the order of $20/sample/thing being analyzed• you may need hundreds of these for any one cruise

6. Collaboration (conferences, visits)

The cost of science

• to go away for a 1 week conference out‐of‐town is ~ $3k/person

7. Communication (conferences, publications)

The cost of science

• ``page charges'' around $2k/paper• typically a few a year

THE BOTTOM LINE

• a small scientific lab with a scientist, a technician, and a couple of post‐docs or students will then ``cost'' $300k/ year, with additional shiptime costs of anywhere from $14k‐$70k/day.  

• Private sector (i.e. environmental consulting, industry, or private foundations)

• Government (e.g. NSERC, CFI)• Academia (salaries, lab infrastructure, start‐

up salaries)• Government agencies with specific needs (e.g

DFO, EC (Canada); NOAA, NSF, NASA (US))

Where does the money come from?