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The Southern Ocean and Oceanic Eddies

Module description

The circulation of the Southern Ocean plays a pivotal role in the global ocean circulation due to its unique geometry. It connects all ocean basins, links the deep and shallow ocean layers whose exchanges are critical for sequestering heat and carbon at depths. The study of the Southern Ocean therefore provides essential insights into the processes that govern the global-scale ocean dynamics and variability. Due to the remote and unchartered environment, ocean science research there is still in its infancy, and the future response of the region to global change is under vigorous debate. Oceanic eddies and smaller-scale flows in the Southern Ocean may hold the key to surprises, as suggested by recent numerical advances and pointed out by the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report.

In this module you will explore the Southern Ocean circulation, the dynamics of oceanic eddies and in particular their contribution to the regional and global ocean circulations.  You will learn about traditional and novel methods of studying oceanic physical processes, with a focus on cutting-edge strategies where field and numerical studies meet. You will also consider a research-led topic on the feedback of oceanic processes, occurring at small scales, onto the ocean dynamics in a changing context.  Lectures will be supported by seminars, invited speakers, journal papers and practical demonstration that may include data analysis, tank experiments and boat excursions.

Module field trips may have to be moved online/replaced in the event of continued COVID-19 lockdown/social distancing rules. Practical classes may also have to be performed as interactive remote demonstrations.

Module aims - intentions of the module

Through a series of lectures and practical sessions you will:

• Gain a broad overview of the different physical processes ranging from thousands to order one kilometres which operate in the Southern Ocean and how they contribute to the global climate system.
• Gain understanding of physical concepts in oceanography and data analysis through both a theoretical and a practical, inquiry-based approach
• Understand how key physical processes in the Southern Ocean are investigated by studying field and numerical studies.
• Apply these ideas to question how the Southern Ocean is a driver of, and responder to, global climate change, and form opinions on the future of climate research.

Through the seminars and assessments, you will develop skills relevant to future employment. You will be encouraged to use the coursework to develop your own interest in an area of Ocean science, consider real-world observations, and numerical experiments, and apply theory to practical situations, which will develop your skills in problem-solving and linking theory to practice. You will develop your ability to identify key demands of tasks, manage your time effectively, work collaboratively in groups, and present your ideas effectively.

The module content is updated every year to explore topical research areas, some of which are being carried out in the department, and some of which are of global relevance. We will explore cutting-edge research, for example by investigating small-scale mechanisms that influence the Southern Ocean response to changing winds and the deep waters formation sequestering heat and carbon.  You will develop an understanding of the physical mechanisms at play with numerical experiments, and learn about approaches to study these processes in the real ocean. 

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Review the physical processes operating within the Southern Ocean
• 2. Discuss the mechanisms through which these processes are impacted by, and influence, the global climate system
• 3. Critically evaluate the implications of anthropogenic climate change
• 4. Describe and understand a range of techniques which research scientists use to quantify and understand physical processes within the Southern Ocean
• 5. Summarise comprehensively basic physical concepts in oceanography
• 6. Discuss in detail some key recent research papers in Ocean science

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 7. Describe in detail and analyse essential facts and theory across a sub-discipline of geography
• 8. Analyse and evaluate independently a range of research-informed literature and synthesise research-informed examples from the literature into written work
• 9. Identify and implement, with limited guidance, appropriate methodologies and theories for solving a range of complex problems within geography
• 10. With minimal guidance, deploy established techniques of analysis, practical investigation, and enquiry within geography
• 11. Describe and evaluate in detail approaches to our understanding of geography with reference to primary literature, reviews and research articles

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 12. Devise and sustain, with little guidance, a logical and reasoned argument with sound, convincing conclusions
• 13. Communicate effectively arguments, evidence and conclusions using a variety of formats in a manner appropriate to the intended audience
• 14. Analyse and evaluate appropriate data and complete a range of research-like tasks with very limited guidance

Syllabus plan

As a guide, the syllabus will be based on (but not limited to) the following topics:

•  The Southern Ocean in the climate system
• Physical concepts in oceanography
• Turbulence in the ocean
• Mesoscale oceanic eddies
•  An introduction to the Southern Ocean energy budget
• Case study of a small-scale process: the turbulent ocean energy cascade
•  Studying the Southern Ocean: where field and modelling studies meet How will the Southern Ocean respond to, and impact, future global change?

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certified reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The group presentation is not deferrable because of its practical nature and the need to complete the assessment task within a group. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to sit a further examination. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will count for 100% of the final mark and will be capped at 40%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

• Tally, Pickard, Emery and Swift, 2011. Descriptive Physical Oceanography: An Introduction (Sixth Edition). Academic Press
• Bridgeman and Oliver, 2006. The Global Climate System. Pattern, Processes and Teleconnections, Cambridge University Press
• Rintoul, The Southern Ocean in the Earth System
• Wells, 1997. The Atmosphere and Ocean, a physical introduction. Wiley, Chichester
• McGonigal and Woodworth, 2005. Antarctica: The Blue Continent, Frances Lincoln
• Stewart, 2008. Introduction to Physical Oceanography
• Thorpe, 2005. The Turbulent Ocean. Cambridge University Press
• Hewitt et al. (2022). The small scales may hold the key to surprises. Nature Climate Change.
• Rintoul (2018). The global influence of localized dynamics in the Southern Ocean. Nature.
• Chelton et al. (2011). Global observation of nonlinear mesoscale eddies. Progress in Oceanography.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE page: http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=6531 (the ELE page for this module will provide lecture and practical materials, indicative extra reading materials (e.g. journal papers), and feedback forms)

Key words search

Southern Ocean, mesoscale eddies, overturning circulation, climate change, ocean, polar, physical oceanography, numerical models.