From the Big Bang to the Blue Planet
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Syllabus
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Course Announcement
Julian Sachs' Home Page
Oceanography 355, Autumn 2008
From the Big Bang to the Blue Planet

Instructor: Julian Sachs
Email: jsachs@u.washington.edu

Office: OSB 521
Office Hours: Mon & Wed 12:20-1:30, & by appt.
Telephone: 221-5630

Announcements
December 8 2008, 1:48 PM
Last Day of Class Lecture Notes Posted
I have posted the lecture notes used for the last day of class on Fri Dec. 5, 2008: (Lec_Notes_8_v3_12-8-08_ppt_18MB) [Lec_Notes_8_v3_12-8-08_pdf_24MB]

December 4 2008, 9:21 AM
Vote for your choice of last-class topics!

Please e-mail me (jsachs@u.wasington.edu) if you prefer to have our last class lecture topic be:

1. Recent (last 0.5 Myr) ice ages

2. Global warming

3. Extraterrestrial influences on Earth's climate


November 21 2008, 12:55 PM
Quiz #3 on Monday Nov. 24th

Quiz #3 is on Monday Nov. 24th. It will account for 20% of your grade. It will cover material since Quiz #2 and up through (& including) the lecture on Friday Nov. 21st.

*** Please be sure to download and use the most recent (revised) lecture Notes #6 & 7.

(LecNotes7_v6_11-21-08_ppt_54MB)

[LecNotes7_v6_11-21-08_pdf_81MB]


November 6 2008, 7:42 PM
No Podcast
Since there is not yet a podcast of the Catling Lecture you will not be required to know that material on Quiz #2.

November 3 2008, 10:15 AM
No Class After Exam on Fri Nov. 7th
We will NOT HAVE the makeup class previously scheduled for Fri. Nov. 7th at 12:30-1:20 pm. The Chemical Oceanography Seminar is at that time and one of my graduate students is the speaker, so I cannot miss it.

November 3 2008, 10:10 AM
Lecture Notes #6 Uploaded
You can download Lecture Notes #6 here (ppt_52MB) [pdf_7MB]

October 29 2008, 3:55 PM
Seminar of Interest
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* Astrobiology Seminar * Astrobiology Seminar * Astrobiology Seminar *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

TUESDAY November 4, 2008

Joshua L. Bandfield
Research Assistant Professor
Earth & Space Sciences/Astrobiology
University of Washington, Seattle

Title: A complex compositional and aqueous history of Mars

Time: 2:30 pm

Place: A-118 UW Physics/Astronomy Auditorium (PAA)

Abstract: Spectroscopic datasets from orbiters and landers have been used to identify a growing variety of compositions on Mars. Evidence for sedimentary silica, sulfates, carbonates, phyllosilcates, iron oxides, and chlorides indicates a relatively rich and varied Martian aqueous history that is fundamentally changing our understanding of the planet. This increasingly detailed compositional picture can be used to infer the spatial and temporal extent of habitable environments as well as the potential for biological development and its subsequent preservation.

October 28 2008, 10:22 PM
Lecture Notes #5 Uploaded
You can download Lecture Notes #5 now. (ppt-29MB) [pdf-4MB]

October 27 2008, 1:00 PM
Quiz # 2 & Other Date Changes
  1. Quiz #2 will now be on Fri. Nov. 7th, 11:30-12:20 in OSB 425.
  2. There will be no class on Wed. Nov. 5th
  3. The makeup class will be 12:30-1:20 pm on Fri. Nov. 7th (after Quiz #2)


October 24 2008, 5:13 PM
Seminar of Interest
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
  * Astrobiology Seminar * Astrobiology Seminar * Astrobiology Seminar *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

        TUESDAY  October 28, 2008

        Prof. Yuk L. Yung
        Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences
        California Institute of Technology

    Title:    Evolution of the Atmospheres of Planets and Earth

    Time:    2:30 pm

    Place:    A-118 UW Physics/Astronomy Auditorium (PAA)

    Abstract: Half a century ago, space exploration began with the launching of the Sputnik. Now at the completion of a fairly detailed study of the planets of our solar system, we are at the verge of exploring the extrasolar planets. Using the database provided by recent spacecraft missions supplemented by Earth-based observations, I will give a survey of the principal physical and chemical processes that control the composition of planetary atmospheres, emphasizing the "big picture" at planetary scales. For the first time, we understand the evolutionary history of the planetary atmospheres that range from the primitive atmospheres of the giant planets to the highly evolved atmospheres of terrestrial planets and small bodies. The implications for the evolution of our atmosphere (e.g. rise of oxygen) and the destiny of our planet are discussed.

October 22 2008, 9:18 AM
Lecture Notes #4 Posted
You can download Lecture Notes #4 here (ppt-11MB) [pdf-3MB]

October 17 2008, 10:02 AM
Assigned Lecture

The following lecture should be terrific! I have assigned it (like an assigned reading), so attend if at all possible. If schedule conflicts keep you from being able to attend it will be posted as a podcast at http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/nai/seminars/#uw :

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* Astrobiology Seminar * Astrobiology Seminar *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

TUESDAY October 21, 2008

David Catling, PhD
Department of Earth Sciences
University of Bristol, UK

Title: Initial results from NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander

Time: 2:30 pm

Place: A-118 UW Physics/Astronomy Auditorium (PAA)

Abstract: NASA's Phoenix probe landed in the "arctic" of Mars at 68.2 degrees north on May 25, 2008. I will discuss preliminary discoveries of Phoenix, including ice below the surface, peculiar soluble chemistry measured by mixing soil with water, inferences from the first color microscopic images of soil and airfall particles, and measurements of the atmosphere.


October 16 2008, 10:23 PM
Lecture Notes #3 v1 Posted
Lecture Notes #3 are now available for download on the Schedule page.

October 11 2008, 8:50 AM
Quiz #1 on Wed. Oct 15th

The 1st of 3 quizzes, each worth 20% of your grade, will be on Wed. Oct. 15th. We will do a quiz review at the end of class on Mon. Oct. 13th. Here is the quiz #1 review document [pdf]. *** Please use the most recently posted versions of Lecture Notes #1 & 2 to study for the exam, both of which can be downloaded from the Schedule page.


October 11 2008, 8:48 AM
Revised Lecture Notes #2 Posted
A revised version of Lecture Notes #2 is now available for download on the Schedule page.

October 2 2008, 9:25 PM
Lecture Notes #2 Posted
You can download Lecture Notes #2 here (ppt-16MB) [pdf-22MB].

October 1 2008, 8:14 AM
Seminar of Interest

There is a terrific "Astrobiology" seminar series here at UW with frequent relevant and interesting seminars. They are usually given at a level that our class can understand. I encourage you to attend. (And one or more may be assigned in the future.) The 1st of the quarter is next Tuesday:

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* Astrobiology Seminar * Astrobiology Seminar *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
TUESDAY October 7, 2008

Rory Barnes, PhD
Research Associate, Lunar and Planetary Laboratory
University of Arizona, Tucson

Title: Habitability of Tidally-Locked Terrestrial Exoplanets

Time: 2:30 pm

Place: A-118 UW Physics/Astronomy Auditorium (PAA)

Abstract: The first terrestrial-like exoplanets will likely be observed in tight orbits around low-mass stars. Conveniently, planets on these orbits receive about as much starlight as the Earth does from the Sun, and hence have to potential to be habitable. Such planets may also experience significant tidal forces from the star which can result in orbital decay, a specific planetary rotation, and significant internal heating. I describe how these phenomena are likely to impact habitability. In some cases orbital decay may result in planets moving too close to their star for habitability. For planets on non-circular orbits, rotation periods may be similar to the Earth's and hence may produce similar atmospheric circulation patterns. Tidal heating may span the range from zero to well in excess of Io's, and hence can dramatically impact habitability. Further complicating the situation is the presence of additional companions which may drive large oscillations in the magnitudes of these effects. Taken together these processes suggest a scheme for categorizing planetary attributes based on the planetary system's architecture, including a refinement of the prerequisites for planetary habitability.


September 29 2008, 10:12 AM
Revised Lecture Notes #1 Uploaded
Revised Lecture Notes #1 - v.9, 9/29/08 (ppt) [pdf]

September 27 2008, 10:07 AM
Room Change Back to OSB 425
Owing to issues regarding the LCD projector available during our class time the class will meet AS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED IN OSB 425. Sorry for the flip-flop on this!

September 24 2008, 8:53 AM
Lecture Notes #1 Posted
You can download the first installment of the class lecture notes as a Powerpoint file (20 MB) or as a PDF file (20 MB). It is suggested that you bring a copy of these lecture notes to class with you so that you can take notes directly on them.

September 24 2008, 8:52 AM
Room Change
After Wed. Sept. 24th we will be meeting in OSB 510.

Eye Candy from the Lecture Notes
Expanding Universe Supernova Chirality In the Universe
Expanding Universe Supernova Chirality In the Universe
Living Stromatolites ATP Redbeds
Living Stromatolites ATP Redbeds
Chlorophyll Crater on Earth Planets
Chlorophyll Crater on Earth Planets