ATM339 Oceanography of the Baltic Sea (2020-2023)

2. Course code

ATM339

Aikaisemmat leikkaavat opintojaksot 53540 Itämeren oseanografia I, 5 op

3. Course status: optional

-Which degree programme is responsible for the course?
Master's Programme in Atmospheric Sciences

-Which module does the course belong to?
ATM300 Advanced Studies in Atmospheric Sciences (optional for Study Track in Geophysics of the Hydrosphere)

-Is the course available to students from other degree programmes?
Yes

4. Course level (first-, second-, third-cycle/EQF levels 6, 7 and 8)

Master’s level, degree programmes in medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine = secondcycle
degree/EQF level 7
Doctoral level = third-cycle (doctoral) degree/EQF level 8

-Does the course belong to basic, intermediate or advanced studies (cf. Government Decree
on University Degrees)?
Advanced studies

5. Recommended time/stage of studies for completion

-The recommended time for completion may be, e.g., after certain relevant courses have
been completed.

Later stages of studies.

6. Term/teaching period when the course will be offered

-The course may be offered in the autumn or spring term or both.
-If the course is not offered every year, this must be indicated here.
-Specification of the teaching period when the course will be offered

Given every second year (odd years) in the spring term.

7. Scope of the course in credits

5 cr

8. Teacher coordinating the course

Laura Tuomi.

9. Course learning outcomes

-Description of the learning outcomes provided to students by the course
- See the competence map (https://flamma.helsinki.fi/content/res/pri/HY350274).

• You will learn about physical oceanography of the Baltic Sea: hydrography, currents, waves
• You will learn about processes specific to the Baltic Sea and their effect on the Baltic Sea physics and ecosystem.
• You will understand how the Baltic Sea differs from the Oceans
• You will learn how climate change affects the Baltic Sea oceanography

10. Course completion methods

-Will the course be offered in the form of contact teaching, or can it be taken as a distance
learning course?
-Description of attendance requirements (e.g., X% attendance during the entire course or
during parts of it)
-Methods of completion

• Course includes lectures and exercises
• Method of completion: Final exam.

11. Prerequisites

-Description of the courses or modules that must be completed before taking this course or
what other prior learning is required

12. Recommended optional studies

-What other courses are recommended to be taken in addition to this course?
-Which other courses support the further development of the competence provided by this
course?

• Descriptive and Dynamic oceanography are recommended to fully understand the specific oceanographic processes to the Baltic Sea.

13. Course content

-Description of the course content

• History of the Baltic Sea oceanography
• Topography and hydrography of the Baltic Sea
• Water, heat and salt budgets
• Circulation
• Waves
• Sea level
• Sea ice
• Specific processes
• How climate change affects the Baltic Sea
• Environmental aspects

14. Recommended and required literature

-What kind of literature and other materials are read during the course (reading list)?
-Which works are set reading and which are recommended as supplementary reading?

Leppäranta M. and Myrberg K., 2009. Physical oceanography of the Baltic Sea. Berliini, Heidelberg, New York: Springer-Verlag, 2009. ISBN 978-3-540-79702-9.

Myrberg K., Leppäranta M. and Kuosa H. Itämeren fysiikka, tila ja tulevaisuus. Helsinki: Yliopistopaino, 2006. ISBN 951-570-654-8.

Lecture notes

15. Activities and teaching methods in support of learning

-See the competence map (https://flamma.helsinki.fi/content/res/pri/HY350274).
-Student activities
-Description of how the teacher’s activities are documented

Weekly lectures, 6 exercises

16. Assessment practices and criteria, grading scale

-See the competence map (https://flamma.helsinki.fi/content/res/pri/HY350274).
-The assessment practices used are directly linked to the learning outcomes and teaching
methods of the course.

Course grade is based on final exam, exercises and student project/presentation.

17. Teaching language

English