679 How the Ocean Works

Class | FULL (Membership Required)

PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR UNION COUNTY 255 Reitz Boulevard Lewisburg, PA 17837 United States
Large Meeting Room
Thursday, October 2, 2025-Thursday, November 6, 2025
1:30 PM-3:30 PM on Th
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$60.00

679 How the Ocean Works

Class | FULL (Membership Required)

The ocean covers 70% of Earth, it holds most life and biodiversity, and it shapes everyone's weather and climate. Humans rely heavily on the ocean for transport and resources. Increasingly, human activities threaten its integrity. The ocean is also a compelling psychological piece of our world, variously mesmerizing, calming, scenic, and threatening, for example.

We will ask “How does the ocean work?” The first part of the course is a science-based exploration of the ocean as a physical system (geologic basins, and currents and tides) and a biological system (food chains, biodiversity, and ecosystems). The second part looks at it as a major piece of the human environment: a venue for travel and trade, the locus of many hazards, source of fisheries, destination for pollution, and a major exposure for climate-change effects.

We will explore the ocean through lecture (with lots of pictures) and discussions of weekly readings. Topics should include:

  • Systems thinking
  • Ocean basins
  • Circulation & climate
  • Tides, wave, coasts
  • Photosynthesis, productivity
  • Ecological communities
  • Navigation & trade
  • Climate change
  • Biodiversity threats
  • Coastal hazards
  • Over-fishing & pollution
  • Protecting the sea

  • Participants are expected to have access to an email account.

  • All class readings will be provided on-line in pdf form. However, students may appreciate this lovely optional book to elaborate and illustrate the course material, but it is NOT required and readings will not be assigned from it: Ocean: The Definitive Visual Guide (DK Publishing).
Ben Marsh

BEN MARSH is professor emeritus of geography and environmental studies at Bucknell University where he taught about human adaptation, mapping, and global environments. He taught a sophomore-level version of this fall’s course for 15 years. He has previously taught BILL courses about mapping, Pennsylvania, and food and the environment.