We would like to camp at the Rancho Marino Reserve and complete field activities at the rocky shore. The field activities will be all observational; there will be no manipulations. Field activities will focus on observations and interpretations of oceanography and coastal geology. During this field trip, we will explore geology and oceanography of the coastline from Morro Bay to Big Sur. At the Rancho Marino Reserve itself, most of the field activities will be at the rocky shore, involving observations and interpretations of wave patterns, tides, wind patterns, seawater parameters (via handheld CTD device), longshore drift, ocean productivity, kelp forest ecosystem, sedimentation, exposed rocks, and other features. Through this field trip, we hope to achieve the SLOs for the course, as follows: 1. Apply the key elements of the scientific method (hypotheses, tests, observations, conclusions/interpretation of observations) to the examination of an oceanographic field problem. 2. Recognize and accurately articulate a defensible hypothesis of how the ocean affects human lives and how human activities affect the ocean in southern California. 3. Identify the salient features of the basic concepts of oceanography as they apply to oceanographic field settings.

Approved