Oceanographic Methods unit (KSA224)

Hobart

Introduction

Every day, Australian and international researchers are sailing the open ocean, collecting observations of our vast oceans to support their research into fundamental topics such as climate change, glaciology and ecosystem management. In this unit you will gain hands-on experience on a research vessel to learn the fundamentals of collecting observational oceanography data.  Building on the key concepts within physical, chemical and biological oceanography you have learned in previous units, this unit offers an introduction to observational oceanography including marine mapping.   

In a typical year, you will participate in two single-day field trips aboard the “Noctiluca” research vessel, exploring the d’Entrecasteaux Channel and Storm Bay. These excursions will allow you to apply scientific methods used in various branches of oceanography, including measurements of temperature, salinity, chlorophyll, turbidity, nutrients, dissolved oxygen, and photosynthetically active radiation. Seafloor acoustics and marine mapping will be the focus of the second field trip.   

Each week, a four-hour tutorial session will be held, beginning with a brief lecture followed by practical training from academic staff. After the field trips, the remaining ten face-to-face tutorials will take place in the IMAS computer lab, where you will acquire skills pertinent to contemporary oceanographers. This includes accessing international databases to work with large datasets, such as satellite, argo, and time-series data. You will also learn basic Python coding to handle these datasets and apply these methods to case studies in biological oceanography and biogeochemistry. The data collected during the field trips will be processed, visualised, and interpreted, forming the basis for your assessment tasks.   

Upon completion of this unit, you will gain an understanding of fundamental oceanographic methods and practices, including basic analysis, data visualisation, and interpretation. 

Summary

Unit name	Oceanographic Methods
Unit code	KSA224
Credit points	12.5
College/School	Sciences and Engineering Institute for Marine & Antarctic Studies
Discipline	Oceans Ice and Climate
Coordinator	Doctor Pier van der Merwe
Available as an elective?	Yes
Delivered By	University of Tasmania
Level	Intermediate

Availability

Location	Study period	Attendance options		Available to
Hobart	Semester 1

Note

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Key Dates

Study Period	Start date	Census date	WW date	End date
Semester 1	22/02/2027	16/03/2027	19/04/2027	13/06/2027

* The Final WW Date is the final date from which you can withdraw from the unit without academic penalty, however you will still incur a financial liability (refer to How do I withdraw from a unit? for more information).

Unit census dates currently displaying for 2027 are indicative and subject to change. Finalised census dates for 2027 will be available from the 1st October 2026. Note census date cutoff is 11.59pm AEST (AEDT during October to March).

About Census Dates

Learning Outcomes

• Collect oceanographic data using standard methods used in the field.
• Process oceanographic data from field trips and National and Global Data portals using standard methods.
• Describe complex data sets using field programs and laboratory results.

Fee Information

Field of Education	Commencing Student Contribution 1,3	Grandfathered Student Contribution 1,3	Approved Pathway Course Student Contribution 2,3	Domestic Full Fee 4
010713	$1,235.00	$1,235.00	not applicable

• Available as a Commonwealth Supported Place
• HECS-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility³
• FEE-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility⁴

¹ Please refer to more information on student contribution amounts.
² Please refer to more information on eligibility and Approved Pathway courses.
³ Please refer to more information on eligibility for HECS-HELP.
⁴ Please refer to more information on eligibility for FEE-HELP.

If you have any questions in relation to the fees, please contact UniConnect or more information is available on StudyAssist.

Please note: international students should refer to What is an indicative Fee? to get an indicative course cost.

Requisites

Prerequisites

KSA102

Concurrent Prerequisites

KSA205

Mutual Exclusions

You cannot enrol in this unit as well as the following:

KSA324

Teaching

Teaching Pattern	Weekly, 3:45 hour tutorials starting with an introduction by the instructor. These will occur on Mondays from 9am – 12:45pm. Please check the schedule on MyLO and the UTas timetable for updates to the schedule. One or more field practicals will be held to supplement the laboratories. Due to the hands-on nature of this unit, it will only be offered as an on-campus offering.
Assessment	Data Analysis Project (20%)|Field Report (20%)|Case Study Analysis (30%)|Scientific Poster (30%)
Timetable	View the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable

Textbooks

Required	Required readings will be listed in the unit outline prior to the start of classes.

The University reserves the right to amend or remove courses and unit availabilities, as appropriate.