[MUSIC] Hi! Welcome to the oceanography course entitled "Oceanography, the key to a better understanding of our world". For we believe that in the ocean we have great opportunities to see what has happened in the past, and the dynamic mechanism, energy, etc., that coupled with our atmosphere constitute our livelihood, practically. The course is distributed in five modules structured as follows. First, entitled "The Mediterranean, a model of an ocean". taught by Professor Jordi Flos of the University of Barcelona, where you will see an introduction to a small ocean basin, compared to the global ocean, but where many of the processes take place on a very different scale to an oceanic scale, and where you can perfectly understand these variables in terms of dynamics, physics, chemistry, etc., for a diverse, although small, basin. Second module is titled "The Global Ocean, a fluid that moves, a water source, a planetary heating system, a sea of life". Taught by Professor Jordi Salat, of the Institute of Sciences of the Sea of the CSIC. It will further develop the different variables that go into the dynamics, in oceanic physics. How this mass of water, this fluid surrounding us, which together with the atmosphere constitute a compact system, so to speak. That is, indissoluble. Where they interfere with each other, and in which the energy that solar radiation offers us is the engine that will push it, to offer this complex dynamic. The first concern of the oceanographer is to assemble all the processes they have in this ocean mass. Obviously the global ocean must be measured, it must be observed, at local level, at a specific level over time, over time. And this will be the goal of the third module that we titled "Oceanography from the Satellite". That is, what we saw in the previous one, in which we observe, we look, we deduce, we analyze, etc. we can also do it with remote sensors, from satellite, in which we obtain an instantaneous image of the global situation, and that we integrate in a very simple way. The physical principles of remote sensing will also be included in this course. The fourth module we titled "Oceanic chemistry", taught by Professor Jordi Flos of the University of Barcelona, where we cover the part of the physical-chemical processes depending on the situation, depending on the depth, in function of the parameters that we have analyzed previously. We will see the chemical system itself, that is, the bio-geochemical processes that take place in the waters. And from the surface how it evolves towards the bottom, how they are distributed horizontally, etc. And finally, how the material reaches the sea bed, the subject of the next module. But before, obviously when we talk about oceanic chemistry we have to talk about systems, for example, carbon or carbonate system, which greatly influence for example the issues as important as the balance of CO2 or atmosphere-ocean. A subject that also influences at the level of what now concerns us greatly. For example, the objective of analyzing and studying climate change. Where better than in the oceans? For the ocean presents the greatest inertia at the thermal level of the Earth. Therefore it is the great climate regulator of the Earth. And finally, the last module deals with ocean basins. It is entitled "The Oceanic Basins, a memory of millions of years". Taught by me, Jordi Serra of the University of Barcelona. It develops the history of these ocean basins, how they were formed, how they have evolved until they reached the current situation. And the influence they can have also within oceanic processes. Evidently the continental masses, the geology of ocean basins and their morphology. They greatly condition much of the dynamic processes as bio-geochemical ones. Well, within this module there will be a section of paleoceanography, a part of the current oceanography that allows us to understand the situations preceding the present one. How the climate has been changing, for example in glacial periods before the present, etc. Information that is evidently recorded in the sediment, in the forms of life that existed at that time. And this chapter of paleoceanography can inform us about, for example, topics as important as the future of our oceans. With processes such as the current one that concerns us about the type of climate change. Having made this brief introduction, we would like you to see that the set of material offers a base for you to expand your knowledge. Based on the material that is offered and also with the complementary and recommended material. We hope that throughout this course you will be able to obtain this sufficient basic level, and that it benefits and enables you to realize your objectives in others, or in the same field of oceanography, in the field of water sports, etc. This was our intention in the first place. We hope that those goals will be achieved. Thank you very much.
