Oceanography
The sea is the most obvious feature of the earth's surface. Approximately seventy percent of this surface is covered by water, in one way or another. Beneath this water are the familiar sands of the beaches, bottoms of bays, and the inshore ocean. Farther offshore this water covers an amazing submarine topography of underwater canyons, trenches, mountains, and plains. Unlike the continents, which are physically separated from one another, the oceans are continuous and interconnected. Since the 'world ocean is continuous'(M.J. Keen) it has similar characteristics throughout. In the early 1870s oceanographers collected seawater samples from all of the seas of the world at a variety of depths. When analyzed, the samples were found to have quite similar characteristics. These findings convinced many that a method of study was needed. The study of oceans was named oceanography.
Density, salinity, and temperature are very important concepts in the study of oceanography. The salinity and temperature of the water influence its density, and the differences in density are the major factor in understanding the formation of currents and the positions of water masses in the sea. In addition, temperature and salinity play major roles in influencing the distribution of plants and animals.
The sediments of the sea floor may be divided into lithogenous, hydrogenous, biogenous, and cosmogenous sediments. Lithogenous sediments are the major sediments on the ocean floor. They are derived from the chemical and mechanical weathering of rocks. Biogenous sediments are composed primarily of the protective outter covering of small marine animals and plants. If these remains comprise at least thirty percent of the sediment it is called an 'ooze'. 'Oozes' were named for the types of organisms that formed them. Hydrogenous sediments form as a result of the chemical reactions that occur in the seawater. These reactions result in the...
More Oceanography
essays:
Our World's Oceans: Their Importance to Our Planet
... parts of the world. Seamounts: Another formation type of the deep-sea: In some ways, opposite of deep-sea trenches, seamounts are extinct or active volcanoes rising up from the sea floor. There are around 810 known in the Atlantic Ocean ...
Coral Reefs: Why We Must Save Them.
... protect inshore areas from the pounding of the ocean waves," (About), during tropical storms, hurricanes, and severe wave generating events. Without the coral reefs many beaches and building along the shore would be lost to the sea due ...
New Zealand and the Impact of Fishing
... southwestern seas of the world, just above Australia and the Tasman Sea, lies a beautiful island country of New Zealand. Governed by the Queen herself and kept fertile and wondrous by the gods above, this sanctuary of perfect ...
"El Nino and it's effects on coral reefs" What is El nino and how does it affect the ocean?
... around the world. Temperatures above 86 degrees are common temperatures for bleaching to occur. However, these temperatures are only lethal if they last for a month or more. Data collected this summer from the Florida Institute of Oceanography's ...
"The Hungry Ocean": A look at the book and Oceanography.
... with the ocean needs to have a fairly concrete concept of ocean currents in order to understand where there are warmer waters and cooler waters. Ocean temperatures are one of the most important components ...
The Mariana Trench- Science Report
... exploring the Mariana Trench, the Challenger gathered important data on the features and species of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans, covering nearly 130,000 kilometers, nearly 5000 new species of sea creatures were discovered during the 4 ...
Coral bleaching
... the world's environment. They contribute to biodiversity, by providing homes for many different species of animals and plants. Coral reefs also protect coastlines form erosion by strong ocean waves; they can even produce the sand that makes up the beaches ...
Oil Spills
... Chamberlain Oceanography NRCC 150 11-20-08 There are many things that threaten the world's oceans; too much fishing, global warming, but perhaps the most ...