oceanography - Branches, History, Ocean and atmosphere connections, Further reading

The study of the oceans, also referred to as oceanology. It is usually divided into four sub-disciplines. Geological oceanography deals with the structure and origin of the ocean floor, the processes which operate along the shoreline, the sediments which cover the ocean floor, and the origin and distribution of marine mineral resources. Chemical oceanography deals with the chemical properties of seawater, the components dissolved in seawater, and the chemical reactions which take place in the ocean, at the sea floor, and at the sea surface. Physical oceanography covers the physical processes in the ocean, including ocean currents, waves, tides, and the interaction between the atmosphere and the ocean. Biological oceanography deals with marine organisms and their relationship with their environment, including the effects of the physical, chemical, and geological conditions in the sea on the distribution and abundance of organisms, and the effects of the organisms on the marine environment.

Oceanography (from Ocean + Greek γράφειν = write), also called oceanology or marine science is the study of the Earth's oceans and seas. Oceanographers study a wide range of topics such as plate tectonics to ocean currents to marine organisms.

Branches

The study of oceanography has five main branches:

Marine biology or biological oceanography, the study of the plants and animals (biota) of the oceans and their ecological interaction. Marine geology or geological oceanography, the study of the geology of the ocean floor including plate tectonics; and Physical oceanography, studies the ocean's physical attributes including temperature-salinity structure, waves, tides and currents).

These branches reflect the fact that many oceanographers are first trained in the exact sciences and then focus on applying their interdisciplinary knowledge, skills and abilities to oceanography.

History

Early exploration of the oceans was limited to its surfaces and the few creatures that fishermen brought up in nets, but when Bougainville and Cook carried out their explorations in the South Pacific, the seas themselves formed part of the reports.

James Rennell wrote the first scientific textbooks about currents in the Atlantic and Indian oceans during the late 18th and at the beginning of 19th century.

The steep slope beyond the continental shelves was not discovered until 1849. Matthew Fontaine Maury's Physical Geography of the Sea, 1855 was the first textbook of oceanography.

After the middle of the 19th century, scientific societies were processing a flood of new terrestrial botanical and zoological information.

Oceanography began as a quantifiable science in 1872, when the Scots Charles Wyville Thompson and John Murray launched the Challenger expedition (1872 – 76).

Oceanographic institutes dedicated to the study of oceanography were founded. In the United States, these included the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia University, and the School of Oceanography at University of Washington. In Britain, there is a major research institution: National Oceanography Centre, Southampton.

The first international organization of oceanography was created in 1901 as the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea.

In 1921 Monaco formed the International Hydrographic Bureau (IHB). NOAA was in charge of exploring and studying all aspects of Oceanography. It also enabled the National Science Foundation to award Sea Grant College funding to multi-disciplinary researchers in the field of oceanography.

Ocean and atmosphere connections

The study of the oceans is intimately linked to understanding global warming and related biosphere concerns. McCrerey (FNMOC - Futurist) Walter Munk Tad Murty Stefan Rahmstorf Johan Sandström Yuly Shokalsky RADM Charles Dwight Sigsbee (Hydographer) Henry Stommel Harald Sverdrup Mary Sears CAPT Don Walsh (Challenger Deep - Deep sea explorer) Warren White Osman El-Rayis Charles Wilkes (United States Exploring Expedition)

Related disciplines

Biogeochemistry Biogeography Hydrography Hydrology Limnology Meteorology

Further reading

Steele, J., K.