Oceanography

Definition of Oceanography
• Oceanography is the scientific study of oceans and seas. It deals with the
distribution of oceanic water masses, morphology and relief of the ocean
floors, depth zones in oceans, sediments of the oceans, marine mineral
resources, oceanic processes, dynamics of water masses and the role of oceans
in controlling the global climate. The physics, chemistry, geology and biology
of the oceans are very deep concepts in natural sciences. Oceans are very
dynamic and widely distributed water bodies.
• According to H.A. Marmer: “Oceanography the science of the sea, includes
primarily the study of the form and nature of the oceans basins, the
characteristics of the water in these basins and the movement to which these
water are subject to.”
• According to J. Proudman: “Oceanography studies the fundamental
principles of dynamics and thermo-dynamics in relation to the physical and
biological properties of the sea water.”
 Branches of oceanography
• There are generally six branches of oceanography:
• Physical oceanography, or marine physics: attributes including temperature,
salinity structure, mixing, waves, internal waves, surface tides, internal tides, and
currents.
• Chemical oceanography, or marine chemistry, is the study of the chemistry of the
ocean and its chemical interaction with the atmosphere;
• Biological oceanography, or marine biology, is the study of the plants, animals and
microbes of the oceans and their ecological interaction with the ocean;
• Geological oceanography, or marine geology, is the study of the geology of the
ocean floor including plate tectonics and paleoceanography;
• Meteorological oceanography, the study of the interactions of the atmosphere and
the ocean in the hydrosphere.
• Applied oceanography:-This branch of oceanography is concerned with the
application of the oceanographic knowledge to practical problems.
 Nature of Oceanography
• Also called oceanology or marine science, is the branch of Earth science that studies the
ocean.
• Oceanography is an interdisciplinary science that involves the study of the entire ocean.
• It covers a wide range of topics, including
• marine organisms
• Ecosystem dynamics ( study of aquatic life, planktons);
• ocean currents, waves and tides,
• geophysical fluid dynamics;
• plate tectonics
• the geology of the sea floor;
• fluxes of various chemical substances (various chemical reactions)
• physical properties( like temp. pressure, salinity, density of ocean water) within the ocean and across
its boundaries.
• These diverse topics reflect multiple disciplines that oceanographers blend to further
knowledge of the world ocean and understanding of processes within it: biology,
chemistry, geology, meteorology, and physics as well as geography
 A Geographical approach into Oceanography
• Oceanography is a part of Physical Geography: Oceanography is significant
to geography because the fields have overlapped in terms of navigation,
mapping and the physical and biological study of Earth's environment.
• A Geographical approach into Oceanography include the studies of:
• The inter-relation between sea and atmosphere and the effect on weather.
• The problems and prospects of ocean navigation.
• The possibilities of developing plank-tonic food resources.
• The development and conservation of world fisheries and exploration of other food
resources.
• The Geographical research with the aim of knowing the reflects of various forces under
the sea.
• The atmosphere and ocean are linked because of evaporation and precipitation as well as
thermal flux and solar insolation.
• Wind stress is a major driver of ocean currents while the ocean is a sink for atmospheric
carbon dioxide.
 Scope of Oceanography
• This branch of climatology is concerned with the scope of the oceanographical
knowledge to practical problems of the oceans.
• It analyses the relationship of oceanography to other sciences.
• Applied oceanography can be of great help for many problems related to coastal
industries, shore communities (settlements), military and naval establishments, ports
and harbours, and other ocean problems.
• The main purpose is to find out the ways and means to make use of our knowledge
for the betterment of human life and the life in the oceans. of oceans.
• Data derived from the work of Oceanographers is used in marine engineering, in the
design and building of oil platforms, ships, harbors, and other structures that allow us
to use the ocean safely.
• Oceanographic data management is the discipline ensuring that oceanographic data
both past and present are available to researchers.
 Importance of Oceanography
• Throughout history humans have been directly or indirectly influenced by
the oceans.
• Ocean waters serve as a source of food and valuable minerals.
• Ocean waters serve as vast highways for transport and commerce.
• Increasingly, people are turning to the oceans for their food supply either by
direct consumption or indirectly by harvesting fish that is then processed for
livestock feed.
• It has been estimated that as much as 10% of human protein intake comes
from the oceans.
• Other biological products of the oceans are also commercially used.
• For example, pearls taken from oysters are used in jewellery, and shells and
coral have been widely used as a source of building material.
• Extensive deposits of petroleum-bearing sands.
• On the deep ocean floor manganese nodules, formed by the precipitation of
manganese oxides and other metallic salts around a nucleus of rock or shell,
represent a potentially rich and extensive resource.
• The oceans also have become more important for recreational use, as each
year more people are attracted to the sports of swimming, fishing, scuba
diving, boating, and water-skiing.