INTRODUCTIONTO

GENERAL OCEANOGRAPHY(GEOL 1033)

“Few people stand at the edge of the sea without feeling awed by its size and power, and without wondering what lies hidden beneath its surface” (Drake et al., 1978, p. iii).

General Oceanography

• GEOL 1033

• Emphasizes deep ocean basins & has a planetary scale

• Some coverage of nearshore materials, processes, coastal landforms and environments that were once was taught in Coastal Oceanography (GEOL 1053)

Continental-Margin Oceanography

Deep-Sea Oceanography

SYLLABUS, READING & WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS, STUDY GUIDE, & TEXTBOOK

• Go to Word…

4 Major Traditional Subdivisions of Oceanography

• 1.

• 2.

• 3.

• 4.

4 Major Traditional Subdivisions of Oceanography

• 1. Geological Oceanography:– Applies principles of geology and geophysics– Examples of studies:

• Depths, topography, shapes of the ocean basins

• Composition of seafloor and oceanic crust

• Structures, seafloor earthquakes, marine volcanism, etc.

• Origin & history of ocean basins

• Long-term climate changes

4 Major Traditional Subdivisions of Oceanography

• 2. Physical Oceanography:– Applies principles of physics and some chemistry and

meteorology– Studies:

• Water motion

• Energy

• Waves

• Tides

• Currents

• Marine weather & climate

4 Major Traditional Subdivisions of Oceanography

• 3. Chemical Oceanography:– Applies principles of chemistry– Studies seawater:

• Composition

• Properties

• Variations

• Chemical reactions

– Uses chemical techniques to solve oceanographic problems

4 Major Traditional Subdivisions of Oceanography

• 4. Biological Oceanography:– Applies principles of biology– Studies:

• Diversity of marine life

• Abundance of marine life

• Ecology of marine life

– Uses biological techniques to solve oceanographic problems

Two Other Important Aspects of Oceanography

• 5.

• 6.

Two Other Important Aspects of Oceanography• 5. Ocean Engineering:

– Many kinds of engineers are needed

– Develop ocean technology to deal with practical problems

– Design & build marine structures, ships, docks, etc.

• 6. Policy Development & Management:– Must deal with ocean exploitation, pollution, “laws of the sea,”

etc.

– Many disciplines are involved:• Economics

• Politics

• Recreation

• Education

• Law

Our Approach to Understanding the Oceans

• Describe their features (“facts” or the what)

• When they develop, etc. (“timing”)

• Where they develop (“geography”)

• Learn their processes (“how they work”)

– Fast rates - observe directly

– Slow rates - measure indirectly

• Develop “models” to

• Explain observations & measurements

• Look for simplifying concepts & trends

Planet "OCEANUS,” not EARTH

• 71% of surface is oceanic

• Glaciers cover about 10%

• 98% of the water is salty

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• REVIEW:

• What are the 4 major traditional subdivisions of Oceanography?– 1. ______________________ 2. ______________________

– 3. ______________________ 4. ______________________

• Deep-sea mining and coastal zone management might require knowledge associated with what kinds of occupations?– 1. ______________________ 2. ______________________

– 3. ______________________ 4. ______________________