Introduction to Introduction to OceansOceans

Mrs. SpicerMrs. Spicer

What is What is Oceanography?Oceanography?

A scientific study of the oceansA scientific study of the oceans

Covers a wide range of disciplines Covers a wide range of disciplines such as: biology, chemistry, geology, such as: biology, chemistry, geology, physics, mathematics and physics, mathematics and engineering.engineering.

The science of:

understanding oceans

how they work

how they began

how they affect us

the creatures that live in them

how they may be impacted by changes caused by human influences

Why study Oceanography?Why study Oceanography?The ocean represents different things to

different people.

Examples…– Careers (fisherman)– Food Source (Fishing and aquaculture) – Oil and Gas Exploration (hydrocarbons)– Transportation– Recreation – Tidal Power (Alternative energy source)– Water supply– Minerals (coals, magnesium, iron etc)– Habitation (cruise ships, house boats etc)– Dangers (Tsunamis, storm surges, property)

VocabularyVocabularyOcean - a large body of salt water

constituting a principal part of the Earth

Sea - a large body of salty water that is often connected to an ocean. It may be partly or completely surrounded by land.

Bay - an indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf

Gulf - an arm of a sea or ocean partly enclosed by land; larger than a bay

Strait - a navigable channel of water that connects two larger bodies of water

Channel - a passage for water (or other fluids) to flow through. Usually man-made.

RiverRiver - a large, flowing body of water - a large, flowing body of water that usually empties into a sea or that usually empties into a sea or ocean.ocean.

LakeLake - a large body of water - a large body of water surrounded by land on all sides. surrounded by land on all sides. Really Really large lakes are often called seas.large lakes are often called seas.

Ocean FactsOcean Facts

Let’s look at some facts about the oceans!

Your Task:Read “Ocean Planet: Oceanographic

Facts” sheet and answer the questions that follow.