Introduction to Oceanography

Research Vessel for studying the Ocean

What is oceanography? 

 It is a study of the ocean and  the environments surrounding the ocean.  It covers both biotic and abiotic components. (Biotic - living, Abiotic - nonliving).  I think of it as an overview of the ocean.  Oceanography is then divided in a number of different disciplines.  Most of my students want to study marine animals.   There is a lot more to understanding our oceans that just studying animals. My goal in teaching oceanography is to open up the ocean world to students and then explore  topics that they would never have considered interesting.  Examples would be hydrothermal vents, underwater volcanoes, brine lakes, and the midocean ridge.  I want them to understand that we have better pictures of the moon than we do of the ocean bottom.  Everyday, scientists are making new discoveries and we have barely touched the surface of this amazing habitat that makes up almost 72% of the earths surface.

Ocean from Space

Oceanographers I would love comments on why you think studying the ocean is important!

Why should students study the ocean?

If you think of our planet as a living thing then you have to consider that everything is connected.  The oceans affect the land and the land affects the ocean.   What man does to one habitat can have far reaching consequences on another. 



Plastic  Debris floating in the Ocean

 Example:
Plastic is a major problem in our oceans. We have developed a throw away lifestyle and the plastic we use often finds its way into the ocean.  Many animals die from eating plastic.  Even if we wanted to it is almost impossible to clean this plastic debris floating in our oceans.  What we can do is prevent today's plastic from entering the ocean.

Help Prevent a Sea of Plastic Pollution

The ocean provides us with food, recreation, transportation of goods, minerals, a history of our planet, medicines, new and amazing animals, a better understanding of the geology of our planet and how life evolved. This is NOT a complete list.

Goods transported at sea

I am absolutely awed by the video of scientists  studying the ocean from small submersibles. Students often ask me would I be willing to go down to the ocean floor in one.  I answer - in a heartbeat!  To view first hand life beneath the sea would be a gift of a lifetime. 

In our limited nine week term we will touch on a number of current issues facing the ocean. If anyone has some suggestions for topics I would love to hear some.  I want to stay as current as possible as well as inform my students.

Marine science is fun to teach because there are so many interesting things you can learn.   You can introduce new topics to students, offer them the opportunity to research topics that interest them, and in the process learn more yourself. Certainly there are numerous sites that offer curriculum and activities that help make your class interesting and engaging.