OAS_Oceanography as a Science - What's the Point? Module Review

You have learned that oceanography is a scientific study that delves into the depths of the oceans, unites various branches of science, and unlocks vital insights into the workings of our interconnected world.

Let's review the keywords and main points of the module.

What is the significance of oceanography in our understanding of Earth's dynamic systems, and how has the field evolved?

      • Oceanography is a super important field of study. It helps us to understand things like climate change, global warming, and the effects of human activity on the environment. Over time, oceanography has changed a lot. In the olden days, oceanographers used simple tools like ropes and lead weights to measure the depth of the ocean floor. Nowadays, they use more excellent stuff like satellites, underwater robots, and fancy computer models to study the oceans. There are many different kinds of oceanography, like physical oceanography, biological oceanography, and chemical oceanography. Each one focuses on another thing, like the physical properties of the ocean water or the cool critters that live in it. So, oceanography is an ever-changing field that's super important for helping us understand how the world works. By studying the oceans, we can learn much about how the environment, climate, and human activity fit together.

How do scientists investigate and study the oceans, and what challenges do they encounter in pursuing knowledge about the marine environment? 

      • Scientists use ships, satellites, underwater robots, and computer models to study the oceans. However, the vastness of the ocean, the harsh marine environment, and human activity pose challenges to the pursuit of knowledge about the marine environment. Despite these challenges, scientists continue to explore and study the ocean.

What role does oceanography play in addressing global environmental challenges and in shaping our future relationship with Earth's oceans?

    • Oceanography is critical in addressing global environmental challenges and shaping our future relationship with Earth's oceans. By studying the physical, chemical, biological, and geological processes that govern the world's oceans, oceanographers can help us better understand human activities' impact on our planet's delicate ecosystems. This knowledge can then be used to develop strategies and technologies for mitigating or reversing the damage that has already been done and preventing further harm in the future. Some of the key areas where oceanography is making a difference include climate change, marine pollution, fisheries management, and coastal development. As we continue to face new environmental challenges and look for ways to build a more sustainable future, the insights provided by oceanography will be more important than ever.

In this module, we studied the following topics:

  • Lesson 1: Introduction to the Ocean 
    • The oceans make up over 70% of the Earth’s surface and, in some places, are more than 5 miles deep. Despite this vastness, our understanding of the ocean remains limited. Uncovering its mysteries and addressing scientific, environmental, and technological challenges highlights the importance of ocean exploration. 
  • Lesson 2: What is the History of Oceanography? 
    • Oceanography's journey began with early seafarers observing the ocean's properties. In the 19th century, modern oceanography started with expeditions, leading to significant advancements in the mid-20th century and the use of advanced technology today for continuous ocean exploration.
  • Lesson 3: How Do We Study Oceanography? 
    • Oceanography is a complex science encompassing geology, chemistry, physics, and biology; this makes it a complex but fascinating field of study essential for understanding the ocean's profound impact on our planet. We must go through a process to study different topics or problems we encounter in oceanography.
  • Lesson 4: How Do We Represent Our Findings in Oceanography? 
    • There are two types of data collection, qualitative and quantitative, and after collecting data, it is important to know how to present the results using appropriate charts or graphs. 
  • Lesson 5: What Could Go Wrong? 
    • Many issues arise when exploring or researching the ocean, including temperature, available oxygen, light, weather conditions, and finances. To overcome these issues, ROVs, HOVs, satellites, and buoys are used to collect data and continue our exploration of oceans.

 

 

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