Oceanography is the scientific study of Earth’s oceans. Oceanographers study the sea floor, seawater, and sea life. They may specialize in biology, chemistry, engineering, geology, or physics. Oceanographers gather information using research ships, submarines, robotic vehicles, and various collecting tools and measuring instruments. Several countries have ocean-observing systems. Such systems continuously monitor the ocean’s properties, including temperature and currents. Oceanographers develop ways to store and analyze this data.
Biological oceanography
is the study of ocean life and its interaction with the ocean’s physical, chemical, and biological features, such as temperature, oxygen levels, and other organisms. This includes the study of the diversity, characteristics, and activities of ocean life.
Chemical oceanography
studies the elements and compounds in seawater, sea-floor rocks, sea life, and the atmosphere. Many chemical oceanographers study elemental cycles, the processes and reactions that cause chemicals to cycle between these domains.
Physical oceanography
involves the use of physics, mathematics, and computer models to understand the ocean’s physical characteristics. Physical oceanographers study currents, evaporation, ice formation, light, rainfall, salt content, sound, and temperature. This information enables them to describe how currents distribute water, heat, or living things throughout the oceans.
Geological oceanography
is the study of the sea floor and ancient sea floors on land. Geological oceanographers and marine geologists study such topics as Earth’s crust, underwater volcanoes, and earthquakes. They also study the changing nature of coasts, including river outflow, erosion, and the record of Earth’s history revealed in layers of coastal lands.
For more information on the oceans, see Ocean and its list of related articles.
