MAST200 Lecture 1: The Oceans L1

• School: University of Delaware
• Department: Marine Studies
• Course: MAST200
• Professor: Thoroughgood Carolyn

Document Summary

Oceanography: the study of the oceans, its surroundings, and life within it. We can understand the ocean through scientific study, using physics, chemistry, geology, biology, mathematics, engineering, and marine policy. Physical: how and why ocean currents flow, interactions between the air and sea such as the generation of waves by wind. Geological: studying rock structures in the ocean basin, rock properties, earthquakes. Chemical: composition of seawater and the controlling and altering of its composition, including marine pollution. Biological: organisms in the ocean and their relationship to the environment. Ocean engineering: design and installation of oceanographic instruments and. To study the ocean, we must combine multiple areas of study for full understanding. Oceanography includes global and local monitoring of things like chlorophyll, weather, vehicles and more. 3 stages of oceanic research: exploration of ocean boundaries. Integrative studies of ocean dynamics: ocean exploration: the period when people explored ocean boundaries (2500 bc - 1700. Polynesian expansion (2000 bc - 900 ad)