Knowra Oceanography Oceanography Oceanography is the scientific study of the ocean, its physical properties, chemistry, life, and geology, and its interactions with the atmosphere and seafloor.
Physical oceanography : The study of ocean circulation, waves, tides, and the physical properties of seawater. Explains how currents, waves, and heat move through the ocean.
Thermohaline circulation : Large-scale ocean circulation driven by differences in seawater density caused by temperature and salinity. Links surface waters and the deep ocean through density-driven flow.
Argo (oceanography) : An international array of autonomous floats that measures temperature and salinity throughout the upper ocean. Its global profiles reveal changes in ocean heat and freshwater content.
HMS Challenger expedition : A British scientific voyage from 1872 to 1876 that conducted the first comprehensive global marine survey. Its measurements and collections helped establish oceanography as a systematic science.
Deep sea : The deep ocean below the sunlit surface layer, characterized by darkness, cold, and high pressure. Its scale and remoteness make it difficult to observe directly.
Chemical oceanography : The study of seawater composition and the chemical processes that alter it. Tracks dissolved substances, nutrients, and chemical exchanges across the ocean.
Ekman transport : The net movement of ocean water caused by wind stress and Earth's rotation. Explains how winds drive surface currents and coastal upwelling.
Ocean observing system : A coordinated network of instruments, platforms, and programs that collects ocean observations. Oceanography depends on sustained measurements from many kinds of platforms.
Matthew Fontaine Maury : An American naval officer who compiled ocean and wind observations to improve navigation. His charts organized scattered maritime observations into useful ocean knowledge.
Ocean acidification : The decrease in ocean pH caused primarily by seawater absorbing atmospheric carbon dioxide. Its effects on marine organisms and ecosystems remain an active research focus.
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