Introduction to Marine Science

Transcription

1 Chapter 1 Introduction to Marine Science

2 Marine Science and Oceanography Marine Science: the process of discovering i the facts, processes, and unifying principals that explain the nature of the oceans and their associated life forms.

3 Oceanography: the science of recording and describing the ocean s contents and processes. 4 main braches: Biological- studies the incredible diversity of life in the ocean, and ocean s role as their habitat. Chemical- studies the chemistry of seawater. The rates and effects of chemical reactions are measured. Geological- studies the geology of the ocean. Compositions of marine rocks and sediment are examined. Physical- studies physics within the marine environment. Water movements such as tides, waves, and currents are studied. d

4 Integrating the Sciences Marine Biology draws on the traditional science disciplines: Physical science Earth and Space science Life Science

5 Integrating the Sciences Marine science also involves four study areas beyond the disciplines: 1. Science as inquiry- apply science as a way of solving problems and answering questions. 2. Science and Technology- learning how science advances technology and visa-versa. versa. 3. Science in personal and social perspectivesrelates how science affects you personally and society as a whole. 4. The historical nature of science- understanding how science evolved as a discipline.

6 Scientific Exploration One of the Greeks primary contributions to oceanography and seafaring is the latitude/longitude system. The purpose of this system is to identify specific locations on Earth s surface. Latitude lines run east-west and longitude lines run north-south. Measured in degrees, minutes, and seconds g 0 o degree parallel is known as The Equator The poles are 90 o

7 Parallels above the equator are north latitude and those below are south latitude. Longitude lines begin at one pole and end at the other. Sometimes called meridians. 0 o meridian runs through the Royal Naval Observatory in Greenwich, England. Also called the Prime Meridian Directly on the other side is the 180 o meridian Looking northward, meridians to the right of 180 degrees are east longitudes.

8 Scientific Exploration Exploration of the oceans began in the mid s with the voyages of Captain James Cook. Explored the South Pacific and was able to map many islands in that t area.

9 Ben Franklin wondered why mail from the colonies to Europe took longer than from Europe to the colonies. Learned about water current that moved up along the east coast from the Gulf of Mexico. Had a map drawn with this current, call it the Gulf Stream - current flows northeast, then turns and heads east across the Atlantic Ocean.

10 The 19 th century saw scientific explorations of the oceans greatly accelerated. In 1831, the H.M.S. Beagle sailed to the western coast of South America. Data was collected on the animals and plants that inhabited the area. The Galapagos Islands were visited and many unique animal species were discovered.

11 Matthew Fontaine Maury analyzed data collected from ships logbooks and published The Physical Geography of the Sea. It contained much technical information.

12 Fridtjof Nansen invented a water-sampling bottle named the Nansen bottle. Used to collect water samples from different depths in the water column.

13 In 1925, sonar was used to take continuous readings of the seafloor. The maps prepared from sonar readings revealed a seafloor that has many varying depths and features. sound navigation ranging

14 Exploring Inner Space Inner space: the world found beneath the ocean s surface. Ancient Greeks dove for ornamental shells thousands of years ago. Diving chamber: contained a supply of air. Halley s chamber was able to hold a larger supply of air.

15 Diving suits: made of watertight canvas with a heavy metal helmet and weighted boots. Air was pumped from the surface, through a tube, and into the helmet.

16 Aqua lung: (scuba tank) a tank of compressed air strapped to a diver s back. The diver breathes air from the tank through a mouthpiece device called a regulator. The regulator, connected by a hose to the tank, adjusts the air in the tank to the correct pressure that a diver can safely breathe at any given depth.

17 Scuba lf t i d d t self-contained underwater breathing apparatus

18 Aquanauts: scientists who explore inner space. Bathysphere: steel chamber with a thick glass porthole for viewing and room for only two people.

19 8848m ft. Bathyscaphe: deeper diving vessel. 10,852 meters into the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean. The deepest trench known on Earth, deeper than Mount Everest. Took more than 4 hours to make the trip to the bottom.

20 Modern Submersibles Alvin Has logged more than 1,000 dives Self-propelled submersible carries a crew of three 1966, recovered a hydrogen bomb in 1830meters of water Uses mechanical arms to pick up objects from the seafloor Used to investigate hydrothermal vent communities

21 Jim Suit: Special space-age diving suit, allows divers to travel deep in the ocean 1,550 feet (457m) Made of durable titanium and is strong enough to protect the diver from the crushing effects of great pressure Has its own air supply but must be connected to a ship by a cable.

22 Robots: Do not carry people on board Jason about 2 meters long, controlled by computers, and packed with lights, cameras, and scientific sensors Jason is tethered to a sled that is suspended by cables from a surface ship

23 Deep Drone: Untethered robot; called a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Designed to locate and recover objects in the deep ocean floor Allows researchers to increase their knowledge of the ocean floor and its inhabitants

24 Buoyancy Discovered by Archimedes ( B.C.) the buoyant force on any object is equal to the weight of the liquid that the object displaces. A body immersed in a liquid seems to lose weight, and the apparent loss in weight is equal to the weight of the liquid displaced. Archimedes Principle

25 Buoyant force = weight of liquid displaced = loss of weight in liquid Buoyant force = weight of object in air-weight of object in liquid. A ship floats because it is constructed with many airfilled compartments.

26 The Ocean Planet

27 Satellites a means to monitor oceans Remote sensors instruments that gather information on the features of the Earth without being in physical contact with it. Also used din search-and-rescue operations. 3 satellites currently used in Marine Sciences: 1 used for search-and-rescue

28 TOPEX/Poseidon satellite: The Ocean Topography Experiment POSEIDON Facts: Launched in 1992 Monitors global ocean circulation Sea surface temperatures (shown in red and yellow: warm water; blue and green: cool water) Sea surface height Presence of plankton an indicator of ocean productivity

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30 SEASTAR Facts: Launched in 1997 Carries a color scanner that measures the ocean s entire oxygen-producing plankton population on a weekly basis.

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32 AQUA: Facts: Launched in 2002 Gathers info on precipitation and evaporation Used to determine if Earth s water cycle is being affected by climate changes

33 The colors in this false-color map represent temperatures of the ocean's The colors in this false-color map represent temperatures of the ocean s surface waters, ranging from a low of -2 C (28 F) in the darkest green areas to a high of 35 C (95 F) in the brightest yellow-white regions. Sea ice is shown as white and land is dark gray.

34 SARSAT: Search-and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking Facts: First used in 1982 Locates people in distress on land and on sea As of June 8, 2007 Number of Persons Rescued (To Date) in the United States: 170 Rescues at sea: 142 people rescued in 41 incidents Aviation rescues: 10 people rescued in 8 incidents id PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) rescues: 18 people rescued in 11 incidents Worldwide Over 20,300 People Rescued (since 1982) United States 5,566 People Rescued (since 1982)

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36 Why Are The Oceans So Important? They yproduce two influences and many natural resources that make them vital to life on Earth: The weather and world climate patterns dictate how warm, cold, wet, or dry it will be. They determine what organisms live where on land. They provide important resources of food, oxygen, and natural resources, such as oil.

37 Scientific Method A means of gathering info. & testing ideas. 4steps: 1. Making observations 2. Forming explanations 3. Testing explanations 4. Drawing conclusions

38 Observations 1. The examination of something in nature. 2. Made directly with the senses. 3. May be made by the use of instruments that extend normal sensory perception. 4. Must be free from error, or accurate. 5. Scientists should be free from bias: an existing idea or opinion that influences an observation. 6. Should be recorded. Data: information obtained from observations and other sources.

39 Forming Explanations Hypothesis: a possible answer to a question about nature, based on observations, readings & knowledge of a scientist.

40 Testing Explanations Experimentation: the scientific testing of a hypothesis. Generally includes 2 groups: a. control b. experimental variable factor: the condition that distinguishes the experimental group from the control group. Accurate observations must be recorded about both the experimental and control groups.

41 Drawing Conclusions 1. If the data supports the hypothesis, the conclusion is that the hypothesis is correct & visa-versa. 2. If a hypothesis is repeatedly supported by further experimentation & verified by other scientists, it may become a theory. 3. theory: a hypothesis or explanation of some part of nature, that has been repeatedly been supported by evidence. a. can be changed b. subject to testing