Oceanography is one of the branches of science that focuses on studying the physical, chemical, and biological processes in all the aquatic environments of the world . It is a multidisciplinary science that studies not only the oceans but also rivers, seas, lakes, and any other body of water on our planet.
In this article, we'll explain what oceanography focuses on and its importance for the advancement of science.
What is oceanography
As we mentioned before, this is a science that focuses on explaining all the chemical, physical, and biological processes that occur in all parts of the Earth with water. This science must be multidisciplinary, as it requires specialists in various fields. One of the main aspects to consider is the dynamics involved in studying the physical processes that take place.
In these physical processes we include waves, ocean currents, wind action, pressure, irradiance, etc. All these variables and more alone that try to explain the functioning of the oceans, seas, rivers, lakes, etc. Therefore, as not only physical but also chemical and biological processes are included, specialists from many branches are needed.
To better understand oceanography, it is divided into several types. First, there is physical oceanography . Second, there is chemical oceanography , and finally, biological oceanography . A fourth type, geological oceanography, is also included in these three subdivisions . For a deeper understanding, it is important to know how these processes interact within the context of fluid dynamics.
Physical oceanography is the type of oceanography that most interests sailors, as it provides the data needed to navigate to different destinations. Now, let's analyze each type of oceanography and their characteristics.
Physical oceanography
It is part of this science that is responsible for studying the physical processes that occur in aquatic environments. These processes include molecular mixing and diffusion, the water regime and its properties, ocean currents, tides, and waves. Within this variety of oceanography there are also several subtypes:
- Descriptive oceanography: It is about that part of this science that describes the distribution and characteristics of the masses of water in the oceans. It can be said that it is the counterpart of continental hydrology.
- Dynamic oceanography: is the part that studies the movement of water in the oceans and the causes of this movement.
- Meteorological oceanography: Studies the interactions between the atmosphere and the ocean. It is responsible for explaining the reasons why these physical processes occur in relation to the atmosphere. This study is essential to understanding the Coriolis effect and its impact on ocean currents.
Biological oceanography
It is the part of this science that studies marine organisms and their relationship with the environment. It should not be confused with marine biology. Marine biology focuses exclusively on the study of marine animals. In this case, he focuses more on the relationship he has with the environment that surrounds him and how it influences his rhythm and development of life.
Since life in the oceans is very rich, this branch has to be divided into other subtypes:
- Pelagic oceanography: is in charge of studying the biological processes that occur in the pelagic part of the sea. These areas are the waters that are open in the oceans, away from the coast and outside the Continental platform.
- Neritic oceanography: It is the one that focuses on studying the biological processes that occur in the sea that is close to the coast and are on the continental shelf.
- Benthic oceanography: focuses on explaining the biological processes that occur on the surface of the seabed. This entire area is called the benthic zone, hence its name.
- Demersal oceanography: studies the biological processes that occur on the seabed. This term is more commonly used and is more useful for fisheries carried out in the region.
Geological oceanography
As expected, we also need to understand the geological processes that occur in these aquatic environments. This branch of oceanography focuses on studying the following:
- Coastal processes: These are processes that focus on the geomorphology and dynamics of coastal bodies such as deltas, estuaries, beaches, estuaries, and coastal lagoons. The objective is to study how the dynamics of the ocean and the species that inhabit it influence the geomorphology of these terrains.
- Marine sedimentology: In the aquatic environment, there are also processes of transport and sedimentation. These sediments that have been transported by marine erosion are also studied, which is relevant in the marine geology.
Chemical oceanography
This branch of science studies the chemical composition of seawater. Because human activities cause various changes in the composition of seawater, it is necessary to study it and analyze the impact on biodiversity. It primarily studies marine pollution, that is, all the alterations in the chemical composition of water caused by discharges from human activities.
The ocean-atmosphere system can be described as two fluids due to their extensive geophysical nature. To understand this context, physical, chemical, and biological processes must be studied using geophysical fluid dynamics methodology. This means considering ocean currents, littoral currents, tides, atmospheric structures (both cyclonic and anticyclonic), and small-scale processes, among others, to determine the equilibrium of all the forces acting on the ocean.
Thanks to technological advancements, there has been enormous progress in computer science, and powerful computers have enabled the development of various methodologies for modeling highly effective systems for predicting all kinds of ocean phenomena. These models help to complement and deepen our understanding of fluid dynamics. This is how increasingly valuable and useful information can be obtained for mariners. For more information on the context of these phenomena, you can consult the information on the temperature of the Mediterranean.
