Essential principles about our ocean
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Transcript of Essential principles about our ocean
Essential Principles 1. One big ocean with many features
2. The ocean and life in the ocean shape the features of the earth
3. The ocean is a major influence on weather and climate
4. The ocean makes Earth habitable
5. The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems
6. Oceans and humans are inextricably interconnected
7. The ocean is largely unexplored
One Big Ocean 70% of planet surface
Size and shape determined by plates
Single interconnected circulation system driven by wind, tides, Coriolis, Sun, and density differences
Sea level changes with tectonics, ice cap melting, and water warming (expansion)
97% of water on earth is in ocean
Integral part of global water cycle
Connected to all major watersheds
Although large, is finite and resources are limited
The ocean shapes the features of the Earth Many earth materials and geochemical cycles originate
in the ocean
Sea level changes over time shaped land surface
Erosion occurs in coastal areas as wind, waves, and currents in rivers and ocean move sediments
Sand consists of tiny bits of animals, plants, rocks and mineral eroded from land sources or by waves that also redistribute
Tectonic activity, sea level changes, and waves influence physical structure and landforms of the coast
Absorbs most of solar
radiation reaching
earth
Most rain on land was
originally evaporated from the tropical ocean
Half of global primary productivity occurs in the ocean
The ocean has a significant influence on climate change by absorbing, storing and moving heat, carbon and water
Changes in ocean circulation have produced large, abrupt changes in climate in the last 50,000 years
The ocean is a major influence on weather
The ocean makes Earth habitable
Most of oxygen originally came from ocean
Earliest evidence of life is found in the ocean
The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems
Diversity of major groups of organisms is much greater in the ocean
The ocean provides unique examples of life cycles, adaptation etc. not seen on land
The ocean is 3D with most of living space on earth
Oocean habitats are defined by environmental factors with patchy distribution of ocean life
Tides, waves, and predation cause vertical zonation in the shore
Estuaries provide important and productive nursery areas
Oceans and humans are inextricably interconnected The ocean affects every Human life by supplying water,
moderating climate, influencing weather, and affecting human health
The ocean provides food, medicine, mineral and E resources, jobs, national economy, highway for transportation, and plays role in national security;
The ocean is a source of inspiration, recreation, rejuvenation and discovery, plus an element of cultural heritage
Most of population lives in coastal areas Humans impact ocean in a variety of ways (laws,
development, pollution, overfishing) Coastal regions are susceptible to natural hazards; Everyone is responsible for caring for the ocean
The ocean is largely unexplored less than 5% has been explored; use of ocean resources
has increased significantly in last 40 years and future sustainability depends on our understanding of those resources; new technology is expanding our ability to explore the ocean; ocean exploration is truly interdisciplinary and requires close collaboration among biologists, chemists, climatologists, computer programmers, engineers, geologists, meteorologists, physicists and a new way of thinking