Big Idea The ocean is important yet relatively unexplored
Jan 02, 2016
Big Idea
The ocean is important yet relatively unexplored
The Science of Marine Biology
http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/enri/aset/images/sea-otter.jpghttp://www.sun-and-surf-scuba-diving.com/images/scuba-diver-001.jpgnantucketwaterfrontnews.blogspot.com/2007/09/...
Marine Biology
• Study of all living things in the ocean
• Involves chemistry, earth science , physics and biology
Chemistry of Ocean Water
• Amount of dissolved materials-gases, salts, nutrients
• Novel compounds made by marine organisms- many marine animals cope with their world chemically
• Marine pollution and climate change -How atmosphere’s CO2 increases ocean acidity
• Chemical cycles-How materials are cycled through the oceans
Chemistry• Example- Researching changing pH of the oceans and its effect
on marine life
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9e/WOA05_GLODAP_del_pH_AYool.png
Earth Science
• Plate tectonics– Volcanoes, earthquakes, sea floor
spreading, subduction zones all affect the shape of the ocean basins
• Coastal processes– Waves and wind, storms all change the
shape of our coastlines
Earth Science
• http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2013/09/the-largest-volcano-on-earth-discovered-beneath-the-pacific-ocean.html
Ex- Mapping the sea floor with sonar and discovering new volcanoes
• Aug-Oct 2006
http://coastalchange.ucsd.edu/st3_basics/beaches.html
Physics
• Motion in the ocean-currents, waves, tides– Move heat energy and materials around
the ocean basins
• Interaction between the ocean surface and atmosphere– Climate control, water cycle and earth’s
energy budget
Physics
• http://images.sciencedaily.com/2013/11/131113152534-large.jpg
Modeling underwater robot movement on the movement of sting rays-which swim very efficiently
Biology
• http://images.sciencedaily.com/2014/01/140109004259.jpg
Ex.-Recent discovery offluorescent fish species and possible uses in research
Importance of the Oceans
• Source of food–16% of all animal protein consumed
worldwide comes from the oceans–We are catching fish faster than they
can reproduce–60-70% of fish types are in danger
http://www.sflorg.com/ear/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/imear102908-01-01.jpg
http://scienceblogs.com/shiftingbaselines/2007/06/national_fisheries_institute_r.php
Estimates that 8-25% of what is caught is bycatch that is discarded
Importance of the Oceans
• Source of medicine–Vitamin A and D from cod liver oil
–antibiotics from algae
–heart rate controllers from some fish venom, etc.
http://www.practicaltruisms.com/Images/Taceva%20Page%20Images/CodLiver-.jpg
Importance of the Oceans
• Source of raw materials –Oil, natural gas
• Drilling through the crust offshore–Minerals, rare earth metals
• Interest in mining or vacuuming up materials from the seabed
–Environmental risks from these activities make both somewhat controversial
http://www.labucketbrigade.org/img/original/offshore%20drilling.jpg
Importance of the Oceans
• Recreation and Tourism– 6.3 billion dollars in Monmouth and
Ocean county in 2012– Revenue down 20-40% since Hurricane
Sandy
https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSn1vtkMqLVQtNQ8bLrZJDVUudc4jUQknl4C97ITZkkyFpf0hIB
https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRXv7G4PyHrKRcxLszC09GGQq0Lw9NfAT3sDyYWMlnR213E1R9B
Importance of the Oceans
• Animal Models for Research– Squid…..nervous system“Smart squid may unlock the
secret of how animals and people learn”
– Horseshoe crabs…..sight"20/20 Foresight: Studying Vision
of Horseshoe Crabs." Robert Bazell, correspondent. NBC Today Show. NBCUniversal Media. 24 Sep. 1984. NBC Learn. Web. 5 September 2012.
Can we put a number on it???
• Annual value of ocean resources is about 20 trillion dollars
Importance of the Oceans• Climate Control
– Cycles heat, water and CO2– Complex phenomena like El Nino and
the North Atlantic Oscillation are caused by the ocean atmosphere connection
• Atmospheric Connection– Gases are continuously moving between
ocean and atmosphere– Ocean phytoplankton account for 90%
of world oxygen production
wpcontent.answers.com/wikipedia/commons/thumb
The Historyof Marine Biology
http://www.siphonophores.org/images/3232_600.jpg
http://www.aquarium.ucsd.edu/Education/Learning_Resources/Challenger/vessel2.php
Coastal people of every culture since the beginning of time have accumulated
knowledge of the oceans
– Stone age- evidence of early fishing practices
– Egyptians- Hieroglyphic warnings not to eat puffer fish
– Early Greeks- Used electric sting ray for electric shock therapy
– Aristotle- first marine biologist ie- first written observations of marine life
Early navigation and exploration aided in the knowledge of our oceans
– Early maps…• Ancient Pacific Islanders• 3 dimensional maps of sticks, shells and string
– First navigators (1200-250 BC)• Phoenicians- circumnavigate Africa, built
lighthouses…)
– Vikings (~1000 AD)• Discovered N America
– Arab traders (1100’s AD)• Amassed knowledge of winds and currents
http://thenonist.com/images/uploads/stckchrt11.jpg
European exploration from the Renaissance on was for trade and then
curiosity • Mid 17th to 18th century
– James Cook• Used a chronometer (and accurate
timepiece)and knowledge of latitude and longitude to make accurate maps
• Mapped out many islands in the South Pacific
– Benjamin Franklin• Mapped out the Gulf Stream current in the
Atlantic Ocean using observations from merchant ships
• Comparing maps of Gulf Stream
windows2universe.org
19th Century Exploration for pure science
• Charles Darwin (HMS Beagle)– Collection and recorded observations
of animal and plant life from west coast of South America including barnacles
– Theory of Natural Selection– Theory of formation of coral atolls
19th Century Exploration for pure science
• Edward Forbes– Founder of the science of marine biology
• Charles Thompson (HMS Challenger)– Founder of oceanography – Voyage collected sediment from ocean floor,
water samples, collected and described 4700 species of marine life, recorded data on ocean including temperature, pressure, tides and wave action
20th Century to present-Long term studies of marine life
• Marine labs- permanent facilities for research– Ex. NOAA labs in Woods Hole Mass.
Sandy Hook NJ
James J Howard LabSandy Hook, NJ
nefsc.noaa.gov
Marine Science Today
• Less than 5% of ocean has been explored
• Advances in technology have expanded our understanding of the oceans– Study ocean from space to the deepest
depths
• Problem solving approach of the scientific method is used to conduct research
Technology is used for
• Transportation to study area• Observing and counting• Collecting organisms• Measuring physical properties• Studying movement• Identifying and cataloging• Compiling and analyzing data
Tool Where it’s used How it works Data it collects Examples/Other
Remote sensors
Satellites that orbit the Earth in space and observe the planet without any contact
Passively collects information that is acoustic, photographic or EM spectrum and sends back information to computers
temperature, ice cover, ocean productivity, sea surface height
TOPEX/ Poseidon
SEASTAR
Tool Where it’s used
How it works Data it collects
Examples/Other
Submersibles
Can dive to depths of 6500 m if manned and more if robotic
Overcome bouyancy by filling empty chambers with water
Used to observe, record and collect samples from deep ocean habitats. Used to recover and explore wrecks
Trieste andAlvin -manned
Jason and Argo-roboticAlso called ROVs-remote operated vehicles
Tool Where it’s used
How it works Data it collects
Examples/Other
SCUBA-A portable apparatus containing compressed air and used for breathing under water.
Deepest dive was 135 m
Divers breathe air from a compressed air tank and are able to stay underwater for several hours
Aquanaut can conduct research underwater as if in a laboratory
Divers must be careful when ascending. Ascending too quickly can lead to “the bends”
Tool Where it’s used
How it works Data it collects
Examples/Other
Tags Attached to animals
Records information and either remotely reports data or needs to be physically removed and data recovered
Record video on a camera, collect data on the physical environment.
Crittercam
SCUBA
A portable apparatus containing compressed air and used for breathing under water.
www.thefreedictionary.com/scuba
ROV
• Remotely operated, robotic submersible
submersible
• Submergible. n. A vessel capable of operating or remaining under water.
• www.thefreedictionary.com/submersible
Satellite
• An object launched to orbit Earth
chronometer
• An exceptionally precise timepiece
Unit Activities
• Future shark• Critter cam movie• El nino activity / Topex poiseidon• Ocean drilling movie• Earth Science oceans • Poster• Threats to the Ocean HW• Study guide