Oceanography Merit Badge

Mr. Greg Adams gfadamso6@rcn.com (484) 919-0490 (cell)

Requirements to earn Oceanography Merit Badge Participate in class discussion and fill out attached work book (turn in completed workbook at end of class on April 22nd). Write a typed 500 word essay (page and a half in Times New Roman font) on Oceanography topic of your choice and submit electronically by April 16th. • Develop a series of models of a volcanic island (Req. 7B).

(1.) Name Four Branches of Oceanography Geological Oceanography … focuses on the topographic features and physical makeup of the ocean floor

Name Four Branches of Oceanography Physical Oceanography … deals with the motions of seawater, such as waves, tides, and currents

Name Four Branches of Oceanography Chemical Oceanography …concerns the distribution of chemical compounds and chemical reaction in the ocean and on the sea floor.

Name Four Branches of Oceanography Meteorological Oceanography Study of the ocean’s interaction with the atmosphere and its effect on weather and climate.

Name Four Branches of Oceanography Biological Concentrates on plant and animal life In the oceans.

Five reasons why it is important to learn about the Oceans Essential part of the earth’s ecological system – covers 71% of the earth’s surface Influences and controls planet’s climate Maintains Earth’s Oxygen balance Huge source of food Source of valuable minerals Important for trade and commerce Possible future source of energy

(2.) Salinity The amount of dissolved salts in seawater. Average salinity for the oceans = 35 ppt (parts per trillion) Determined by measuring the conductivity of the water through a submerged electrode

(2.) Temperature Temperature is how hot or how cold water is. Measured using mercury thermometers. For sampling at depth thermometers are attached to Nansen bottles

(2.) Density A measure of the amount of material held in a certain space (mass per volume) Cold, deep, more saline water is denser. Dense water sinks, while less dense water rises – this contributes to ocean currents. Oceanographers calculate density from temperature, salinity, and pressure

Effects of the Oceans on Weather and Climate The ocean and the atmosphere work together to create weather patterns and climate. Water stores heat better than air and land, so the oceans absorb over 50% of the sun’s radiation. As winds blows over the ocean, water evaporates and forms clouds and rain Winds flowing across the water create currents, which in turn regulate temperatures (London is more mild than new York because of the Gulf Stream)

Effects of the Oceans on Weather and Climate Climate Patterns are related to Currents

(3.) Characteristics of Ocean Waves

Storm Surge When strong winds of a hurricane push water towards the shore, causing the water level to raise 15 feet or more.

Tsunami / Tidal Wave A huge wave created by an earthquake, volcanic eruption, or landslide.

Tidal Bore Waves or walls of water that race up an inlet as the tide comes in.

(3.) Sea Waves in the area of the ocean directly affected by the wind – no regular pattern – “choppy”

Waves that fall in a regular pattern – crests are rounded. Swell Waves that fall in a regular pattern – crests are rounded.

Occurs near the shoreline when waves begin to “break.” Surf Occurs near the shoreline when waves begin to “break.”

How Breakers are Formed As depth gets shallower, wave height gets higher, until the wave topples over.

How Breakers are Formed

(4.) Cross-Section of Underwater Topography (Draw in Workbook)

(5.) List the main salts, gases, and nutrients in water Salts: NaCl – Sodium Chloride

Salts

Some Important Properties of Water Universal solvent: dilutes nutrients for all life It serves as a cleaning agent, a heat absorber, a sound transmitter, a shaper of shorelines, a medium for ships to sail upon and hurricanes to form. Only water can exist as a solid, a liquid, or a gas – ice, water, or water vapor. Water molecules, in any form, are always moving; those at the oceans surface enter the air as vapor –a process called evaporation. Each water molecule has two atoms of hydrogen and one of oxygen = H²O

How do Animals and Plants affect the Chemical Composition of Seawater?

How do Animals and Plants effect Chemical Composition of Seawater

How do differences in evaporation and precipitation affect the salt content of oceans?

(6.) Some Biologically Important Properties of Seawater Assists in digestion of food by acting as a solvent Necessary for photosynthesis Necessary for respiration

Nekton

Plankton

Plankton

Plankton

Phyto-Plankton

(9.) Describe methods that marine scientists use to investigate the ocean Research Ships Submarines Remote sensing devices (radar and sonar) Satellites Computers

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Homework Write 500 word essay (page and a half in Times New Roman font) on Oceanography topic of your choice and submit electronically by April 16th. E-mail: gfadamso6@rcn.com