1. Branches of Oceanography

2. 5 PRINCIPLE OCEANS
Earth can be divided into 5 principle oceans based on the shape of the ocean basins and the positions of the continents.

3. 75% Earth covered by water
Interconnected global or world ocean
Oceans contain 98% of surface water

4. Pacific
Largest, deepest, least salty
Atlantic
Second largest, saltiest
Indian
Mainly in Southern Hemisphere
Arctic
Smallest, shallowest, ice-covered
Antarctic or Southern Ocean
Connects Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian
South of about 50o S latitude

5. Seas Smaller and shallower than oceans Salt water
Usually enclosed by land
Sargasso Sea defined by surrounding ocean currents
The “Seven Seas” are actually the oceans
North and South Pacific, North and South Atlantic, Indian, Arctic, Antarctic

6. Comparison of elevation and depth:
Average depth 3729 m (12,234 ft); about 2.5 miles
Average elevation 840 m (2756 ft); about 1/2 mile
Deepest part of the ocean Mariana Trench 11,022 m (36,161 ft); about 7 miles
Highest mountain Mt. Everest 8850 m (29,935 ft); just under 5 miles

7. Fig. 1.3cd

8. Geological Oceanography
study the Earth at the edge and below the surface of the ocean
history and processes that formed the ocean basins and their topography

9. Physical Oceanography
investigates how and why the water in the oceans move
includes marine meteorology (study of heat transfer, water cycles, and air-sea interactions)

10. Chemical Oceanography
the study of the composition and history of seawater, its processes, and its interactions

11. Biological (Marine Biology)
study of marine organisms
investigates the relationships between marine organisms, the environment, and the ocean

12. Engineering Oceanography
the discipline of designing and planning equipment for use in the sea

13. Environmental Oceanography
studies the effects of human activities on the ocean environment