Oceanography Merit Badge
1
3
Requirements to earn Oceanography
Merit Badge
• Participate in class discussion and fill out the
Oceanography Merit Badge Workbook (turn in
completed workbook at end of class on May 9th).
• For requirement 8a or 8b: Write a typed 500 word
essay (page and a half in Times New Roman font) on
Oceanography topic of your choice and submit to me
electronically by Sunday, March 29th.
• For requirement # 7: One of (a),(c) through (f). In the
alternative, develop a series of 4 models of a volcanic
island. See, (Req. 7b).
(Req.1) Name Four Branches ofOceanography
Geological Oceanography… focuses on the topographic features and physical makeup of the
ocean floor
4
Name Four Branches of Oceanography
Physical Oceanography… deals with the motions of seawater, such as waves, tides, and currents
5
Name Four Branches of Oceanography
Chemical Oceanography…concerns the distribution of chemical compounds and chemical reaction in the ocean and on the sea floor.
6
Name Four Branches of Oceanography
Meteorological OceanographyStudy of the ocean’s interaction with the atmosphere and its effect on
weather and climate.
7
Name Four Branches of Oceanography
BiologicalConcentrates on plant and animal life In the oceans.
8
(Req. 1 cont’d) Five reasons why it isimportant 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
9
(Req. 2.) Salinity
• The amount of dissolved salts in seawater. Average salinity for the oceans = 35 ppt (parts per
thousand)
• Determined by measuring the conductivity of the water through a submerged electrode
10
(Req. 2) Temperature
• Measured using mercury thermometers. For sampling at depth thermometers are attached to Nansen bottles
11
– Temperature is how hot or how cold water is.
(Req. 2) Density
• Cold, deep, more saline water is denser. Dense water sinks, while less dense water rises – this contributes to ocean currents.
12
• A measure of the amount of material held in a
certain space (mass per volume)
• Oceanographers calculate density from
temperature, salinity, and pressure
13
15
(Req. 2 cont’d) Describe the effects ofthe 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)
17
Effects of the Oceans on Weather and Climate (Req. 2 cont’d)
Climate Patterns are related to Currents
18
(Req. 3) Describe Characteristics ofOcean Waves
19
(Req. 3) Storm Surge
20
When strong winds of a hurricane push water towards
the shore, causing the water level to raise 15 feet or
more.
(Req. 3) Tsunami / Tidal Wave
21
A huge wave created by an earthquake,
volcanic eruption, or landslide.
(Req. 3) Tidal Bore
22
A tidal phenomenon where the leading edge of
the incoming tide forms a wave that races up an
inlet or river against the direction of the river or
bay’s current.
(Req. 3 cont’d) Sea
23
Waves in the area of the ocean
directly affected by the wind –
no regular pattern – “choppy”
(Req. 3 cont’d) Swell
24
Waves that fall in a regular pattern –
crests are rounded.
(Req. 3 cont’d) Surf
25
Occurs near the shoreline when
waves begin to “break.”
(Req. 3) How Breakers are Formed
26
As shore depth gets shallower, wave
height gets higher, until the wave
topples over.
(Req. 3 cont’d) How Breakers are Formed
27
(Req. 4.) Cross-Section of Underwater Topography
(Draw in Workbook)
28
(Req. 4) (a.) Continental Shelf(b.) Continental Slope(c.) Abyssal Plain
29
(Req. 5) List the main salts, gases, andnutrients in water
30
Salts: NaCl – Sodium Chloride
Salts
31
(Req. 5 cont’d) Some ImportantProperties 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
(Req. 5 Cont’d)
How do Animals and Plants affect the Chemical Composition of Seawater?
33
How do Animals and Plants effect Chemical Composition of Seawater
34
35
(Req. 5 cont’d)
Explain how differences in evaporation and precipitation affect the salt content of oceans?
*Areas around the equator have warm temperatures and high evaporation and few rivers flowing into ocean; so they tend to be saltier than other oceans.
*Other areas, like the Gulf of Alaska, have a low rate of evaporation, a lot of precipitation, and many fresh water rivers flowing into the ocean; so they tend to have lower average salinity.
36
37
(Req. 6) Some Biologically ImportantProperties of Seawater
38
•Assists in digestion of food by acting
as a solvent
•Necessary for photosynthesis
•Necessary for respiration
39
40
Nekton
41
Plankton
42
Plankton
43
Plankton
44
Phyto-Plankton
45
46
Req. 7(b) Make a series of models showing the growth of a volcanic island
Will be completed in class May 9th
47
48
49
50
(Req. 9) Describe four methods that
marine scientists use to
investigate the ocean
1. Research Ships
2. Submarines
3. Remote sensing devices
(radar and sonar)
4. Satellites & Computers
51
Homework
•Write 500 word essay (page and a half in Times
New Roman font) on Oceanography topic of your
choice and submit to me electronically by Sunday,
March 29th.
•E-mail: [email protected]