Ocean terms…

What is Oceanography?What is Oceanography?

A scientific study of the oceans

Covers a wide range of disciplines such as: biology, chemistry, geology, physics, mathematics and engineering.

The science of:

understanding oceans

how they work

how they began

how they affect us

the creatures that live in them

how they may be impacted by changes caused by human influences

Why study Oceanography?Why study Oceanography?The ocean represents different things to different

people.

Examples…– Careers (fisherman)– Food Source (Fishing and aquaculture) – Oil and Gas Exploration (hydrocarbons)– Transportation– Recreation – Tidal Power (Alternative energy source)– Water supply– Minerals (coals, magnesium, iron etc)– Habitation (cruise ships, house boats etc)– Dangers (Tsunamis, storm surges, property)

VocabularyVocabularyOcean - a large body of salt

water constituting a principal part of the Earth

Sea - a large body of salty water that is often connected to an ocean. It may be partly or completely surrounded by land.

Bay - an indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf

Gulf - an arm of a sea or ocean partly enclosed by land; larger than a bay

Gulf - an arm of a sea or ocean partly enclosed by land; larger than a bay

Gulf of Mexico

Strait - a navigable channel of water that connects two larger bodies of water

Channel - a narrow passage.

River - a large, flowing body of water that usually empties into a sea or ocean.

Lake - a large body of water surrounded by land on all sides. Really large lakes are often called seas.

Ocean FactsOcean Facts

Your Task:

Complete the “Where in the World” Sheet