Oceanography Week One
1. Compare the five main oceans on the planet.: Pacific ocean = largest and deepest ocean,
50.1% of earth's area. Deepest point = Mariana trench at 11,022 meters (36,161 ft). Atlantic = next largest (26% of
earth's area). Indian ocean = next with 20.5%. Artic Sea = smallest, shallowest, and ice covered.
2. What is the difference between an ocean and a sea?: Seas are smaller, shallower, contain
salt water, often connected to big oceans, and usually surrounded by land.
3. What is special about the Sargasso Sea?: Sargasso Sea, in the Atlantic ocean, is defined by
surrounding ocean currents instead of by land masses.
4. Four reasons to care about the oceans?: 1. Oceans produce 70% of oxygen
2. 50% of species are found in oceans
3. provide major food source - 20% animal protein
4. dumping ground for waste.
5. What two ways did the Phoenicians use to navigate around the Mediter-
ranean Sea?: Used North Star for navigation, called "Phoenician Star" and the position of the sun.
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, 6. What is meant by "reverse tribute" and who used this approach during ex-
ploration?: The chinese (1405 - 1433) used this approach. Reverse tribute = using gifts as protection money
(sanctioned exchange of goods).
7. How can the height above the horizon of the North Star be used in naviga-
tion?: The north star remains constant and position at sea can be found by knowing relative position of stars. An
increase in latitude means an increased angle of the North Star.
8. Why was the invention of the "echo sounder" so important for understanding
the oceans?: The development of the echo sounder allowed measurement of the seafloor bathymetry (submarine
topography or sea beds).
9. Why have satellites been so important regarding understanding the oceans?-
: Satellite data has made it possible to gather large scale data over a short period of time.
10. How is Oceanography different from most of the other sciences?: Oceanography is
a combination of various disciplines such as astronomy, biology, chemistry, climatology, geography, geology, hydrology,
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1. Compare the five main oceans on the planet.: Pacific ocean = largest and deepest ocean,
50.1% of earth's area. Deepest point = Mariana trench at 11,022 meters (36,161 ft). Atlantic = next largest (26% of
earth's area). Indian ocean = next with 20.5%. Artic Sea = smallest, shallowest, and ice covered.
2. What is the difference between an ocean and a sea?: Seas are smaller, shallower, contain
salt water, often connected to big oceans, and usually surrounded by land.
3. What is special about the Sargasso Sea?: Sargasso Sea, in the Atlantic ocean, is defined by
surrounding ocean currents instead of by land masses.
4. Four reasons to care about the oceans?: 1. Oceans produce 70% of oxygen
2. 50% of species are found in oceans
3. provide major food source - 20% animal protein
4. dumping ground for waste.
5. What two ways did the Phoenicians use to navigate around the Mediter-
ranean Sea?: Used North Star for navigation, called "Phoenician Star" and the position of the sun.
1/3
, 6. What is meant by "reverse tribute" and who used this approach during ex-
ploration?: The chinese (1405 - 1433) used this approach. Reverse tribute = using gifts as protection money
(sanctioned exchange of goods).
7. How can the height above the horizon of the North Star be used in naviga-
tion?: The north star remains constant and position at sea can be found by knowing relative position of stars. An
increase in latitude means an increased angle of the North Star.
8. Why was the invention of the "echo sounder" so important for understanding
the oceans?: The development of the echo sounder allowed measurement of the seafloor bathymetry (submarine
topography or sea beds).
9. Why have satellites been so important regarding understanding the oceans?-
: Satellite data has made it possible to gather large scale data over a short period of time.
10. How is Oceanography different from most of the other sciences?: Oceanography is
a combination of various disciplines such as astronomy, biology, chemistry, climatology, geography, geology, hydrology,
2/3
