INTRO TO GEOLOGICAL OCEANOGRAPHY What is Geological Oceanograpahy

INTRO TO GEOLOGICAL OCEANOGRAPHY

What is Geological Oceanograpahy? � Focus on the geological and geographic boundaries of oceans � Plate tectonics � Seafloor spreading � Rock formation � Studies when and how current ocean basins were formed � Geology of oceans impacts the chemical, physical and biological characteristics

World’s Ocean Basins � There are four ocean basins: Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, and Arctic � Basins are connected to form World Ocean � Basins were formed over 200 million years ago � Each basin is a very unique body of water

World’s Ocean Basins � Pacific Basin: “peaceful sea” � Largest ocean basin; contains about half of the earth’s water � Contrary to its name, Pacific often subject to rough waters caused by typhoons, earthquakes, and tsunamis � Contains the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Great Barrier Reef, and the Mariana Trench � Contains over 25, 000 islands

Pacific Ring of Fire

World’s Ocean Basins � Atlantic Basin: “Sea of Atlas” Second largest ocean basin; deepest point is the Puerto Rico Trench � Saltiest of oceans (33 -37 part per thousand) � Contains large submerged mountain range known as the Mid-Atlantic Ridge � Contains Bermuda Triangle, the Gulf Stream, and other strong trade winds �

Bermuda Triangle

World’s Ocean Basins � Indian Basin: � Covers about 20% of the Earth’s water surface � Deepest point is the Java Trench � Climate and the currents are strongly influenced by monsoon wind systems � Artic Basin: � Shallowest, most northern basin � Deepest point is Eurasia Basin

Beginning of Earth and Oceans � Big Bang theory is the leading idea behind the origin of Earth � � is 4. 6 billion years old Oceans formed as a result of a cooling period that allowed water vapor in the atmosphere to liquefy Thunderclouds formed and dropped water into basins

Origin of the Continents � � Early ideas were that continents were held in place and were in there original positions In 1912, a German meteorologist named Alfred Wegener came up with the hypothesis of continental drift �A single landmass broke apart into smaller landmasses that currently for our continents and our ocean borders � Claim was initially not well received