What is Oceanography

WHAT IS OCEANOGRAPHY In a broad sense it is a science that deals with oceans and seas. This falls into four categories,1.Physical oceanography 2.Chemical oceanography 3.Geological oceanography and 4. Biological oceanography.Physical oceanography deals with the physical aspects such as wave dynamics, currents, water mass and pressure, depth etc Whereas Chemical oceanography tell us more with sea water its chemical composition dissolved oxygen, carbon dioxide, different nutrient cycles etc.Geological oceanography brings several information on the ocean floor dynamics, oils and minerals from sea bottom and tsunami like phenomenon. Last one Biological oceanography is most interesting one that tells us all about the animals and plants of the sea. If you take an atlas and study the position of oceans and seas it is very interesting. As you know in our Earth there are five oceans separating continents and 104 seas of different sizes. The deepest part of the ocean is the Mariana Trench (11,033 meters) has been located at Pacific Ocean. Can you imagine such a huge depth which can safely engulf the Mount Everest, again the water level will be of 2185meters higher from the top of the peak. We shall come back to marine life It is already established that first life originated in sea four billion years ago and today we can see from single-celled organisms to large whales and man eater sharks in the marine realm. First we consider ocean as a perennial source for protein, vitamins and fats. Fishes, prawns, crabs etc are used as sea foods. You must be familiar with the term EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) Generally a state's EEZ extends to a distance of 200 nautical miles (370 km) out from its coast, and the country has the legal right to exploit the entire resources come within that particular area, where no other countries are allowed to fish in .India's EEZ is 220 nautical miles in both the coasts and this shows our immense potential in fishery resource .worth millions and millions of dollars. OK now what are the new approaches towards the exploitation other than fishery? Excavation of oil (petroleum) and minerals from the ocean depth " Sea mining" India stands in the frontline in this area You all know about our Bombay high and oil drilling More recently ocean has turned out to a good source for novel drugs and medicines. How?-You know a vast number of small lowly organized invertebrates like corals sponges etc do not possess any well defined organs for offence and defence in their weak body.But they are armed with certain chemicals in the body, known as bio-active compounds, these chemicals are essentially poisons or toxins and can repel the aggressor or kill the prey, This is called "Chemical armory". Now the question is Why don't we extract these chemicals and use against several human diseases as antitumour, anti-inflamatory ,anti oxidants agents.. There are reports that even life saving drugs too could be extracted. This area of research is known as "Marine Pharmacology" Dr. C.K.Radhakrishnan Professor Emeritus, Department of Marine Biology,Microbiology & Biochemistry, Cochin University, Cochin S.INDIA

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