Overview:
What on earth is Oceanography doing on an aerospace website? Folks,
if you have read any of the sections on this website, you should
notice that I have put much thought into each topic. My background in
technology is extensive and spans thousands of hours and years in research, study, and implementation.
I am approaching this topic no differently. For the sake of this monologue,
I will expand the definition of oceanography to include Marine Science.
In a simple definition, oceanography can be thought of as ocean topographical
mapping, as well as ocean floor cartography. In a slightly expanded
definition, topography could include conditional color mapping based
on currents, life activity, and more. Ocean floor cartography could
include life systems, vents, thermals, and other activity. Additionally,
3D cartography could include all the layers of the oceans themselves,
each having unique properties, currents, and life systems. How could
Marine Science play a role in Oceanography? Folks, water that covers
roughly 3/4 of our globe has abundant life. Much of the life effects
the chemistry of the water in ways that are measurable over vast areas,
and are mappable. For now, a quick example could be the photosynthesis
of plankton. Areas may become saturated with plankton, and photosynthesis
may cause chemical changes in the water and in the surrounding atmosphere.
In these areas, oxygen and co2 balances are changed. What does this
have to do with aerospace? Aerospace technologies are incorporated into
topographical mapping, atmospheric analyses, navigation, weather forecasts,
3D modeling, and more. In the following sections, I will expand on these
definitions and ideas a little more. Once again, as I do so on every
page throughout this website, I urge you to become familiar with all
of the topics covered. Each topic on this website has treasures of information
about science and technology that are applicable to so many branches
of study, including this page.
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Plankton:I approach this topic very cautiously and somewhat abstractly. As an example, I am not certain of the classification of Plankton in the Kingdoms of life. But, plankton in the ocean has sometimes been described in terms of massive explosive blooms. This could possibly suggest rapid exponential cell divisions. So plankton is possibly/likely has simple cellular structures. Additionally, plankton (or some forms) of plankton photosynthesize. Photosynthesis, no doubt, is not the only definition of the Plant Kingdom, which is why I am not prepared to declare plankton as being defined in the Plant Kingdom. I have another Kingdom in mind, but will leave this for your discovery and input. Generally speaking, life processes intake fuel, convert it or transmit fuel/energy, and excrete waste. As with anything, I suppose this may be an oversimplification, and a caveat may include exceptions. Why do I cover Plankton and its photosynthetic chemistry so extensively? Because the nature of plankton is such that it greatly effects the ocean. I have heard that plankton, and similar life may be more responsible for oxygen production in our atmosphere than all the land forests. I have only heard this and I am not drawing any conclusions - but this would not surprise me. So how does this oxygen deal work? My memory is that photosynthesis in plant life takes on sunlight as part of a chemical process that exchanges co2 and oxygen. So when you here about climate effects of deforestation, you are hearing warnings that the balance of oxygen and co2 in our atmosphere has been upset with net losses of oxygen, and gains of co2. During a plankton bloom, you may see a measurable change in this balance over vast areas. These changes may be picked up by satellite imaging techniques. In a system, other changes may be evident and also picked up by satellite imaging. This additional data can help in cross-referencing to give great interpretation capabilities. |
Salinity:Oceans and seas may have different salinity either broadly, or in regions. Currents, runoff, rivers and other factors may contribute to variations in salinity. Isolation may be another factor. One of the reasons that I cover so many possibilities throughout this website, is because data collection is great, but offering possible interpretations of your data becomes meaningful. You might ask yourself whether or not an oxygen rich region is great for fishing. What do fish like? What makes them active? What brings them out in great numbers? Where are they going? In addition to this, you might want to know if oceanic chemical processes reach a point of toxicity for people and other life. You might want to know how some of this data fits into weather patterns, broadly and regionally. You may want to know what this means for studying sea life. What about medicines, sea grass, and minerals? Folks, if I spent an hour on this, I could probably come up with quite a few more ideas. But for the sake of brevity, I will point out a couple of things about salinity. It will change the density of water and these changes may be in layers, regions, currents, topography, upwellings, and more. They are measurable and are data sets to be considered in oceanography. Depending on the technologies employed in measurements, you may be able to do direct observations, or at least observe the effects of changes in salinity. |
Temperature:Ocean temperatures directly effect local and global climate. I guess this is obvious, but let's take a peak at some of the data collection and interpretation, as well as what else ocean temperatures may mean beyond weather and climate. And of course, once again, I will eventually discuss the space technologies that can be used as an aid in oceanography. You may begin to see a pattern here, that there is an overall relationship of the properties of the oceans and seas. These properties may be in the thousands, millions, or perhaps more. Is the temperature different at the ocean floor than at the surface, and why? Would you be surprised that many factors could be involved other than depth? What about upwellings, currents, salinity, water clarity, life, thermals, and geological vents? What is the chemical and mineral composition of the water and could this be another of hundreds of factors? Can satellite imagery aid in topographical measurements of water temperature? Can topographical information cross-reference 3D information? Yes, yes, and yes! Folks, climatology and meteorology are big reservoirs of information that aid the farmer, the angler, tourism, and whether or not you will go to the beach next week - just to name a few. So, you may begin to see why I have included Aerospace, Oceanography, Marine, and National Defense as big ticket items under the government relations section and throughout this website. Why National Defense, I hate war? Folks, I offer very little opinion on this subject, but you can find a few snippets throughout this website. I am only making a funding observation on this page. The purpose of this website is to point out the scientific knowledge and the economics that could make broad space travel and exploration possible and to highlight the benefits of aerospace research and development. |
Gold:Frozen Methane! Icebergs! Nodules! Minerals! Gold? - Econ 101! I frequently discuss econ 101 throughout this website and will likely open a devoted section since there seems to often be an ignorance surrounding basic economics. First, I have never argued against the philosophies and economic needs related to Aerospace being more important in funding needs than Oceanic funding. In fact, I have included Oceanography on this website because of the evident relationships involved. Furthermore, I may eventually discuss broader science endeavors including geological research, but for now, I will remain focused on the topic at hand. An oceanographer will rightly argue for the need to explore the great oceans for all of the discoveries awaiting us. Folks, like our solar system, the potential of the oceans to provide resources, discovery, and information is no doubt a goldmine. The compositions of the water alone, can provide resources if properly and efficiently separated. Additionally, the study of algae, plankton, diatoms, flagellates, and other life could allow us to reproduce processes in laboratory settings which can aid in energy research, biotechnology, chemistry, and medicine - just to name a few! Additionally, there may be nodules in great numbers and purity of mineable elements, possibly valuable and rare elements. Efficiency is the key! My memory is that cobalt may be just but one easily mineable material that is abundant. If it is easier to pull nodules than to blast a mountain and mine ore, this needs to be considered. How does this relate to economics? I will only point out a couple of things regarding this. We need and want stuff that make our lives better and more comfortable (demand). Marine and Space endeavors offer loads of information and resources that make the recovery and production of materials more efficient in many areas (supply). So essentially we demand stuff, and the market supplies that demand. Econ 101! I will likely open a section to discuss broader economic theory including scarcity, dumping, warfare, deficits, policy, and more as it relates to these endeavors and how it certainly relates to how private endeavors are certainly the best option for aerospace research and development. Government is the worst financier you ever met! |
Satellite Imaging:Folks, some of this stuff seams like alien technology. I discuss some very intrinsic and fundamental concepts throughout this website related to Math, Science, Engineering, Computing, Data, and Technology. I urge you to read the topics throughout this website to gain a good understanding of these relationships and how space endeavors utilize and help produce these concepts, materials, information, and technology. Here, I will discuss some imaging techniques related to Oceanography and possibly some Geology. First, I will start with photo imaging. Though this may seem self explanatory, it may be very complex. I will not go too far here other than to point out that there is a science involved in the photography and analyses and you can gain a lot of information. You then have thermal imaging. A satellite may be tuned to capture infrared images. Again, there is a whole science in the capture and analyses of infrared images. These images could possibly be overlayed with photographic images to gain a more comprehensive map of conditions and activity. In addition to this, it may be possible to bounce signals off submarine objects to help aid in 3D mapping. I discuss these technologies in detail under other sections on this website, but this is a glimpse of how space endeavors aid in discoveries and determinations of 3/4 of the surface of our planet and beyond. Oh, I almost forgot, this technology is apparently being used for geological finds as well! So you may conclude, as I have, that we are in the Space and Information Age. |
Summary:Aerospace and Marine endeavors share a lot in common. Tourism, mapping, navigation, technology, economics, resources, information, adventure, computing, and mathematics are just a few of the benefits of Aerospace and Marine ventures. Science and Technology are beneficiaries, and consumers benefit from science and technology in everyday living by using the products, information, and services that make our lives a little more enjoyable, productive, and comfortable. |
Pic Group:FOLDER: oceanography
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