Oceanography

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/oceanography

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the core scientific branches?Physical, Chemical, Biological, and Geological Oceanography
2. What is the interdisciplinary connections?Draws heavily from astronomy, biology, chemistry, geography, geology, hydrology, meteorology, and physics
3. Why do oceanographers study waves and currents?They study waves and currents to see how they move heat around the world. This helps us understand weather patterns and climate changes.
4. How does the ocean help with climate?The ocean absorbs carbon dioxide from the air, which helps keep the Earth’s temperature balanced. It also stores and releases heat, affecting weather.

Biogeochemical Cycles: The pathways by which chemical elements and compounds move through both living and non-living parts of an ecosystem.
Ocean Acidification: The ongoing decrease in the pH of the Earth's oceans, caused by the uptake of anthropogenic carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Plate Tectonics: The scientific theory that describes the large-scale motion of seven large plates and the movements of smaller ones that make up Earth's lithosphere.