What's New in Oceanography?
- Oceanography is becoming much more closely integrated into earth-system science. Many scientists are now trying to understand the role of the ocean in weather, climate, and global change.
- Oceanographers are making more and more use of remote sensing systems, including: satellites, drifters, remotely operated vehicles, autonomous undersea vehicles, and subsea observing systems.
- Computers and numerical modeling are essential
to most of oceanography.
A subtle, but pervasive achievement of biological oceanography is that modelling has become a mainstream activity: it permeates so much of our work that graduate students in the discipline assume it is integral to biological oceanography. Modeling was at one time an esoteric craft practiced by a gifted few; now it is the norm. Today's biological oceanography student is more likely to have a model than a microscope.
From Barber and Hilting (2000), page 19.
- Most biological oceanographers are more interested in microbes, especially micro, nano, and pico plankton, than larger organisms.
| What's In | What's Out |
| Dynamic, interacting systems | Static, separate systems |
Earth-system science |
Hydrosphere, lithosphere, atmosphere |
| Life creates niches | Life lives in niches |
| Microbes | Plants and animals |
| Living earth formed by life | Inanimate earth indifferent to life |
| ROV, AUV, robotic satellites | People on ships and in space |
| Subsea observing systems | Deep submersibles |
| Computer modeling | Mathematical calculations by hand |
| Climate change | Static, unchanging climate |
Barber, R. T. and A. K. Hilting (2000). Achievements in biological oceanography.
In: 50 Years of Ocean Discovery. Ocean
Studies Board, Washington DC, National Academy Press: 11--21.
Revised on: 3 August, 2009
