Oceanography
A story map highlighting the different phenomena of the sea discussed over the course of the semester
Plate Tectonics
Plate tectonics explain the nature of the Earth's crust and the many associated weather and climate phenomena that result from the interacting plate tectonics.
There are:
- Convergent boundaries
- Transform boundaries
- Divergent boundaries
Convergent Boundaries
Movement of plate boundaries can cause many different phenomena. When two plates converge, one gets pushed underneath the other, which can cause volcanoes and earthquakes
Volcano caused by subducting plates
Subducting plates cause a Tsunami wave that triggers a hurricane
Divergent Boundaries
Divergent boundaries cause tectonic plates to move away from each other, which often causes mid-ocean ridges to form.
Mid ocean ridges are seen by the dark lines intersecting the oceans. Seafloor spreading causes upwelling of magma, creating more ocean floor!
Transform Boundaries
Transform boundaries cause two plates to slide horizontally past each other.
Sometimes the ground can break, which causes a fault in the lithosphere.
San Andreas Fault in California
Transform boundaries can also cause earthquakes due to the energy these boundaries release underground.
El Niño (ENSO)
El Niño is a climate pattern that describes the unusual warming of surface waters in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. El Niño is the warm phase of a larger weather phenomena called: El Niño-Southern Oscillation.
The bigger picture
ENSO refers to the change in weather patterns as a whole. Wind patters; sea surface temperatures; pressure levels; rainfall; overall warming and cooling phases are all effects part of El Niño Southern-Oscillation.
Southern Oscillation Index related with mean sea level pressure
El Nino - What is it?
Oceans & Climate Change
Anthropogenic activities have been linked to many climate and oceanic changes. The most important changes to the oceans and the planet is climate change.
The planet's climate is driven by the interactions of the atmosphere, the hydrosphere (the oceans), the cryosphere (the ice and snow), the geosphere (geology), the biosphere, and anthrosphere .
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch - how anthropogenic waste is affecting our oceans.
Researchers have been monitoring ocean temperatures over the years and studies have shown an astronomical increase in oceanic temperatures.
Figure 1
Graph displaying the increase of ocean heat content (in 10^22 joules) dating from 1955-2015.
Figure 2
Figure 2 shows the cumulative sea level change in inches over the course of 100 years, starting at 1880. Sea levels have been consistently rising at an alarming rate.
The combination of rising sea surface temperatures and sea levels will play major effects on the rest of the oceanic ecosystems, as well as terrestrial ecosystems. Terrestrial life depends on oceans to drive winds, ocean/river currents and precipitation that other animals (including humans) depend on.
If you want to learn more about how changing ocean factors affect ecosystems, watch this video!
The ocean - A changing ecosystem
To learn more about the fascinating ocean life, visit the following websites for information regarding the different oceans around the globe!
Help Save our Planet
If you want to know how you can make a difference and save our oceans and wildlife, take a look at these websites!
Thank you for reading!
