Essential Principles 1. One big ocean with many features

2. The ocean and life in the ocean shape the features of the earth

3. The ocean is a major influence on weather and climate

4. The ocean makes Earth habitable

5. The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems

6. Oceans and humans are inextricably interconnected

7. The ocean is largely unexplored

One Big Ocean 70% of planet surface

Size and shape determined by plates

Single interconnected circulation system driven by wind, tides, Coriolis, Sun, and density differences

Sea level changes with tectonics, ice cap melting, and water warming (expansion)

97% of water on earth is in ocean

Integral part of global water cycle

Connected to all major watersheds

Although large, is finite and resources are limited

The ocean shapes the features of the Earth Many earth materials and geochemical cycles originate

in the ocean

Sea level changes over time shaped land surface

Erosion occurs in coastal areas as wind, waves, and currents in rivers and ocean move sediments

Sand consists of tiny bits of animals, plants, rocks and mineral eroded from land sources or by waves that also redistribute

Tectonic activity, sea level changes, and waves influence physical structure and landforms of the coast

Absorbs most of solar

radiation reaching

earth

Most rain on land was

originally evaporated from the tropical ocean

Half of global primary productivity occurs in the ocean

The ocean has a significant influence on climate change by absorbing, storing and moving heat, carbon and water

Changes in ocean circulation have produced large, abrupt changes in climate in the last 50,000 years

The ocean is a major influence on weather

The ocean makes Earth habitable

Most of oxygen originally came from ocean

Earliest evidence of life is found in the ocean

The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems

Diversity of major groups of organisms is much greater in the ocean

The ocean provides unique examples of life cycles, adaptation etc. not seen on land

The ocean is 3D with most of living space on earth

Oocean habitats are defined by environmental factors with patchy distribution of ocean life

Tides, waves, and predation cause vertical zonation in the shore

Estuaries provide important and productive nursery areas

Oceans and humans are inextricably interconnected The ocean affects every Human life by supplying water,

moderating climate, influencing weather, and affecting human health

The ocean provides food, medicine, mineral and E resources, jobs, national economy, highway for transportation, and plays role in national security;

The ocean is a source of inspiration, recreation, rejuvenation and discovery, plus an element of cultural heritage

Most of population lives in coastal areas Humans impact ocean in a variety of ways (laws,

development, pollution, overfishing) Coastal regions are susceptible to natural hazards; Everyone is responsible for caring for the ocean

The ocean is largely unexplored less than 5% has been explored; use of ocean resources

has increased significantly in last 40 years and future sustainability depends on our understanding of those resources; new technology is expanding our ability to explore the ocean; ocean exploration is truly interdisciplinary and requires close collaboration among biologists, chemists, climatologists, computer programmers, engineers, geologists, meteorologists, physicists and a new way of thinking