Geography
Oceanography is the field of geography that studies the origin and development of the oceans, including how they move, the life forms within it, and how to use its resources wisely and safely. It'd an interdisciplinary field of study that by necessity combines geography with biology, meteorology, chemistry, physics and even mathematics (College Board, 2005). Those who study oceanography must have a broad-based education in the sciences.
The physical properties of the ocean and the layers of Earth under it are of interest to a variety of businesses. All international shipping requires accurate information regarding such things as ocean currents. In addition, they need to understand the delicate balance of the ocean ecology, which is strongly affected by the geography of the ocean. Another industry profoundly affected by oceanography is the oil industry, as vast stores of oil have been found under the ocean's bottom. An accurate knowledge of the ocean, its currents and the substructure of the ocean bottom is crucial to the safe and economical extraction of oil from beneath the ocean's surface. Obviously, the ocean is also important as a food source, and understanding the oceanography is crucial to making the best use of this resource. Finally, recent discoveries about the geography of the ocean floor have profound implications for the study of biology. The discovery of biological communities that do not require oxygen or light to sustain life, found around hydrothermal vents, has profound implications for the study of how life on Earth may have begun (WHOI, 2005).
At one time the ocean was viewed as being both simple and possessing an endless ability to absorb whatever we threw into it. The study of oceanography, with the in-depth knowledge developed about its currents and underwater geography, have profoundly changed how we make use of it (Pidwirny, 2004). Because of our increased knowledge of oceanography, we now have international treaties governing countries' use of it.
SOURCES
College Board, The. 2005. "Oceanography," in CollegeBound. Accessed via the Internet 1/10/05.
Pidwirny, Michael, Ph.D. FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. 2004. Online textbook accessed via the Internet 1/10/05.
Physical Geography According to the information presented in Chapter 8 "Weather ," thunderstorms and tornadoes are two types of severe weather. Compare and contrast the two types of violent weather. Why is Arizona a good place to study (or "chase") thunderstorms and the Midwest a good place to study (or "chase") tornadoes? Both thunderstorms and tornadoes are fueled by the same kind of conditions most notably: dry hot weather that is coupled
National Public Radio, "Scientists Debate Shading Earth As Climate Fix" talks about the importance of reengineering, a concept that has been explored at a National Academy of Sciences meeting, to potentially help halt global warming. To potentially stop global warming, climate researchers have proposed to release aerosols into the stratosphere that would cool the earth- similar to how volcanoes cool the Earth after they erupt. Though there are hesitations
physical geography. There is one reference used for this paper. Physical geography is used in a variety of aspects throughout the world today. It is important to answer some questions about physical geography in order to better understand it. Questions About Geography The major themes and ideas in physical geography before 1950 were "Uniformatarianism, Evolution-Charles Darwin's Origin of Species, Exploration and Survey, and Conservation (http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/contents.html)." After 1950, "Quantitative Revolution and the study
Geography's Role The existence of geographical features profoundly influences a nation's development. One geographical feature that determines a nation's development is the presence or absence of natural resources. Consider how the presence of natural resources impacts the nations of Japan and Portugal. Natural resources are typically defined as land or raw materials; they occur naturally within environments that exist relatively undisturbed by man, in a natural form. Japan has very few mineral
Topography of Louisiana Louisiana encompasses an area of 51,844 square miles, and is the 31st largest state. The elevations of Louisiana range from 8 ft below sea level at New Orleans to a maximum of 535 ft at Driskill Mt, with a mean elevation of 100-ft (Buchanan, W.C., 1957, pp1-6). Along the Gulf of Mexico, Louisiana's coastline is 397 miles long. All of Louisiana lies within the Gulf Coastal Plain.
Indeed, while the major hotel chains and business situated in the recreational business district reap in the profits from the well-healed tourist traffic, there is little "trickle-down" economics at work in Cancun so that the poor stay poor while the rich just get richer. For example, Jafari concludes that tourist ghettoes "also bring little economic benefit to local communities as visitors have few opportunities to spend money on local
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