oceanology
Study of seas
Oceanology is the scientific study of the ocean—its physical properties, chemical composition, marine life, and geological features.
The term is largely interchangeable with oceanography, though oceanology sometimes emphasizes applied or technological aspects: She studied oceanology before working on deep-sea drilling projects.
Study of water bodies
- bathymetrySubaqueous topographical measurement
- sedimentologyStudy of geological deposits
- geophysicsPhysics of planetary structure
- thermoclineRapid temperature-change layer
upwelling · tectonics · sonar · submersible · ROV · sampling · expedition
Dissolved mineral concentration
- tidesPeriodic sea-level changes
- currentsDirectional flows of movement
- wavesTraveling energy disturbances
- temperatureMeasured heat intensity
pressure · density · gyres · thermohaline · monsoon · trade-winds · trench · seamount
Aquatic mammal order
- whaleHuge sea mammal
- dolphinEcholocating marine mammal
- sharkCartilaginous marine predator
- octopusEight-limbed sea mollusk
squid · jellyfish · sea-turtle · crustacean · mollusk · bivalve · urchin · starfish
Range of life forms
- habitatOrganism's natural environment
- coral-reefSubmarine calcium carbonate ecosystem
- mangroveTidal shrub with exposed roots
- seagrassSaltwater flowering plant
estuary · phytoplankton · zooplankton · symbiosis · bioaccumulation · detritus · pelagic · benthic
hydrography
Study of water bodies
- bathymetrySubaqueous topographical measurement
- sedimentologyStudy of geological deposits
- geophysicsPhysics of planetary structure
thermocline · upwelling · tectonics · sonar · submersible · ROV · sampling · expedition
salinity
Dissolved mineral concentration
- tidesPeriodic sea-level changes
- currentsDirectional flows of movement
- wavesTraveling energy disturbances
temperature · pressure · density · gyres · thermohaline · monsoon · trade-winds · trench · seamount · stratification
cetacean
Aquatic mammal order
octopus · squid · jellyfish · sea-turtle · crustacean · mollusk · bivalve · urchin · starfish · anemone
biodiversity
Range of life forms
- habitatOrganism's natural environment
- coral-reefSubmarine calcium carbonate ecosystem
- mangroveTidal shrub with exposed roots
seagrass · estuary · phytoplankton · zooplankton · symbiosis · bioaccumulation · detritus · pelagic · benthic · intertidal
overfishing
Unsustainable marine harvest
- sustainabilityCapacity to endure indefinitely
oceanologylimnology
Study of inland waters
meteorology · atmospheric science · geology · climatology · astronomy