Sounding the Sea; A study in Bathymetric Mapping

Research Question: How can the ocean  floor features be measured and mapped  using current acoustical technology? How can ocean floor maps be used in the commercial, military,  and/ or private sector? 

Flat abyssal plain: normally refers to the flat areas of a deep ocean floor 

Underwater sea-mount or guyot: A flat-topped submarine mountain   

Continental shelf: the underwater extension of the continental land mass 

Submarine canyon on the continental shelf: canyon formations that are a result of water flow scouring typically due to river outlet with the canyons normally found on the continental shelf 

Mid-ocean ridge: A series of mountain ranges on the ocean floor, more than 84,000 kilometers (52,000 miles) in length, extending through the North and South Atlantic, the Indian Ocean, and the South Pacific.   

Island arch system:  The volcanic chain parallels the ocean trench and at sea forms a string of volcanic islands


Analysis: 
Our Topography of our surveyed area was mostly within a range of 2 centimeters with a few bumps that were less. By using remote sensing technology is an advantage because it is easier and gives more accurate readings. Using a Y-axis that is stretched out makes the informationn easier to read by having the numbers at a closer range. 

New Questions: 
what is the best way to measure the ocean floor?
which way of measuring the ocean floor is most used by researchers? 

Importance of This Activity: 
the importance of this was to know how the ocean floor is measured. It is good to know how researchers find out the information they share with us. Knowing how they do things helps us understand how the science of it really works  


RESOURCES:                                                                                                               walrus.wr.usgs.gov/infobank/programs/html/school/.../05.02.11.htm
 http://www.thefreedictionary.com/mid-ocean+ridge
 http://www.eu-hermione.net/science/submarine-canyons
 http://www.le.ac.uk/gl/art/gl209/lecture6/image78.gif - island arch picture link 

People explore the oceans for many reasons. They explore the ocean to discover new things and to get more knowledge on ocean life. But the ocean is still largely unexplored. The compass had a big impact on the world.

Oceanography fieldtrip

Oceanography fieldtrip


On this fieldtrip I learned a lot of new interesting facts. I learned things about the ocean that are very important. We did labs that tested different things about the oceans water. We found out the temperature of the water. We also did a lab to figure out the pH. In one of the labs I found out that plankton produce 60 to 80% of the oxygen that we breathe. They also can grow up to 6-8 feet. We also learned about flounder. When they are babies they have an eye on each side of their head. Over a period of time one eye moves to one side because they live at the bottom of the ocean. I also touched a skate. Learning about the skate was so interesting because they are so cute and so squishy. I had a really good time on this fieldtrip learning about the ocean and the life inside of it.