Oceanography
- Name five branches of oceanography. Describe at least
five ways that man is becoming more dependent upon
knowing about the oceans.
- Describe the effects of the oceans. Include the effect
of currents on the weather and climate. Point out how
air and ocean currents are alike and different.
- Tell how ocean waves are described. Point out the
differences between the storm surge, tsunami, tidal
wave, and title bore. Tell the difference between sea,
swell, and surf. Explain how breakers are formed.
- Draw a cross section of underwater topography. Show what
is meant by:
- Continental shelf.
- Continental slope.
- Abyssal plains.
Name and put on your drawing the following: seamount,
guyot, deep, rift valley, canyon, and trench. Compare
the depths in the oceans with the heights of the mountains.
- List the main salts, gases, and foods in sea water.
Describe the importance of these to life in the sea.
What is meant by Dittmar's principle? Why is it
important?
- Tell the meaning of phytoplankton, zooplankton, nekton,
and benthos. Describe the importance of phytoplankton as
a main producer of living things. Tell the place and
importance of plankton in the food chain.
- Do ONE of the following:
- Make a plankton net. Tow the net by a dock, wade
with it, hold it in a current, or tow it from a
rowboat. Do this for about 20 minutes. Save the
sample. Examine it under a microscope or highpower
glass. Identify the three most common types of
plankton in the sample.*
- Make a series of models (clay or plaster or wood) of
a volcanic island. Show the growth of an atoll from
a fringing reef through a barrier reef. Describe the
Darwinian theory of coral reef formation.
- Measure the water temperature 1 foot below the
surface of a body of water four times daily (8 a.m.,
noon, 4 and 8 p.m.) for 6 straight days. Measure the
air temperature. Note the cloud cover and roughness
of the water. Show your findings on a graph. Tell
how the water temperature changes with air
temperature.*
- Make a model showing the inshore sediment movement
by littoral currents, tidal movement, and wave
action. Include such things as high and low
waterlines, low tide terrace, cusps, beach scarp,
and berm. Show how the offshore bars are built up
and torn down.
- Make a wave generator. Show reflection and
refraction of waves. Show how groins, jetties, and
breakwaters affect these patterns.
- Do ONE of the following:
- Write a 500-word report on any good book about
oceanography. (Before reading have your counselor
approve it.)
- Visit one of the following. Write a 500-word report
about your visit.
- an oceanographic research ship or
- an oceanographic institute.
- Explain to your troop in a 5-minute prepared speech
"Why Oceanography is Important" or "Job in
Oceanography." (Before making it, show your speech
outline to your counselor.)
* May be done in lakes or streams.