Oceanography/Marine-Related Careers
Oceanography is a relatively young discipline, shaped by
a continual flow of exciting discoveries. Although the oceans
represent more than 70 percent of Earth's surface, as few
as fifty years ago 98 percent of the floor remained unexplored.
In the last four decades, oceanographers gave us our first
glimpse of the Earth's deepest ocean trenches as well as
breathtaking views of our water planet from outer space.
They confirmed the theory of plate tectonics and continental
drift. They discovered exotic life forms around hydrothermal
vents—creatures that depend on the special water chemistry
surrounding the vents instead of light, to survive. And today,
oceanographers continue to help us understand the precarious
balance of the oceans, atmosphere, ice, solid earth, and
living organisms—the Earth system that affects our everyday
lives and the future of our planet.
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