|
|
Article: Oceanography, Chemical
- Article from:
- Water:Science and Issues
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 The Gale Group Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Oceanography, Chemical
Oceanography is the scientific discipline that studies Earth's oceans. Chemical oceanography is concerned with the study of the dissolved elements in sea water and the ocean's numerous chemical and biochemical cycles. Topics of study include the origin and evolution of sea water, the origin of the sediment that covers the seafloor, the relationships between the myriad of chemical constituents of sea water, and the significance of changes in ocean chemistry (i.e., the influence of changing geology, including biological activity, and human-induced pollution).
Chemical oceanography can be further divided into focused areas of study. For example, marine chemistry is ...