Oceanography (compound of the
Greek words ὠκεανός meaning "
ocean" and γράφω meaning "write"), also known as
oceanology and
marine science, is the branch of
Earth science that studies the ocean. It covers a wide range of topics, including
marine organisms and
ecosystem dynamics;
ocean currents,
waves, and
geophysical fluid dynamics;
plate tectonics and the geology of the sea floor; and
fluxes of various chemical substances and physical properties within the ocean and across its boundaries. These diverse topics reflect multiple disciplines that oceanographers blend to further knowledge of the
world ocean and understanding of processes within:
astronomy,
biology,
chemistry,
climatology,
geography,
geology,
hydrology,
meteorology and
physics.
Paleoceanography studies the history of the oceans in the geologic past.
