Chapter 1 Introduction to Planet Earth

Essentials of Oceanography 7th Edition

Geography of the oceans

Earths oceans: Cover 70.8% of Earths surface Are interconnected (world ocean) Have huge size and volume (as a reservoir, contain 97% of Earths water)

The four principal oceans

Pacific Atlantic Indian Arctic Plus: Southern or Antarctic Ocean
Figure 1-2

Comparing oceans to the continents

Figure 1-3

Comparing depth of the oceans to elevation on land

Figure 1-4

Early exploration of the oceans

Pacific navigators peopled many remote islands

Figure 1-6

Early exploration of the oceans

Advancements of European navigators
Phoenicians explored the Mediterranean Sea and beyond Pytheas developed method to determine latitude Eratosthenes calculated circumference of Earth Ptolemy produced map that shows known land surrounded by largely unexplored oceans

Early exploration of the oceans

The Vikings explored the North Atlantic and established many colonies
Figure 1-7

Early exploration of the oceans

During the Age of Discovery, Columbus and Magellan make journeys of exploration

Figure 1-8

Early exploration of the oceans

Voyaging for science began with English navigator and explorer Captain James Cook
Mapped many unknown islands Determined outline of the Pacific Ocean Sampled ocean properties Modified shipboard diet to eliminate scurvy Used John Harrisons chronometer to determine longitude

The scientific method

Figure 1-10

Origin of the Solar System and Earth

Cloud of gas and space dust (nebula) began to contract about 4.6 billion years ago
The Nebular Hypothesis
Figure 1-12

Origin of the Solar System and Earth

Protoplanets were created from the nebula Protoearth was initially homogenous:
Larger in size than todays Earth Had lots of volcanic activity No continents or oceans No life

Density stratification
Protoearth experiences density stratification
Density = how heavy something is for its size Density stratification causes high density material to sink while low density material rises
High density material = rock material and metals Low density material = gases

Density stratification creates a layered Earth

Figure 1-13

Origin of the oceans

As a result of density stratification, water for the oceans is outgassed from inside Earth
Figure 1-14

Origin of the atmosphere

Density stratification caused Earths early atmosphere (water vapor and carbon dioxide) to be outgassed from inside Earth The initial atmosphere was rich in hydrogen and helium Earths present atmosphere is rich in nitrogen and oxygen

Photosynthesis releases oxygen to the atmosphere

Figure 1-16

Origin of life on Earth

Stanley Millers experiment simulating conditions of an early Earth showed that life probably began in the oceans
Figure 1-15

Major events in Earths development

Figure 1F

End of Chapter 1

Essentials of Oceanography 7th Edition