Oceanology

Oceanology:How the ocean works, and why our lives depend on it
Vita Harwood
Series "In Twelve Evenings", BOOK6
What Do I Already Know About This?
12 lessons · two to three months · tests, answers, and a glossary
What is really happening beneath the surface of the ocean?
The ocean covers most of our planet, moves enormous amounts of heat, exchanges carbon with the atmosphere, shapes climate, supports extraordinary ecosystems, and reaches depths where sunlight never arrives. We live beside this vast system, depend on it every day, and still know surprisingly little about many parts of it.
You will discover why ocean water moves, how currents carry heat around the planet, what happens as pressure rises and light disappears with depth, how life survives around hydrothermal vents, why the ocean contains biological deserts and underwater forests, and what happens when the ocean absorbs extra heat and carbon dioxide.
The course also follows the people and technologies that made these discoveries possible, from seafloor mapping and deep-diving vehicles to autonomous floats, sonar, satellites, and remotely operated robots.
Each lesson includes key terms, a scientist portrait, an unexpected scientific turn, a ten-question test, and an at-home experiment or observation. All 120 answers with explanations are collected at the end, together with a complete glossary, resources, and suggestions for further reading and viewing.
No previous knowledge of oceanography is required. Bring curiosity and twelve evenings.