NOAA ACTIVITY OCEAN EXPLORATION

INTRODUCTION

Different Chemical composition, physical characteristics and many factors related to ocean.

One research theory about origin of life on earth.

Modern research tools in National Ocean Service.

Goals, Objectives and relation with the National Ocean Service’s overarching mission.

INTRODUCTION

Areas to be looked at and discovered by the mission.

Challenges faced by the team. Data gathering methods & Modern

techniques used. Whether this explorative mission is

successful in its findings. Advantages of Oceanography with the

information collected.

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF EARTH

There are three layers of earth named as crust, mantle and the core.

The crust is composed of low density rocks which are made up of silicate minerals consisting of silicon and oxygen.

Crust is of two types: Oceanic and Continental.

The 2nd layer is mantle beneath the crust.

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION & PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

The mantle is composed of high density iron and magnesium silicate rocks.

The third big mass layer of earth is the core which is under the mantle.

It is made up of nickel and iron. According to physical characteristics ,

Erath consists of mesosphere, asthenosphere and lithosphere.

OCEAN RELATED FACTORS Basalt is the name of the Oceanic crust

consisting of about eight km. As Oceanic crusts are thin, so only less areas

are occupied by the oceans in the crust areas. Where the ocean crust layer is thin than the

continental crust layer, there will be isostatic adjustments.

The consistent and harsh rainfall on the rocky areas of earth processed new elements and compounds and thus Ocean is appeared.

AN EXPERIMENT BY STANLEY MILLER

He researched the development of life on earth in the laboratory.

CO2, methane, ammonia, hydrogen and water was combined to UV rays along with electrical sparks.

At the end of that day, the composition became pink in color.

The composition started to develop the amino acids, the basic component of life, at that week end.

Thus the concept of the life on the earth was proved by his experiment.

MODERN RESEARCH TOOLS IN NATIONAL OCEAN SERVICE

Sanctuaries were visited by exploration teams for studying historic shipwrecks, characterize benthic habitats etc.

The historic towers and turret of Civil wars were discovered and many 19th century shipwrecks were found.

They are also visiting many other areas of the Atlantic to find protected and unprotected deep water coral reefs and hard-bottom communities.

GOALS & OBJECTIVES & RELATION WITH NATIONAL OCEAN SERVICE’S OVERARCHING MISSION.

The purpose of National Ocean service is to save the aquatic environment from different dangers and to forecast the variations in the aquatic environment.

They also want to get information about sea regions and the things there.

The overarching mission of the agency is to “ know and forecast the variations in the aquatic environment and save and deal with the coastal and sea resources to fulfill our nation’s economic, social and environmental requirements.” (NOAA, “About us”).

Thus there are same goals and objectives of the Ocean Exploration in the National Ocean Service.

AREAS DISCOVERED BY MISSION

Many problems of the sea environment, they faced.

The team visited Atlantic, Pacific as well as Gulf of Mexico for this exploration process.

They found many shipwrecks during this, they also observed in Monitor National Marine Sanctuary off Cape Hatteras, NC.

They also visited areas of Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary off of Washington in their mission.

CHALLENGES & DATA COLLECTED BY TEAMS

During their mission the teams faced many challenges and problems.

The teams visited particular unknown areas to identify the factors for the environmental danger.

They gathered particular information about aquatic environment.

They also discovered protected and unprotected deep water coral reefs and hard-bottom communities.

SUCCESS OF OCEAN EXPLORATION

Many beneficial and useful information were gathered by the team about the marine environment.

NOAA saves, conserves, deals with and increases the resources found in 3.5 million square miles of coastal and deep ocean waters.

The research program discovers the unknown ocean, using and building new technology for research of including new undersea habitats, communities, species, phenomena and greater awareness of ecosystems.

It also gathered many information about the origin of life on the earth.

Thus the information are being used very much in the field of Oceanography.

REFERENCES

Alan P. Trujillo (2011):”Essentials of Oceanography” –Tenth edition, Pearson education.

“Ocean Exploration” –Retrieved from http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/topics/oceans/oceanex/

Matthew J. Lindstrom (2010):” Encyclopedia of the U.S. government and the environment: history ..., Volume 1”- pg 369

“Ocean” –Retrieved from http://www.noaa.gov/ocean.html