Oceanography is not a new occupation.
An oceanographer is a scientist who studies the ocean -- the physical seas and the biology within them. It seems that for many, the word "oceanographer" conjures up images of whale trainers and the like, but the array of fields in oceanography is vast. Oceanographers study marine life and their ecosystems, sea floor geology, the tectonic plates and the chemical makeup of the oceans. And as diverse as the fields of oceanography -- the oceanographer's duties are just as varied.
Biological
A biological oceanographer -- or marine biologist -- studies the life forms in the environment, both plant and animals. They are mainly responsible for observing and documenting how these organisms grow and develop, as well as how they interact with one another and change with their environment. They also work to find ecologically safe practices for harvesting some of these as seafood.
Chemical
These scientists study the seawater makeup. They conduct much research into the chemicals of the seawater and how they interact with the outer atmosphere and the sea floor. They perform composition analysis of the seawater, pollutant effects, and the impacts of other chemicals. They learn how the chemistry moves currents in the water around the earth and how the ocean affects the climate. They also try to find ocean resources and natural products that can be used for medicines.
Geological
Natural processes that form mountains, valleys, canyons and other sea floor formations are studied by geological oceanographers, also called marine geologists. They take samples to look at eons of history in plate tectonics and ocean circulation and climates. They study volcanic actions, hydrothermal circulation, the creation of magma and the formation of the sea crust. These men and women help determine the interactions between the ocean and what's on the sea floor.
Physical
The study of water density, water temperatures, waves, currents, gyres and tides are handled by physical oceanographers. They also study how sand is moved on and off beaches, coastal erosion and the interactions of the atmosphere and ocean. The look at deep sea currents and the influence they have on the Earth's weather and climate. Another one of their responsibilities is to study how light and sound travel through water.
Engineers
These scientists apply technical processes and put them to practical uses. They design measuring instruments that can hold up under ocean currents and withstand the ravages of ocean storms. There are many subfields in this field of oceanography: robotics, electrical, acoustical, mechanical, civil architecture and chemical.
Archaeologists
These highly specialized scientists help with the recovery and the study of shipwrecks, buildings, tools, pottery and other finds from within the sea. They use and develop the needed technology to locate and excavate these underwater sites.
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