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Introduction to Oceanography
There are many reasons why people study oceanography. An understanding of ocean processes is obviously vital to oceanographers, marine biologists, or environmental scientists. However, there are numerous other scientific fields where the oceans play an important role. The oceans are a major contributor to global climate patterns, and can give us clues to past climate conditions. Knowledge of oceanography is important for resource or energy extraction, such as commercial fishing or aquaculture, oil and gas exploration, and clean energy
resources such as wind, wave, or tidal energy. The oceans are the major route for international trade through commercial shipping, and are still a significant factor in the transportation of people across the seas. But even the recreational user benefits from an understanding of the ocean, from winds and currents for the casual
sailor, tides and habitat conditions for a fisherman, to wave patterns for surfers. And finally, for anyone who has ever stood on the shore and gazed out at the ocean with a sense of wonder at what lies beneath the surface, the study of oceanography can begin to reveal some of the ocean’s mysteries.
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