Three Technologies Used For Studying The Ocean Floor

Ocean currents waves and geophysical fluid dynamics.

Three technologies used for studying the ocean floor. Using devices known as drifters scientists can study the complexities of global ocean currents and in turn the many systems that they influence. As you know light only penetrates the top 200 meters of the ocean. With advances in technology drifters now provide researchers with information about ocean circulation patterns in real time. Continental shelf 300 feet continental slope 300 10 000 feet abyssal plain 10 000 feet abyssal hill 3 000 feet up from the abyssal plain seamount 6 000 feet.

Swarms of mini robots that bob and float like plankton. Scientists study the ocean floor in various ways. That s why people have worked for decades to invent technology for studying the ocean floor. Learn about eleven technologies that are used to understand oceans and its activities.

The depths of the ocean can be as much as 11 000 meters deep. Or they may study the ocean floor from the surface. Study and understanding of oceans is important for the shipping industry. One way is with a tool called sonar.

Today s technology lets scientists to study the ocean in a quicker and precise way. Technology has played a role in exploring and understanding the ocean for thousands of years and it will continue to do so said andrew bowen director of the national deep submergence facility. Absence of light very cold temperatures and high pressure. List three technologies for studying the ocean floor and explain how they are used.

This graphic shows several ocean floor features on a scale from 0 35 000 feet below sea level. Scientists or their devices may actually travel to the ocean floor. The following features are shown at example depths to scale though each feature has a considerable range at which it may occur. Three main obstacles have kept us from studying the depths of the ocean.

The data received from the oceans is helpful is several aspects along with predicting weather and sea condition. Plate tectonics and the geology of the sea. Sonar is also known as echo sounding. Three major regions of the ocean floor.

While this method doesn t provide a terribly accurate map of the ocean floor it can be used to gauge depths in even the most remote areas. Sonar is a type of electronic depth sounding equiptment made in the 1920 s it is an acronym for sound navigation and ranging. There are three tools used to map the ocean floor sonar satellites and submersibles.