Earth Science Blog-Water

Article: Bringing the Ocean to the World, in High Def by:William Yardley

This article talks about how a group of scientists or oceanographers are leading a new ocean study. They will create this new study by Internet-inked cables, buoys on top of submerged data collection devices, robots and high definition cameras. They plan to have the first of this equipment in by 2009.
The purpose of this program is to help us improve our understanding on how oceans affect life on land, their role in the changes in climate; the causes of tsunamis; the future of fish populations, and the effect of ocean temperatures on the seasons. Also with this new program information on ocean issues are said to be more immediate since they can be downloaded from the Internet. This information will be available because sensors will be placed in the oceans to detect the different occurrences that take place. The information found from these sensors is obtained it connects through the Internet so we the public can have access to it.
This article relates to class because we have been talking about the different earth systems. Water is important to most of these systems. The plate tectonic system effects our bodies of water. Movements of the earths plates cause new sea floor to form along ridges in the oceans basins. As we have learned in class plate tectonics also cause tsunamis.
Water is also important to earths physical climate system. For example we read in our books about the hydrologic cycle. This cycle starts off with evaporation of water from the surface. The water vapor rises into the atmosphere,condenses, and eventually falls back to earth as precipitation. Part of the precipitation runs off of the surface and forms glaciers, some filters into the ground in which plants use, and much of the precipitation evaporates and goes back into the atmosphere.
In what I have learned thus far, or refreshed my memory on, is that water is very important to ecosystems. Water plays many roles in living organisms, it is the primary source of both hydrogen and oxygen. Plants use the oxygen in the water to carry out photosynthesis, which is their process of making food for energy. Humans and animals also depend on water. To function properly we need to stay hydrated. Water is the main component in our blood, if we don't have enough water in our blood then bad things such as illness can occur.
Since we have recently been discussing earths systems in class I have been reminded of how important water really is to the world and that we should know as much information as possible about our bodies of water. So I would say that I support this program and it will be a good source of information not only to me as a student but for society as a whole.