OCEANOGRAPHY

Oceanography consists of two words: oceanos which means sea and graphos which means the picture or description (in Greek). In simple terms we can interpret as a picture or a description of the oceanography of the sea. In another language more complete, oceanography can be defined as the study and exploration of the sea and all the scientific phenomenon. Sea itself is part of the hydrosphere. As we all know that the earth consists of solid part, called the lithosphere, the hydrosphere and the liquid is called the gas called the atmosphere. Meanwhile, the ecological system associated with all living inhabitants of planet Earth into the biosphere grouped.

In general, oceanography can be grouped into 4 (four) main disciplines, namely: geological oceanography who study the ocean floor or the lithosphere beneath the sea, physical oceanography that studies physical problems such as ocean currents, waves, tides and sea water temperature, chemical oceanography are studying the problems of sea water chemistry and the latest biological oceanography that studies issues relating to the flora and fauna in the sea.

Comprehensive study about the first time with the sea started doing the Challenger expedition (1872-1876) led by a naturalist named CW Thomson (Scottish) and John Murray (Canadian nationals). Oceanography own term used by those in a report edited by Murray. Murray went on to become leaders in the study of marine sediments. Success of the Challenger expedition, and the importance of marine science in the shipping / marine transportation, fishery, marine cables, and the study of climate eventually led many countries to conduct subsequent expeditions. The first international oceanographic organization is The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (1901).