Oceanography What Were the Significant Term Paper

Where, sharp increases or decreases in the temperature could have an effect on the eco system. As any one of the vital pieces of the food system and their way of life; would have ripple effects based on slight changes in temperature. This has the possibility of setting off a mass extinction. (Garrison, 2008)

The obvious effect on land would be that humans depend on the ocean as a source of food. However, changes in the temperature of the ocean could have an effect on global temperatures. As sharp rises or decreases in temperature, could cause changes in the weather patterns. This is because the warmth of the ocean water will determine the overall severity of storms such as: hurricanes and cyclones (with both needing warm water to grow stronger). If the ocean temperature becomes to warm, it could cause these storms to become more serve.This would have a direct effect on crop production, as there would be an unequal distribution of water. When oceanographers monitor the state of the ocean temperature, they can see the effect that it will have for life on Earth. (Garrison, 2008)

Bibliography

Challenger Expedition. (2010). Retrieved February 25, 2010 from National History Museum website: http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/science-of-natural-history/expeditions-collecting/hms-challenger-expedition/index.html

History of Ocean Exploration and Marine Sciences. (n.d.) [Power Point slides] Retrieved from Biology Class.net website: www.biologyclass.net/historyocean.pptx

Plate Boundaries. (2005). Retrieved February 25, 2010 from Plate Tectonics website: http://www.platetectonics.com/book/page_5.asp

Plate Tectonics. (n.d.). Retrieved February 25, 2010 from University of Oregon website: http://jersey.uoregon.edu/~mstrick/geology/Geo_Lectures/Convergent.html

Garrison, T. (2008). Essentials of Oceanography. Belmont, CA: Brooks / Cole......