Source: Pathways to Technology: "Marine Science Intro"
In this video from Pathways to Technology, learn about the field of marine technology. The ocean is crucial to human life, so it is important to understand the ocean and the challenges it faces today. From mapping the ocean floor to tracking fish populations to monitoring pollution, marine technicians help generate and gather information about what’s happening in the ocean for the benefit of those back on land and the organisms that live in the sea.
Download and ShareMarine science explores what’s going on in the ocean environment, how human activities affect that environment, and how it affects us. Marine scientists study specimens of marine life, from coastal plants and animals to creatures living on the ocean floor, as well as ocean currents and geological features of the ocean floor.
When marine scientists need to track fish populations or travel down to the ocean floor to analyze an undersea volcano, they use marine technology. Marine technology has added a new dimension to our understanding of the underwater world. Technologies like submersible robots and sonar are helping marine scientists and technologists discover ancient shipwrecks, track the migratory habits of fish, provide clues to climate change, and find natural energy resources.
Marine technicians design, build, and operate the systems and devices that make all these advances possible. Their work can require understanding everything from computer science and electronics to engineering and the environment. Marine technology is used to create images of the sea floor, which are used by commercial and military shipping, and also are necessary for international fiber-optic undersea communications systems.
Marine technology supports oil and gas research, exploration, extraction, and subsea piping. Also, marine technology is used to study environmental management, trends in pollution and consumption, and the countless ocean-related resources we use every day.
Marine farming uses technology to monitor and grow certain species, which are then harvested and eventually sold to restaurants or seafood markets. Knowing the ideal habitat for a species makes for better, more efficient farming. Marine technology can also track population declines, and help us understand why they are happening.
The ocean is critical for food, energy, transportation, trade, and our understanding of environmental science. There’s a growing need for marine technicians who work along the coasts and in the water, exploring and gathering data on oceanic resources.
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