oceanografisk

Oceanografisk is an adjective used in Norwegian and Swedish to denote something related to oceanography, the scientific study of the oceans. In English, the corresponding term is oceanographic. The word is applied to data, instruments, institutions, and phenomena associated with the science of the oceans and their interactions with the atmosphere, land, and ecosystem.

Oceanography comprises several subfields. Physical oceanography examines currents, tides, waves, heat transport, and the dynamics of the ocean. Chemical oceanography studies salinity, nutrients, trace elements, and the marine carbon cycle. Biological oceanography focuses on marine organisms, ecosystems, and how biological processes interact with physical and chemical conditions. Geological (or geophysical) oceanography investigates seafloor sediments, plate tectonics, seafloor mapping, and related processes. Together, these subfields seek an integrated understanding of how the oceans function and respond to external forcings.

Researchers use a range of methods, including ship-based surveys, moorings and autonomous instruments (AUVs, gliders, ROVs), deep and shallow-water sensors, satellite remote sensing, laboratory analyses, and numerical models to simulate ocean dynamics and predict changes.

Applications of oceanographic knowledge include climate research, weather and maritime forecasting, environmental monitoring, resource management, and the design and safety of offshore structures. Institutions such as the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution have been instrumental in advancing the field through research, education, and international collaboration.

Etymology: derived from the Greek okeanós (ocean) and graphía (writing or description).