User:SienaSujitno/Oceanography

Oceanographic studies focuses on evaluating and studying the physical, chemical and biological components of the oceans. `Scientists do a deep dive into the oceans past, while analyzing the present state of the waters, to assess what the future holds for our oceans. Along with these components, they also examine the oceans organisms, like the plant and animal life and the way in which they interact and interconnect with one another. Oceanographers are interested in evaluating the importance of the relationships that take place in this environment, and try to comprehend their development.

Unlike other scientists, oceanographers research is mainly done underwater. Due to this, it is difficult to bring their findings back to the surface with them, to further their research and comprehension. To explain this further, researchers are unable to take large parts of the environment back with them into the labs, like coral, due to its ability to alter ecosystems. One way in which this problem is resolved is the use of photography, and using an underwater camera to capture photographs of what scientists are unable to bring back to the surface.

Over the years, photography has evolved in a way that has benefited many. The definition of photography is: the ability to create an image through the recording of light with an image sensor. At first, the way to take a photograph was to use light sensitive material, like film, to capture an image to later be developed, but now, photography has evolved digitally by using a digital camera to capture a photograph with the light sensitive monitor.

How does this connect to oceanography? As previously stated, oceanographers and marine biologists are at a disadvantage with their studies, as unlike land scientists, they are unable to bring many of their findings back with them to lab. In addition to this, it is more difficult to capture and document the changes in the oceans, and since these scientists cannot benefit from doing their studies on land, they need to find a medium to overcome this. A way in which they do this is with photography. Underwater photography has evolved greatly over the years, and now we are able to use high quality cameras below the waters to document life underwater.

An example of scientists using underwater photography to help further their studies is the following. Over the years, climate change has altered land and ocean life, but one of the main organisms that are facing life altering changes is the coral family. The life of coral has been depleting rapidly due to climate change, and the warming of waters. To document the rapidity and severity of the depletion, scientists use a photoquadrat photograph. A photoquadrat is a photograph that is taken in a specific part of an environment through a quadrat, to capture a specific area or thing. By using a photoquadrat to capture the coral depletion, scientists are able to analyze the past, present and future of the coral family, and assess what is needed to improve this environmental issue. Without photography, scientists would have never been able to grasp the full extent to which this issue is affecting our oceans, and our lives.

Although photography has greatly evolved, it still has its flaws. Many scientists find that sometimes there is not an accurate representation of the ocean world due to inaccurate colours, light, etc. In addition, many particles in the oceans waters can lead to inaccurate documentation as well, so photographers need to keep that in mind when photographing. To improve the issue of the missing colours, scientists bring their own light source into the oceans to improve the light quality, which in turn will enhance the colours in the photograph, for better documentation. Technology keeps evolving everyday, and there is no concern that these minor issue won't one day be fixed.

Without photography, scientists would not be at the breakthrough they are at today, and our world would be completely different. Thanks to the help of photography, scientists are able to make discoveries that will aid the environment, and inform us on how to better our world.

SOURCES:

Seraphin, Duncan. “Exploring Our Fluid Earth.” Practices of Science: Underwater Photography and Videography | Manoa.hawaii.edu/ExploringOurFluidEarth, https://manoa.hawaii.edu/exploringourfluidearth/physical/ocean-depths/light-ocean/practices-science-underwater-photography-and-videography.

National Geographic Society. “Oceanography.” National Geographic Society, 6 Sept. 2019, https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/oceanography/.