Disciplines

Oceanography

Also Known As Marine Science

Citation Formats

General Reference

Science Atlas. "Oceanography." Accessed August 30, 2026. https://science.interactiveatlas.org/disciplines/oceanography.

APA Style

Science Atlas. (n.d.). Oceanography. Retrieved August 30, 2026, from https://science.interactiveatlas.org/disciplines/oceanography

BibTeX

@misc{scienceatlas-oceanography,
  author = {Science Atlas},
  title = {Oceanography},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://science.interactiveatlas.org/disciplines/oceanography},
  note = {Accessed August 30, 2026}
}

Oceanography is the scientific study of the ocean, covering its physics, chemistry, biology, and geology, from currents and tides to the life and sediments of the sea floor.

Facts

Founded Year

1872 1

The Challenger Expedition (1872-1876), led by Charles Wyville Thomson, was the first expedition organized specifically to gather data across ocean temperatures, chemistry, currents, marine life and seafloor geology, and is credited with founding modern oceanography.

Central Questionthe subject's own account

How do ocean circulation, chemistry and marine life interact with the atmosphere to regulate global climate, given that the ocean covers most of the planet yet remains far less thoroughly explored than its surface? 2

Scopethe subject's own account

Oceanography is the scientific study of the ocean, including its physical properties, chemistry, biology, geology and the interaction of marine and coastal ecosystems with the atmosphere above them. 2

Significancethe subject's own account

The four-year global voyage of HMS Challenger, launched in 1872 under the scientific leadership of Charles Wyville Thomson, produced the first systematic survey of the deep ocean's physical, chemical and biological character and is widely regarded as founding modern oceanography as a discipline. 2

Cross-Tradition Connections

Harry Hess proposed seafloor spreading, the core of plate tectonics, from oceanographic depth-sounding data gathered aboard Navy ships he commanded.

Source Harry Hess (Britannica)

Part Of

Earth Science

Source Challenger Expedition (Britannica)

Sources

1. The Challenger Expedition (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

Woods Hole Oceanographic InstitutionLead section

Quote, Lead section

Modern oceanography began with the Challenger Expedition between 1872 and 1876. It was the first expedition organized specifically to gather data on a wide range of ocean features, including ocean temperatures seawater chemistry, currents, marine life, and the geology of the seafloor.

View the Source

2. Oceanography (Wikipedia)

Wikipedialead

Quote, lead