The 7 Essential Principles of Ocean Literacy

As an ocean literate person, you should understand some basic ideas about the ocean.
The following 7 principles, constitute the cornerstones of the knowledge about the ocean.

These principles and the related concepts are guided by the idea that understanding the ocean is essential to comprehend and protect the planet on which we live.
These principles will help you understanding why the ocean is so important to us. 

Each principle covers many topics of Ocean Sciences: once you have learned the fundamentals, you will be able to communicate about the ocean in a meaningful way.

Are you ready to learn more about them?

THE SEVEN ESSENTIAL PRINCIPLES OF OCEAN LITERACY:

The ocean is the defining physical feature of our planet, covering approximately 70 % of its surface. Several ocean basins, composed of the seafloor and its geological features are recognized, but all of them are interconnected!
Winds, as well as Earth's rotation, influence the path of circulation of water masses.

Most of Earth's water (97%) is in the ocean, and the ocean is an integral part of the water cycle: it is connected to all of the Earth’s water reservoirs via evaporation and precipitation processes.

Although the ocean is large, it is finite, and its resources are limited.

What shaped the surface of the land? 

Sea level changes over geological time, tectonic activities and the force of waves among others shaped the surface of the land. Waves and currents redistribute sand and sediments, shaping the coasts.
Many of the Earth's materials and biogeochemical cycles originate in the ocean: for instance, sedimentary rocks now exposed on land were formed in the ocean by organisms that use carbon dissolved in the seawater to form shells or other skeletal parts.

When these organisms die, they sink to the bottom of the ocean and form sedimentary rocks due to compaction and cementation. Due to tectonic movements of the Earth's crust, the sedimentary rocks can be uplifted to become exposed as part of the continents. Conversely, the main source of materials for the ocean basins are the continents via weathering and erosion.
As you can see the land and the ocean are not two separate systems!

The way the ocean interacts with the atmosphere controls weather and climate. The ocean moderates global weather and climate by absorbing most of the solar radiation reaching Earth.

Heat exchange between the ocean and the atmosphere drives the water cycle, as well as oceanic and atmospheric circulation.

In addition, the ocean evaporation rate together with the wind patterns and Earth's rotation controls the amount of precipitation: most rain that falls on land originally evaporated from the tropical ocean.

The ocean dominates Earth's carbon cycle. Half of the primary productivity on Earth takes place in the sunlit surface layer of the ocean and the ocean absorbs roughly half of all carbon dioxide added to the atmosphere.

Did you know that the earliest evidence of life is found in the ocean?

The millions of different species of organisms that live on the Earth today are related by descent from common ancestors that evolved in the ocean and continue to evolve today.  The oxygen found in the atmosphere originally came from the photosynthetic activity of marine organisms, and the accumulation of oxygen was necessary to develop life on land. Up to now, the ocean produces 50-85% of the oxygen in the atmosphere.

Ocean life ranges in size from the smallest microbes to the largest animal on Earth, the blue whales!

Despite their small size,  some microbes are at the basis of all ocean food webs, being the most important primary producers in the ocean.  Most of the major groups that exist on Earth are found exclusively in the ocean, where we can find a much greater diversity.

Marine organisms are unique examples of life cycles and adaptations (yes, the ocean is not an easy place to survive!) and important relationships among organisms are developed to survive better.

The distribution of organisms in the ocean is defined by biotic and abiotic factors (such as light, oxygen, salinity, temperature, hydrodynamic patterns...). Only a few regions of the ocean support the most abundant life on Earth, while most of the ocean does not support much life. Coastal estuaries (where rivers meet the ocean) and other coastal ecosystems (such as salt marshes, mangroves and seagrass meadows) provide important and productive nursery areas for many marine species.

All in all, the ocean provides a vast living space with a diverse and unique ecosystem! 

The ocean affects every human life; without the ocean life would not be possible! 

The ocean provides food, medicines, mineral and energy resources. It supports jobs and national economies and serves as a highway of transportation of goods and people. The ocean is also a source of inspiration, recreation, rejuvenation, and discovery! People love to spend time near the sea!

However, humans affect the ocean in a variety of ways.

Wastes (such as trash, sediments and sewage) enter the ocean from run off  and dumping. The pollution leads to habitat degradation, development of harmful algal blooms, and depletion of oxygen, as well as the endangerment, depletion, and extinction of ocean species. Coastal development, such as building structures along coasts and damming rivers leads to loss of beaches and increased coastal erosion.

Through fishing, humans have removed most of the large vertebrates from the ocean, either directly or by harvesting their prey.

Everyone is responsible for caring for the ocean. The ocean sustains life on Earth and humans must live in ways that sustain the ocean.

Individual and collective actions are needed to effectively manage ocean resources for all.

Did you know that the ocean is the largest unexplored place on Earth? Less than 5% of it has been explored! Understanding the ocean is more than a matter of curiosity. 

Our very survival hinges upon it!

To better understand the ocean an interdisciplinary approach is necessary. Collaboration among scientists from different fields will foster new ideas and new perspectives for inquiries.

During the webinar, we will deepen some aspects of these principles!