CONTENTS What is ocean engineering Zones and landforms Oceans in motion What's in the water 10 Historical technologies Modern ocean engineers Start with a problem Possible solutions 16 18 20 Buoyancy Test and refine Share solutions Design challenge Future of the field 26 28 30 Learning more Glossary Index 31 32
WHAT IS OCEAN ENGINEERING Working in oceans comes with many challenges The waters are deep and often far from land Humans cannot survive in great depths without help Ocean engineers solve these problems They design technologies to help people explore and benefit from oceans We know more about how Earth formed climate change and marine life thanks to ocean engineering solutions These include imaging sensors that monitor ocean environments robotic vessels that work at different depths and offshore structures Steps in the EIGHT STEPS TO SUCCESS process design Define the problem The design process is a series of steps Ocean engineers follow them to build develop and test solutions for working in the deep sea Identify criteria and constraints Engineers may focus on one or more steps in the design process Brainstorm ideas Select a solution Build a prototype Improve the design Test the prototype This mini submarine helps people explore marine life on a coral reef Share the solution
Engineers and scientists Ocean engineers work with scientists called oceanographers These scientists study the animals materials and processes found in oceans Engineers use their understanding of oceans to come up with solutions that allow scientists to do their research For example ocean engineers find ways to study conditions in remote areas of oceans They develop tools that measure and collect data These tools attach to S buoys designed to float on the ocean s surface Addi a device that sends the data allows scientists to observe the conditions from land DR KATE MORAN This buoy helped scientists study changes in the Arctic Ocean Dr Moran told Seaside Magazine what she loves about ocean engineering is the fact you can take practical tools and apply them to important ocean science problems Canadian American Dr Kate Moran leads Ocean Networks Canada It runs abservatories in the Pacifc Ocean of the coast of British Columbia Dr Moran was introduced to acean engineering by her schoolteacher The Subject combined her interest in oceans Science and math Dr Moran went on to become an expert ocean engineer She led the first team to investigate the underwater earthquake that caused the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 Dr Moran has also advised the United States government on issues related to oceans In 2010 her team came up with solutions after a deep water drilling disaster in the Gulf of Mexico caused massive dam rage to marine life They suggested ways to stop the Alow of oil into the ocean and prevent further
