ERTH 2403 Introduction to Oceanography Lecture 1

Textbook: Oceanography by Tom Garrison 8e or 9e

Exam #1: Feb 6 4:00pm 6:00
Exam #2: March 12, 2015 4:00pm to 6:00pm
Exam #3: Final Exam
50-100 MC and 2-3 short answer

Lecture 1 Origin of the Ocean

On our planet the condition necessary for a large permanent ocean to exit are:
1. Earth is large enough that its gravity will keep the atmosphere and the ocean
from drifting into the space
2. Its surrounding is calm and stable (no radiation from the supernova)
3. Earths distance from the sun is right for its surface water to exist in the liquid
state: Temperature environment.

Origin
1. Solar system
a. The origin of the ocean is linked to the Earths origin
b. The origin of the Earth is linked to the origin of the solar system and
the galaxy
c. The origin of the universe is Big Bang about 13.7 billion years ago
d. About a billion years after the Big Bang:
i. Atoms formed from the particles
ii. Began to congeal
iii. Form the first galaxies and stars
e. Stars and planets are found within galaxies;
f. A galaxy: a huge aggregation of stars, dust, gas, and other debris held
together by gravity
g. Our galaxy is called the Milky Way galaxy
h. The Sun is one of the stars of the Milky Way galaxy
i. The Sun and its planet form the Solar System
j. The Solar System (Solar Nebula): formed 5 billion years ago:
k. The sun and its planets: formed from a Solar Nebula
l. Solar nebula: cloud of gas and dust (75% H, 23% He, 2% dust, ice and
heavier elements)
Theory
The condensation theory explains how stars and planets are believed to form
Solar system formed by accretion

By about 5 billion years ago, a solar nebula: rotating disk-shaped mass of clouds of
gas and dust formed

Struck by the shock wave and matter of an expanding supernova remnant

Shockwave cause the condensing mass to spin

Nebula
Contracts under gravity. As it contracts the nebula heats and flattens and
spins faster, becoming a spinning disk of dust and gas
The mass as it spun, it absorb some the heavy atoms from the passing
supernova remnant.
The seeds of gas planets grow large enough to attract hydrogen and helium
gas.
Leftovers from the formation process become asteroids and planets

2. Planets of our outer solar system

a. Jupitar, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
b. Mostly composed of methane and ammonia ices because these gases
congeal only at cold temperature
3. Closer to Protosun
a. Mercury is mostly iron because iron is solid at higher temperature
b. Farther out, the cooler region, magnesium, silicon, water and oxygen
condenses
c. Earth, as a result of its middle position, water, silicon-oxygen
compounds and metals
4. The period of the accretion lasted about 30 to 50 million years

Earth
Earth formed 4.6 billion years ago
The origin of Earth is linked to the origin of the solar system and the galaxies
Young Earth was formed by the accretion
Young Earths surface was heated as a result of the impact of asteroids,
comets, and other falling debris
The head, gravitational compression, and the heat produced by radioactive
decay of elements in the deep Earth, results in partial melting of the Earth
Gravity pulled iron and nickel and form the core of the Earth
Iron released more energy that resulted in the addition heat of the planet
Lighter minerals, silicon and magnesium, aluminum, and oxygen compounds
go to the surface = Earths crust
Density stratification process = layers sorted by density

Moon
Formed 4.4 billion years ago
Shortly after the Earths formation, planet of the size of Mars smashed into
Earth
The core fell into Earths core
The rocky mantle was ejected forming debris
Debris condensed into the moon

The age of the Earth

The age of the Earth is estimated using geochronological techniques
Measuring the rate of radioactivity decay in unstable atom in meteorite,
moon rocks and oldest rocks Accurate age of their formation
Oldest Rocks
Early Earths rocks are rare: recycling into the Earths interior
Acasta Formation (greenish Gray rocks) found in the shore of Hudson Bay in
northern Quebec 3.9 billion years old
Small grains of Zircon found in similar rocks in Australia: 4.35 billion years old
Specks of carbon found in rocks in Canada 3.85 billion years old

Hyde