Mrs. Evans: Learning Guide
Oceanography Unit 8
Ocean Resources & Marine Sediment
Big Idea: The ocean and humans are inextricably interconnected (principal 6). The ocean is
essential to the existence of human life on Earth (A).
The ocean has an incredible array of renewable and non-renewable resources that humans use. (A.1.)
Learning Targets: Be able to explain the
concepts to a friend or family member who
has NOT taken the class. Be able to explain
your reasoning, and use evidence and
pictures to support your claims.
*Explain how technology has enabled marine
fisheries and aquaculture to produce increased
amounts of food for humans. A.2. 8.1
*Illustrate how the ocean provides most of the
fresh water on Earth, and photosynthetic
organisms in the ocean provide most of the
oxygen on Earth. A. 3. 8.2
*Provide examples of how ocean life, including
bacteria, algae, sponges, and fish products are
included in medicines, chemicals (e.g. salt) and
food products. A. 4. 8.3
* Provide examples of energy resources and raw
materials extracted from the sea floor, including
mineral ores, crude oil and natural gas. A. 5. 8.4
*Devise solutions to reduce the environmental,
social and ecological impact of an increasing
human population on the ocean. A. 6. 8.5
* Draw conclusions from the different remains of
weathering erosion regarding their impact on the
ocean over time. A.2, A.9 8.6
Activities
Windmills, Climate Engineering
Ocean Resources Reading
MPA’s
Foldable (Sediment)
How do we hope to use the ocean to generate electrical power in the
future? (highlight all that apply.)
● eastern boundary currents like the California Current ● waves ● growing
algae (in tanks) that can be made into biofuels ● wind over the ocean ●
harvesting kelp to use for biofuels ● upwelling & down welling ● tidal
currents
Fishermen catch many fish that no one eats. What is the other major
use for the worldwide catch? ● Fertilizer ● Food for pets (e.g., cats) ●
Medicines ● Food for farm animals. ● Lubricating Oils ● Pizza Toppings
About how much of their protein do humans get by eating ocean
organisms?
Why might petroleum (e.g., oil & natural gas) be considered a "living"
ocean resource?
● petroleum forms from the remains of once-living things that were buried
in sediments
● petroleum makes our machines move (as if they were "alive") ● we can grow
fuels to replace petroleum ("biofuels" like ethanol)
● without petroleum, our civilization will "die" (i.e., it keeps our civilization
“alive”)
Give 3 examples of mineral resources that humans currently do not take
from the ocean but may take from the ocean in the future. What can they
be used for? (Be specific. Give details.)
(a)
(b)
(c)
Give 2 examples of non-petroleum mineral resources (in other words, you
cannot say oil, natural gas, etc.) that humans currently take from the ocean.
What can they be used for? (Be specific. Give details.)
(a)
(b)
Highlight benefits of collecting and studying ocean sediments. (Highlight
all that apply.)
● Determine how the Earth's climate changed in the past, to help us
understand how it will change in the future.
● Find new organisms living in the sediments: some are a source of chemicals
for new medicines
● Help us find oil and natural gas deposits which we use to fuel our cars and
power plants.
● Measure ocean currents to predict weather conditions
● Mining for precious metals (e.g., lots of gold and silver come from the
ocean)
● Predict tides for shipping
Vocabulary
Lithogenous Sediment
Biogenous Sediment
Hydogenous Sediment
Cosmogenous
Marine Snow
Bioprospecting
biofuels