Marine Science

Simply stated, marine science is the science of the sea. It is a multidisciplinary field of scientific inquiry that encompasses the fields of biology, fisheries, ecology, chemistry, geology, physics, and oceanography as they pertain to the marine realm. Marine scientists focus on a variety of marine habitats distributed worldwide in tropical, temperate, and arctic regions, including: coral reefs, estuaries, and lagoons, as well as benthic, pelagic, intertidal, coastal, and deep sea environments.

The marine realm encompasses over 71 percent of the earth's surface. It is a primary driver of the hydrological cycle, plays a major role in the earth's weather and climate system, and provides critical habitat for millions of marine species. The oceans contribute to international commerce, transportation, and tourism. They contain large amounts of ...