Learning Physical Oceanography Is Essential For Me

I am a sophomore in ocean engineering program. When I entered physical oceanography class for the first time, the lecturer asked the class, “Why do ocean engineering students have to learn about physical oceanography?” Well that is what I am going to answer in this writing. To answer that question, we must know what do ocean engineers do and what would you get if you took a physical oceanography class. Why is that? Because the reason of why ocean engineering students have to learn about oceanography is there is a correlation between ocean engineers’ activities and the study of physical oceanography.

If you went to the beach, you probably would see a breakwater that protects the beach from powerful waves. That is one of ocean engineers’ work. They design, construct, and maintain breakwaters, oil rigs, ports, boats, ships, and other marine structures and vessels. In my university, the ocean engineering program covers offshore structure, coastal structure, ocean energy, marine geotechnic, and underwater acoustics. What am I going to construct when I become one of the ocean engineers? Well, I am interested in ocean energy. I am interested in how we can convert ocean energy into electrical energy and use it in our everyday life. Base on my knowledge, there are at least three energy that can be converted: tidal current energy, wave energy, and ocean thermal energy. To convert ocean energy to electrical energy, we also need infrastructures. Structures and vessels which ocean engineers design, construct, and maintain is located near the ocean (coastal structure) or is located in the middle of the ocean (offshore structure).

If ocean engineers’ works are located near the ocean or in the middle of the ocean, they need to know well about the ocean itself. They need to know about the physical conditions and physical processes which happen in the ocean. They need to learn about dimension of the ocean and physical properties of seawater, such as salinity, temperature, and density. Besides that, they also need to study about the basic theory and applications of ocean circulation. Moreover, they need to understand about the hypothesis of ocean conveyor belt and its effect to global warming. In addition, they have to learn about wave, tide, current, coast, and estuary. All of those knowledge can be learned in a physical oceanography class.

Why ocean engineers need to know about the physical properties of seawater? The need to know about the salinity of seawater because it can corrode metals and most marine structures use steel. Besides that, the salinity and temperature of seawater affect its density. The density of the seawater is important in the design of marine vessels and other floating structure. Moreover, knowing the temperature difference between the deep and shallow or surface ocean waters in certain location help them in calculation of ocean thermal energy conversion. In addition, the knowledge of wave, tide, and current also helpful in the design of tidal current energy conversion and wave energy conversion.

It is essential for ocean engineering students to sit in a physical oceanography class. Well not just sit in the class, I mean paying attention and learn the lecture given. They need that class because their job when they are graduated as ocean engineers will be designing, constructing, and maintaining structures and vessels that are located on coast or offshore. Almost all of those activities are happening near the ocean, on or in the ocean, and related to the ocean. So, its important for them to know the physical condition and physical processes of the ocean. The study of physical oceanography will be helpful in designing marine structures and vessels, including ocean energy infrastructure.