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.
