ECO PRO Oceanography for Dive Pros: Earth in Motion – by Alex Brylske, Ph.D., President, Ocean Education International, LLC
In my article from our May issue, The Great Disconnect: A Plea for Better Envi- ronmental Education, I discussed the shortcomings and impacts of the dive industry’s current professional devel- opment model. Although significant
the planet. The result? Earth’s magnetosphere – a protective magnetic field that shields us from lethal solar radiation. Without it, the ocean wouldn't exist, and neither would we. Of course, divers depend on navigation tools like compasses, which rely on the Earth's magnetosphere. But even more fundamentally, life itself – and by extension, marine biodi- versity – owes its survival to this invisible shield. The planet Mars serves as a warning. Although once similar to Earth and possibly had oceans, Mars cooled too fast. Its smaller size and less internal heat meant there was no ongo- ing convection, no magnetic field, and eventually no atmos- phere. Solar winds stripped it away. This difference between Mars and Earth shows why Earth’s active interior is vital not only for forming oceans but also for supporting long-term habitability. Every time we dive into the blue, we’re seeing a planetary process that Mars lost long ago. How Continents and Oceans Are Forged: The shape
changes to the instructor training process are unlikely in the near future, instructors can still enhance their knowledge of the environment independently. Helping dive professionals develop a higher “ocean IQ” is precisely the intent of this and upcoming installments of this column. It's often assumed that a solid knowledge base for a dive professional means understanding the nuances of the crea- tures and ecosystems they, their students, and customers en- counter most, such as coral reefs or kelp forests. Indeed, this is vital information, but even encyclopedic knowledge of any specific ecosystem still holds a significant deficiency. That deficiency involves understanding exactly how the ocean
of our oceans and the place- ment of dive sites worldwide are directly influenced by plate tectonics – the shifting pieces of Earth's crust float- ing on a molten mantle. Al- though the idea of “continental drift” dates back to the 16th century, it wasn’t until the 20th century that the scientific community ac- cepted it. The German geo- physicist and meteorologist Alfred Wegener proposed that continents drifted across the ocean floor, but he was
functions, not just in a particu- lar location but throughout the entire Earth. In other words, as instructors, what should we know about oceanography? Divers are the true explorers of Earth’s last frontier. Yet, few know that the sea we explore and marvel at owes its very ex- istence to forces within the planet. Understanding these forces isn’t just academic – it deepens a diver’s bond with the underwater world. And the ex- ploration begins in places even deeper than the deepest ocean.
unable to explain the mechanism. It wasn't until the 1960s, with the advent of ocean floor mapping and discoveries at the Scripps Institution and Columbia University, that the the- ory of plate tectonics gained full credibility. The boundaries of Earth's hard outer crustal puzzle pieces come in three main types, each shaping the ocean floor and affecting marine ecosystems – many of which divers explore. These include the following: 1. Divergent Boundaries (Spreading Centers) Here, tectonic plates move away from each other, allowing
The Engine Beneath Our Fins: One of the most fasci- nating discoveries in Earth science is that our planet is not a static entity. It moves, and it moves a lot. At its core – both literally and figuratively – Earth is powered by a nuclear en- gine. The radioactive decay of elements like uranium, tho- rium, and potassium generates heat, keeping portions of the planet’s interior molten and active billions of years after its formation. This internal heat drives convection in the outer core, spin- ning Earth’s inner solid core slightly faster than the rest of
PAGE TWELVE | SCUBA DIVING INDUSTRY
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker