Do you love the ocean? Are you fascinated by the movement of water or the creatures of the deep? There are many interesting scientific careers associated with the ocean. This article will cover two of these from across different areas of science: biology and engineering.
This image illustrates some of the many technological devices involved in studying the ocean.
Gorick, G. (2020). Figure 1 in Future vision for autonomous ocean observations. Frontiers in Marine Science, 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2020.00697
Deep-Sea Biologist
A deep-sea biologist studies the unique animals adapted to live at depths greater than 200 meters. This area of the ocean is relatively unexplored, so scientists are still discovering many new and fascinating organisms.
The deep sea is a harsh environment, with extreme pressure, temperatures below 5°C, and no sunlight. This has caused the animals living there to evolve many unique adaptations to this extreme environment. For example, many deep-sea animals have the ability to produce their own light, called bioluminescence. Scientists are not sure of all of the exact purposes of bioluminescence, but some species use it to attract mates or prey. There is also very little food available in the deep sea because there is not enough sunlight for phytoplankton, the main food source of the sea surface, to survive. Many deep-sea species are scavengers, feeding on whale carcasses and other dead organisms that sink to those depths.
The factors that make it difficult for life to survive in the deep sea also make it difficult for scientists to do research. The extreme pressure of the deep sea could crush the air spaces inside a person, so when scientists are exploring the deep sea, they must travel in submersibles with thick titanium pressure spheres. There are three types of vehicles that deep sea scientists use in their research. Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) are the most simple and only have a light and a camera in addition to the navigation and necessary electronics. Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) are more complex and also have a manipulator arm and basket for taking samples. However, these vehicles must remain tethered to a ship. Finally, Human Occupied Vehicles (HOVs) have a capsule for carrying people.
Deep sea biologists also use sonar to help them explore the seafloor. Sonar produces images of the seafloor by emitting acoustic pulses which reflect off objects or the seafloor and then are recorded using hydrophones. Additionally, deep-sea biologists may make use of cable-linked seafloor observatories, which contain a network of sensors to measure different variables in the ocean, such as sound, temperature, salinity, and ocean currents.
Deep sea biologists usually must have a B.S. in biology, oceanography, or a related field. Additionally, a PhD in marine biology or physical or biological oceanography is usually needed to do independent research or work at a university. Deep sea biologists earn about the same amount of money as other zoologists and wildlife biologists, who, as of May 2021, had a median wage of $64,650.
Ocean Engineer
The people responsible for the many technological advances that make the research of deep-sea biologists and other ocean scientists possible are ocean engineers. These are engineers who specialize in equipment that can operate underwater, offshore, or in coastal environments. To deal with the challenges associated with the ocean, ocean engineers must use a combination of mechanical, electrical, civil, acoustical, and chemical engineering, and have an understanding of oceanography.
Some ocean engineers work to design equipment that scientists can use to study the ocean. This can include underwater robotics and submersible vehicles or tools for seafloor mapping or underwater acoustics. Some examples of technologies that have enabled scientists to better study the ocean include buoys linked to computers or satellites, ocean seismometers (which detect earthquakes), submersibles, ROVs, AUVs, and acoustic measuring devices such as sonar.
Other ocean engineers may work in a variety of sectors including energy, fishing, the military, or marine navigation. They may design technologies such as machinery for ships, offshore oil and gas platforms, or wind turbines. Coastal engineers are a subtype of ocean engineers who specialize in designing technology to deal with the unique problems of the coastal regions including pollution, waves, storms, and rising sea levels. This may include piers, breakwaters, sewer outfalls, dams, or reservoirs.
Ocean engineers must have a bachelor’s degree in engineering and often need a PhD in Ocean Engineering or another relevant area of engineering. The median annual salary for an ocean engineer as of May 2021 is $93,370.
About the Author
Marcella is a Senior at Northwood High School who is interested in a career as a Conservation Biologist. She enjoys reading, playing the piano, and being outside.
Sources
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and
Wages: Marine Engineers and Naval Architects. (2022, March 31). Retrieved March 16, 2023 from https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes172121.htm
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook,
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists, (2022, September 8). Retrieved March 16, 2023 from
Deep-Sea Biologist. (n.d.). Discovery of Sound in the Sea.
Ocean Engineer. (n.d.). Discovery of Sound in the Sea.
Underwater Vehicle Types. (n.d). Dive and Discover.
Waller, R. & Shank, T. (n.d.). Deep Sea Biology. Dive and Discover.
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