WHAT IS OCEANOGRAPHY?

Oceanography is the science of studying oceans and the various processes related to them. It is also known as oceanology or marine science. This is a subject that is slowly but steadily attracting the interest of students in India. The subject deals with the study of the ocean bed, ocean currents, waves, marine organisms, plate tectonics, ecosystem analysis, fluid dynamics and other related topics. Oceanography is also related to various other subjects like geology, physics, meteorology and geography.  The study of marine flora and fauna and judging their consumption and worthiness is also a part of the subject.

The main branches of oceanography include biological oceanography, chemical oceanography, physical oceanography and geological oceanography. For any student looking to pursue an exciting stream that also provides a bright career, oceanography is a very good choice. There are quite a few premium institutes in India which offer courses in oceanography. As an oceanographer, you will mostly find yourself working on a ship or a coastal base but there will also be plenty of time spent in the laboratory for data interpretation.

 Many oceanographers are also engaged in studies to predict the impact of increased carbon dioxide, depletion of the ozone layer, effect of fertilizers, fossil fuels and other items on oceans. It is a perfect blend of scientific research and application of the same in the fields of engineering and technology. For a developing country like India, oceanography is a fast-growing profession that offers first-rate career opportunities.

Oceanography Eligibility Criteria

Oceanography is offered as a 2-year full-time postgraduate program through an MSc degree. In some universities, it is also offered in the form of marine biology. To pursue a career in Oceanography candidates have to appear for the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE). Different institutions conduct separate entrance exams for admitting students to their PhD courses.

M.Sc degree:

The eligibility for joining the course is the completion of a BSc degree in Physics, Earth Science, Microbiology, Applied Science, Chemistry, Botany, Zoology, Agriculture, or Fishery Science. The selection is based on merit and a minimum of 55% marks in the graduation level is necessary.

Some of the reputed universities have their entrance tests for the selection of candidates. Both the overall marks obtained in the qualifying examination and those in the entrance tests are taken into consideration during selection.

  Some of the top courses in this field are listed below.

• Master of Science (M.Sc) in Oceanography

• Master of Science in Marine Biology

• MTech in Ocean Engineering

• MTech in Ocean Technology

MPhil & PhD degree:

After an MSc degree, you can also pursue an MTech in Oceanography or Marine Biology, though a valid GATE score is essential for that purpose in some cases. In case you are a student with an MSc degree or a BTech degree in the relevant field, you are also eligible for the MTech course. MPhil and PhD courses are also offered by some universities. The most popular doctoral courses in this field are listed below.

• MPhil in Marine Biology

• MPhil in Chemical Oceanography

• PhD in Oceanography

 

Oceanography Specializations

Let us first take a look at what exactly the oceanographer does which will help you to realise the best qualities that are needed to pursue this course. An oceanographer collects samples, analyses data, and conducts surveys, by taking help from a range of sophisticated equipment. Some specialised fields that you can choose are listed below.

Biological Oceanography: This involves the study of plants, animals and microbes in the ocean and is also termed “marine biology”.

Chemical Oceanography: It involves studying the chemistry of the ocean in association with the chemistry of the atmosphere.

Geological Oceanography: This deals with the study of ocean floor geology, including plate tectonics and paleoceanography.

Physical Oceanography: This subject deals with the physical attributes of the ocean involving the tides, currents, waves and salinity.

It is evident from the nature of the subjects that the study needs both scientific and mathematical skills. Apart from these, the following aspects are also important for a student.

• An interest in the ocean and the environment as a whole along with a sense of adventure is needed to spend long hours on the oceans and seas.

• Good problem-solving skills and observational skills will help in the research aspects.

• Good communication skills including writing skills that will be essential in writing reports and data analysis.

• The efficiency with computer software used for digital mapping, remote sensing and modelling.

• In addition strong physical and mental attributes including patience, stamina and adaptability to new environments and challenges, especially on the sea, are needed. Knowledge of swimming and diving is also an essential skill.

Oceanography Skills Required

Math	Physics
Research	Critical Thinking
Laboratory Skills	Communication
Inquisitive	Persistence
Quantitative Skills	Multidisciplinary Knowledge
Self Initiative	Teamwork
Observation Skills	Overall Science Knowledge
Computer Programming	Technical Writing
Analytical	Statistics
Endurance	Foreign Language
Accuracy	Patience
Digital Mapping	Problem Solving Skills
Physical Fitness	Flexibility

Oceanography Syllabus

The syllabus deals with not only the details of the theoretical aspects but also the various techniques and methodologies. The MSc program course is generally divided into four semesters and though the syllabus varies from one university to the other, the tables below will give you a basic idea about the subjects covered.

Semester I	Semester II
Physical Meteorology	Dynamical Oceanography
Physical and Dynamical Climatology	Synoptic Meteorology
Dynamical Climatology	Advanced Dynamical Meteorology
Physical Oceanography	Electronics
Practical	Practical
Computer Programming and Data Processing	Synoptic Analysis
Meteorology and Oceanography Computations	Electronics
Semester III	Semester IV
Air-Sea Interaction	Climate Modelling
Cloud Physics	Satellite Meteorology
Numerical Weather Prediction	Agricultural and Hydrometeorology
Observational Techniques	Tropical Meteorology
Practical	Practical
Numerical Weather Prediction	Applied Meteorology
Instruments	Dissertation

 

Oceanography: Top Colleges & Course Fees

The course fees vary depending on the college and university. The course fees for some of the universities are listed below for necessary reference.

Career in Oceanography

The salary packages will vary depending on the organization and the post. In the public sector, a postgraduate can earn anywhere between INR 15,000 to INR 22,000. In the private sector, the starting salaries are slightly higher, ranging around INR 30,000 per month. An oceanographer can also find employment options in countries like the US, the UK, and France where salaries are higher. The chart appended below will provide a basic idea about the salaries of an oceanographer for various positions. This will vary as per the experience levels.

Top Recruiters in Oceanography

Career opportunities come in both governmental and private organizations. The UPSC conducts tests for placements in Central Government Agencies like the

• Geological Survey of India
• Meteorological Survey of India
• and the Central Groundwater Board

The companies in the private sector include environmental consultancies, ocean instrumentation and manufacturing companies, water companies, energy supply companies and NGOs. Other organisations that offer employment include the following:

• Coal India
• Mineral Exploration Authority
• Oil & Natural Gas Corporation
• Hindustan Zinc.