- published: 28 Dec 2011
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Oceanography (compound of the Greek words ωκεανός meaning "ocean" and γράφω meaning "to write"), also called oceanology or marine science, is the branch of Earth science that studies the ocean. It covers a wide range of topics, including marine organisms and ecosystem dynamics; ocean currents, waves, and geophysical fluid dynamics; plate tectonics and the geology of the sea floor; and fluxes of various chemical substances and physical properties within the ocean and across its boundaries. These diverse topics reflect multiple disciplines that oceanographers blend to further knowledge of the world ocean and understanding of processes within it: biology, chemistry, geology, meteorology, and physics as well as geography.
Humans first acquired knowledge of the waves and currents of the seas and oceans in pre-historic times. Observations on tides are recorded by Aristotle and Strabo. Early modern exploration of the oceans was primarily for cartography and mainly limited to its surfaces and of the creatures that fishermen brought up in nets, though depth soundings by lead line were taken.
William Sanford "Bill" Nye (born November 27, 1955), popularly known as Bill Nye the Science Guy, is an American science educator, comedian, television host, actor, mechanical engineer, and scientist. He is best known as the host of the Disney/PBS children's science show Bill Nye the Science Guy (1993–1998) and for his many subsequent appearances in popular media as a science educator.
William Sanford Nye was born in Washington, D.C., the son of Jacqueline (née Jenkins; c. 1920–2000), a codebreaker during World War II, and Edwin Darby "Ned" Nye (died 1997), also a World War II veteran whose experience in a Japanese prisoner of war camp led him to become a sundial enthusiast. Nye is a fourth-generation Washington, D.C. resident on his father's side of the family. After attending Lafayette Elementary and Alice Deal Junior High in the city, he was accepted to the private Sidwell Friends School on a partial scholarship, graduating in 1973. He studied mechanical engineering at Cornell University, where one of his professors was Carl Sagan, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 1977. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by The Johns Hopkins University in May 2008. In May 2011, Nye was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science degree from Willamette University where he was the keynote speaker for that year's commencement exercises.
Gathering regrets
Beyond loneliness
Restless lunacy release me
From my agony
The silent waves are calling
Piercing louder through my brains
If I should fall into the sea
Where you still wait for me
If I could wake you from your sleep
And fly away from here
The chilling wind is gone
The still moon hangs silent and full
Leaving all my dreams
Broken on my feet
Relief never comes
So better leave this place right now
A lonely rainy day
Just forget my name
Will I ever reach your endless flow
Crumble on my knees heaven's fall
Still my horizon's turning blue
Through my brain
Killing my senses rising through
My oceangrave
And now
Release my tragedy
And sanctify my curse
Obey the infamy
Of heavens down below
Bleeding forth the source of freedom
Paralyzed a never ending fall
Slaughtering regrets
Beyond emptiness
Restless agony release me
From my lunacy
And so I'll take this ride
Into the streams of the sky
And now I fall into the sea
Where you still breathe with me
For I can wake you from your sleep