Fundamental Concepts for

Essential Principle 7: The ocean is largely unexplored.

7a. The ocean is the last and largest unexplored place on Earth—less than 5% of it has been explored. This is the great frontier for the next generation’s explorers and researchers, where they will find great opportunities for inquiry and investigation.

K-12 Scope and Sequence: Grade bands 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12 address concepts in depth.

7b. Understanding the ocean is more than a matter of curiosity. Exploration, inquiry and study are required to better understand ocean systems and processes.

K-12 Scope and Sequence: Grade bands K-2 and 3-5 mention concepts; Grade bands 6-8 and 9-12 address concepts in depth.

7c. Over the last 40 years, use of ocean resources has increased significantly, therefore the future sustainability of ocean resources depends on our understanding of those resources and their potential and limitations.

K-12 Scope and Sequence: Grade bands K-2 and 3-5 mention concepts; Grade band 6-8 addresses concepts in depth.

7d. New technologies, sensors and tools are expanding our ability to explore the ocean. Ocean scientists are relying more and more on satellites, drifters, buoys, subsea observatories and unmanned submersibles.

K-12 Scope and Sequence: Grade bands 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12 address concepts in depth.

7e. Use of mathematical models is now an essential part of ocean sciences. Models help us understand the complexity of the ocean and of its interaction with Earth’s climate. They process observations and help describe the interactions among systems.

K-12 Scope and Sequence: Grade band 9-12 addresses concepts in depth.

7f. Ocean exploration is truly interdisciplinary. It requires close collaboration among biologists, chemists, climatologists, computer programmers, engineers, geologists, meteorologists, and physicists, and new ways of thinking.

K-12 Scope and Sequence: Grade band K-2 mentions concepts; Grade bands 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12 address concepts in depth.