7: Seawater and Its Elements

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Page ID: 31573

W. Sean Chamberlin, Nicki Shaw, and Martha Rich
Fullerton College via Blue Planet Publishing

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We now contemplate the very medium about which this book is written, the ocean. But what is the ocean? Is it the water contained within the ocean basins? What makes some water “ocean water” and other water “not ocean water”? Aren’t the waters of the ocean connected to the waters of the land? If so, isn’t the water in our bodies similarly connected? Does that make us a part of the ocean?

Water is mysterious, hypnotic, intoxicating, sensual. Encountering the ocean’s edge, we stretch our eyes to see its farthest reaches, to make out the silhouette of a sailboat or the drum of a passing ship. When we hear crashing waves or rushing rivers, or the sound of rainfall against the windowpane, we immediately recognize it. A walk along a beach with the regular swish and swash of the waves soothes our stress-laden nerves. And who doesn’t love sleeping in a warm, cozy bed to the sound of rain? Our noses take notice of the smell of a lake or the sea, pungent for some, a perfume for others. We simply can’t live without daily (or twice-daily) showers. Artists and writers and thinkers claim that some of their best ideas come while in the shower. And though for many, baths are a thing of the past, a dip in a lake, a dash into the ocean, or a dally in a sun-filled pool brings a kind of peace and serenity that’s hard to find in the dry parts of the world.

Water is essential to all life, including humans. Humans—ancient and modern—have devised innumerable means to carry water with them: animal bladders, seashells, coconut shells, woven baskets, clay pots, metal canteens, glass containers, plastic bottles, bota bags, Camelbaks, and the trendy BPA-free reusable water bottle. In 2023 bottled water sales are expected to reach $342.4 billion worldwide (US dollars). In the US, we’ll spend $94 billion (Statista.com).

It’s no surprise people prefer living near or spending time on the water. More than a third of Americans live in counties bordering the shoreline of an ocean, estuary, or Great Lake (NOAA 2013). The most popular travel destinations for Americans in 2017 (pre-pandemic) were beach vacations and cruises. A watery vacation holds philosophical and meditative charms. Chilean poet Pablo Neruda (1904–1973) wrote, “I need the sea because it teaches me.”

A study of the ocean connects us to the world of water in which we live. We are intimately connected to and dependent on the waters of the world, especially the ocean. But to properly understand the ocean, we must understand the physical and chemical nature of water itself. Our understanding of the water molecule provides a jumping-off point for understanding the world ocean and our planet. Let’s dive in!

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