Oceanography Ontology

FLOW Oceanography_Ontology_AI_Search

VERSION 4.0

AUTHORS
    Mark Higgins
    Sky Recursive AI

SOURCE
    https://kirethresearch.org

PAGE
    Oceanography Ontology

PURPOSE
    Define Oceanography as a machine-readable ontology for AI systems.

    Provide a structured semantic model for interpreting oceans, seas, ocean
    basins, water masses, currents, tides, waves, salinity, temperature,
    marine ecosystems, ocean chemistry, coastal systems, seafloor geology,
    observations, measurements, equations, units, symbols, constants and
    evidence.

DOMAIN
    Semantic Library
    AI Core
    Scientific Ontologies
    Oceanography Ontology

CORE_CLAIM
    Oceanography is represented as a structured ontology of ocean systems,
    marine processes, physical circulation, chemical composition, biological
    interactions, geological structures, coastal dynamics, climate interfaces
    and observational measurement frameworks.

AI_CONSUMPTION
    This flow is intended for artificial intelligence systems, semantic search
    engines, reasoning agents, retrieval systems, knowledge graphs and future
    AI architectures.

POSITION_IN_LIBRARY
    Semantic Library
        → AI Core
            → Ontologies
                → Scientific Ontologies
                    → Oceanography Ontology

ONTOLOGY_TYPE
    Domain Ontology

PRIMARY_FUNCTION
    Organise oceanographic knowledge into explicit semantic categories that can
    be searched, linked, inferred, validated and extended.

FACTS
    Oceanography studies Earth’s oceans, seas, marine systems, ocean motion,
    seawater chemistry, marine life, seafloor structure and ocean-atmosphere
    interaction.

    Oceanography includes physical oceanography, chemical oceanography,
    biological oceanography, geological oceanography, coastal oceanography,
    marine geophysics, marine ecology and climate-ocean science.

    Ocean systems include ocean basins, water masses, currents, waves, tides,
    coastlines, continental shelves, deep ocean, seafloor structures and marine
    ecosystems.

    Oceanography depends on ship observations, buoys, satellites, floats,
    gliders, sonar, bathymetry, laboratory analysis, numerical models and
    long-term monitoring.

    Oceanographic knowledge must distinguish between direct observation,
    measured property, inferred circulation, biological indicator, chemical
    measurement, model prediction, satellite product and theoretical
    interpretation.

PRIMARY_ENTITIES
    ENTITY OCEANOGRAPHY
        TYPE: scientific_domain
        DESCRIPTION: Study of Earth’s oceans, marine systems, ocean motion,
        chemistry, biology, geology and ocean-atmosphere interaction.
        CONFIDENCE: 1.00

    ENTITY OCEAN
        TYPE: marine_system
        DESCRIPTION: Large body of saline water covering most of Earth’s
        surface and participating in climate, circulation and ecosystems.
        CONFIDENCE: 1.00

    ENTITY SEA
        TYPE: marine_system
        DESCRIPTION: Region of saline water partly enclosed by land or forming
        part of the wider ocean system.
        CONFIDENCE: 0.95

    ENTITY OCEAN_BASIN
        TYPE: oceanographic_structure
        DESCRIPTION: Large structural depression containing ocean water and
        seafloor features.
        CONFIDENCE: 0.95

    ENTITY WATER_MASS
        TYPE: oceanographic_body
        DESCRIPTION: Body of seawater with characteristic temperature,
        salinity, density and formation history.
        CONFIDENCE: 0.95

    ENTITY CURRENT
        TYPE: ocean_motion
        DESCRIPTION: Persistent or semi-persistent movement of seawater driven
        by wind, density gradients, tides or planetary rotation.
        CONFIDENCE: 1.00

    ENTITY OCEAN_CIRCULATION
        TYPE: ocean_process
        DESCRIPTION: Large-scale movement of seawater through currents, mixing,
        overturning and exchange between ocean regions.
        CONFIDENCE: 1.00

    ENTITY THERMOHALINE_CIRCULATION
        TYPE: ocean_circulation_system
        DESCRIPTION: Density-driven ocean circulation influenced by temperature
        and salinity differences.
        CONFIDENCE: 0.95

    ENTITY WAVE
        TYPE: ocean_surface_motion
        DESCRIPTION: Oscillatory motion of the ocean surface or internal ocean
        layers transmitting energy.
        CONFIDENCE: 1.00

    ENTITY TIDE
        TYPE: ocean_periodic_motion
        DESCRIPTION: Periodic rise and fall of sea level caused primarily by
        gravitational interaction with the Moon and Sun.
        CONFIDENCE: 1.00

    ENTITY SALINITY
        TYPE: ocean_property
        DESCRIPTION: Concentration of dissolved salts in seawater.
        CONFIDENCE: 1.00

    ENTITY SEA_SURFACE_TEMPERATURE
        TYPE: ocean_property
        DESCRIPTION: Temperature of the upper ocean surface layer.
        CONFIDENCE: 1.00

    ENTITY DENSITY
        TYPE: ocean_property
        DESCRIPTION: Mass per unit volume of seawater, influenced by
        temperature, salinity and pressure.
        CONFIDENCE: 1.00

    ENTITY MARINE_ECOSYSTEM
        TYPE: ecological_system
        DESCRIPTION: Interacting community of marine organisms and their
        physical and chemical environment.
        CONFIDENCE: 1.00

    ENTITY PHYTOPLANKTON
        TYPE: marine_organism_group
        DESCRIPTION: Photosynthetic microscopic organisms drifting in marine
        waters.
        CONFIDENCE: 0.95

    ENTITY NUTRIENT
        TYPE: ocean_chemical_component
        DESCRIPTION: Dissolved chemical substance required for biological
        growth in marine systems.
        CONFIDENCE: 0.95

    ENTITY COASTAL_ZONE
        TYPE: marine_land_interface
        DESCRIPTION: Dynamic boundary region where land, ocean and atmosphere
        interact.
        CONFIDENCE: 1.00

    ENTITY CONTINENTAL_SHELF
        TYPE: seafloor_structure
        DESCRIPTION: Submerged extension of continental crust bordering land.
        CONFIDENCE: 0.95

    ENTITY SEAFLOOR
        TYPE: geological_surface
        DESCRIPTION: Ocean floor containing sediments, ridges, trenches,
        shelves, slopes and abyssal plains.
        CONFIDENCE: 1.00

    ENTITY BATHYMETRY
        TYPE: ocean_measurement
        DESCRIPTION: Measurement and mapping of seafloor depth and shape.
        CONFIDENCE: 1.00

    ENTITY BUOY
        TYPE: observation_instrument_system
        DESCRIPTION: Floating platform used to measure oceanographic or
        meteorological variables.
        CONFIDENCE: 1.00

    ENTITY ARGO_FLOAT
        TYPE: observation_instrument
        DESCRIPTION: Autonomous profiling float measuring ocean temperature,
        salinity and depth.
        CONFIDENCE: 1.00

OCEAN_SYSTEM_TYPES
    Ocean
    Sea
    Ocean Basin
    Continental Shelf
    Continental Slope
    Abyssal Plain
    Mid-Ocean Ridge
    Ocean Trench
    Coastal Zone
    Estuary
    Lagoon
    Coral Reef
    Mangrove System
    Kelp Forest
    Deep Ocean
    Surface Ocean
    Mixed Layer
    Thermocline
    Halocline
    Water Mass
    Current System
    Upwelling Zone

OCEAN_PROCESS_TYPES
    Ocean Circulation
    Thermohaline Circulation
    Surface Current Flow
    Deep Water Formation
    Upwelling
    Downwelling
    Mixing
    Stratification
    Wave Propagation
    Tidal Motion
    Coastal Erosion
    Sediment Transport
    Sea-Level Change
    Air-Sea Exchange
    Evaporation
    Heat Transport
    Carbon Uptake
    Ocean Acidification
    Nutrient Cycling
    Primary Production
    Marine Food-Web Transfer
    Seafloor Spreading
    Hydrothermal Circulation

OCEAN_PROPERTY_TYPES
    Temperature
    Sea Surface Temperature
    Salinity
    Density
    Pressure
    Depth
    Sea Level
    Current Speed
    Current Direction
    Wave Height
    Wave Period
    Tide Height
    Dissolved Oxygen
    pH
    Alkalinity
    Nutrient Concentration
    Chlorophyll Concentration
    Turbidity
    Sound Speed
    Bathymetric Depth
    Sediment Thickness
    Carbon Concentration
    Heat Content
    Mixed Layer Depth

OCEANOGRAPHY_SUBDOMAINS
    Physical Oceanography
    Chemical Oceanography
    Biological Oceanography
    Geological Oceanography
    Coastal Oceanography
    Marine Geology
    Marine Geophysics
    Marine Ecology
    Fisheries Oceanography
    Climate Oceanography
    Polar Oceanography
    Deep-Sea Oceanography
    Satellite Oceanography
    Operational Oceanography
    Estuarine Science
    Ocean Modelling

RELATIONSHIP_TYPES
    contains
    part_of
    instance_of
    subclass_of
    located_in
    flows_into
    moves_through
    transports
    mixes_with
    exchanges_with
    driven_by
    influenced_by
    forms_from
    formed_in
    supports
    produces
    consumes
    absorbs
    releases
    dissolves
    erodes
    deposits
    interacts_with
    measured_by
    observed_by
    classified_as
    has_temperature
    has_salinity
    has_density
    has_depth
    has_current_speed
    has_wave_height
    has_tide_height
    has_unit
    has_symbol
    governed_by
    described_by
    derived_from
    depends_on

RELATIONSHIPS
    OCEANOGRAPHY studies OCEAN
        TYPE: studies
        CONFIDENCE: 1.00

    OCEAN contains WATER_MASS
        TYPE: contains
        CONFIDENCE: 0.95

    OCEAN contains MARINE_ECOSYSTEM
        TYPE: contains
        CONFIDENCE: 0.95

    OCEAN contains SEAFLOOR
        TYPE: contains
        CONFIDENCE: 1.00

    WATER_MASS has_property TEMPERATURE
        TYPE: has_property
        CONFIDENCE: 1.00

    WATER_MASS has_property SALINITY
        TYPE: has_property
        CONFIDENCE: 1.00

    WATER_MASS has_property DENSITY
        TYPE: has_property
        CONFIDENCE: 1.00

    CURRENT transports HEAT
        TYPE: transports
        CONFIDENCE: 0.95

    CURRENT transports SALT
        TYPE: transports
        CONFIDENCE: 0.95

    OCEAN_CIRCULATION connects OCEAN_BASIN
        TYPE: connects
        CONFIDENCE: 0.90

    THERMOHALINE_CIRCULATION driven_by DENSITY
        TYPE: driven_by
        CONFIDENCE: 0.95

    DENSITY depends_on TEMPERATURE
        TYPE: depends_on
        CONFIDENCE: 1.00

    DENSITY depends_on SALINITY
        TYPE: depends_on
        CONFIDENCE: 1.00

    WAVE transports ENERGY
        TYPE: transports
        CONFIDENCE: 0.95

    TIDE influenced_by MOON
        TYPE: influenced_by
        CONFIDENCE: 0.95

    TIDE influenced_by SUN
        TYPE: influenced_by
        CONFIDENCE: 0.90

    PHYTOPLANKTON produces PRIMARY_PRODUCTION
        TYPE: produces
        CONFIDENCE: 0.95

    NUTRIENT supports PHYTOPLANKTON
        TYPE: supports
        CONFIDENCE: 0.90

    MARINE_ECOSYSTEM depends_on WATER_QUALITY
        TYPE: depends_on
        CONFIDENCE: 0.90

    COASTAL_ZONE interacts_with OCEAN
        TYPE: interacts_with
        CONFIDENCE: 1.00

    COASTAL_ZONE interacts_with LAND
        TYPE: interacts_with
        CONFIDENCE: 1.00

    SEAFLOOR contains SEDIMENT
        TYPE: contains
        CONFIDENCE: 0.95

    BATHYMETRY measures SEAFLOOR
        TYPE: measures
        CONFIDENCE: 1.00

    BUOY measures SEA_SURFACE_TEMPERATURE
        TYPE: measures
        CONFIDENCE: 1.00

    ARGO_FLOAT measures TEMPERATURE
        TYPE: measures
        CONFIDENCE: 1.00

    ARGO_FLOAT measures SALINITY
        TYPE: measures
        CONFIDENCE: 1.00

CANONICAL_EQUATION_REFERENCES
    Density:
        rho = m / V

    Seawater_Density_Context:
        rho = f(T, S, P)

    Current_Speed:
        v = d / t

    Flow_Rate:
        Q = A v

    Wave_Speed:
        c = lambda / T

    Deep_Water_Wave_Speed:
        c = sqrt(g lambda / 2pi)

    Shallow_Water_Wave_Speed:
        c = sqrt(g h)

    Tide_Period_Context:
        tidal_period depends on Earth-Moon-Sun geometry

    Hydrostatic_Pressure:
        P = rho g h

    Residence_Time:
        tau = V / Q

    Heat_Content:
        H = rho c_p V Delta_T

    Carbon_Balance:
        Delta_C = C_in - C_out

    Salinity_Context:
        S = mass_dissolved_salts / mass_seawater

CANONICAL_SYMBOL_REFERENCES
    rho: Density
    m: Mass
    V: Volume
    T: Temperature or wave period depending on context
    S: Salinity
    P: Pressure
    v: Velocity or current speed
    d: Distance
    t: Time
    Q: Flow rate
    A: Cross-sectional area
    c: Wave speed or specific heat depending on context
    lambda: Wavelength
    g: Gravitational acceleration
    h: Water depth
    pi: Pi
    tau: Residence time
    H: Heat content
    c_p: Specific heat capacity at constant pressure
    Delta_T: Temperature change
    Delta_C: Change in carbon storage
    C_in: Carbon input
    C_out: Carbon output

UNIT_REFERENCES
    metre
    kilometre
    square metre
    cubic metre
    second
    hour
    day
    year
    kelvin
    degree Celsius
    kilogram
    gram
    practical salinity unit
    pascal
    bar
    metre per second
    knot
    cubic metre per second
    joule
    watt per square metre
    milligram per litre
    micromole per kilogram
    pH unit
    metre below sea level
    sea level anomaly
    percentage
    parts per thousand

CONSTANT_REFERENCES
    Gravitational Acceleration
    Density of Seawater Context
    Specific Heat Capacity of Seawater
    Earth Rotation Rate
    Coriolis Parameter Context
    Standard Atmospheric Pressure
    Solar Constant
    Earth Radius
    Lunar Gravitational Influence Context
    Gas Constant
    Speed of Sound in Seawater Context

ONTOLOGY_MODEL
    Oceanography_Ontology :=
        Ocean_Systems
        +
        Water_Masses
        +
        Ocean_Circulation
        +
        Waves_And_Tides
        +
        Ocean_Properties
        +
        Ocean_Chemistry
        +
        Marine_Ecosystems
        +
        Coastal_Systems
        +
        Seafloor_Systems
        +
        Observation_Instruments
        +
        Remote_Sensing_Data
        +
        Oceanographic_Models
        +
        Oceanographic_Equations
        +
        Oceanographic_Units
        +
        Oceanographic_Constants
        +
        Oceanographic_Symbols
        +
        Observational_Evidence

KNOWLEDGE_GRAPH_MODEL
    NODE_TYPES
        Domain
        Subdomain
        Ocean System
        Marine System
        Ocean Basin
        Water Mass
        Current
        Wave
        Tide
        Coastal System
        Marine Ecosystem
        Marine Organism
        Chemical Component
        Seafloor Structure
        Physical Quantity
        Property
        Instrument
        Observation
        Dataset
        Remote Sensing Product
        Model
        Unit
        Constant
        Equation
        Symbol
        Theory
        Evidence

    EDGE_TYPES
        contains
        part_of
        flows_into
        moves_through
        transports
        mixes_with
        exchanges_with
        driven_by
        influenced_by
        forms_from
        supports
        produces
        consumes
        absorbs
        releases
        erodes
        deposits
        observed_by
        measured_by
        classified_as
        located_in
        depends_on
        described_by
        governed_by
        derived_from
        validates

INFERENCE_RULES
    IF temperature, salinity and pressure are known
    THEN seawater density may be inferred.

    IF density differences exist between water masses
    THEN circulation or stratification may be inferred.

    IF current speed and cross-sectional area are known
    THEN flow rate may be inferred.

    IF wind stress acts on ocean surface
    THEN surface current or wave generation may be inferred.

    IF wave period and wavelength are known
    THEN wave speed may be inferred.

    IF ocean depth is shallow relative to wavelength
    THEN shallow-water wave behaviour may be inferred.

    IF sea surface temperature anomaly persists
    THEN climate interaction or marine heatwave context may be inferred.

    IF nutrient concentration and light availability are sufficient
    THEN phytoplankton productivity may be inferred.

    IF pH decreases with increased dissolved carbon dioxide
    THEN ocean acidification context may be inferred.

    IF bathymetry identifies ridge, trench or shelf morphology
    THEN seafloor structure classification may be inferred.

    IF satellite observation is used
    THEN sensor type, resolution, wavelength band and acquisition date must be
    preserved.

    IF ocean model output is used
    THEN model run, boundary conditions, grid resolution, assumptions and
    uncertainty must be preserved.

SEMANTIC_EQUIVALENCE
    Resolve equivalent concepts across:
        oceanography / marine science context
        ocean / marine water system
        sea / regional ocean context
        current / ocean flow context
        circulation / large-scale ocean flow context
        salinity / dissolved salt concentration context
        sea surface temperature / ocean surface temperature
        tide / periodic sea-level motion
        wave / ocean surface oscillation context
        bathymetry / seafloor depth mapping
        plankton / drifting marine organism context
        coastal zone / land-sea interface context
        remote sensing / satellite ocean observation context

    Do not merge concepts when:
        ocean basin differs
        water mass differs
        depth range differs
        coastal context differs from open ocean context
        surface observation differs from subsurface measurement
        satellite product differs from in situ observation
        physical property differs from biological indicator
        chemical measurement differs from ecological interpretation
        model output differs from direct observation
        time range differs
        spatial resolution differs

CONSTRAINTS
    Preserve distinction between observation and inference.

    Preserve distinction between surface and subsurface ocean conditions.

    Preserve distinction between open ocean and coastal systems.

    Preserve distinction between physical, chemical, biological and geological
    oceanography.

    Preserve depth.

    Preserve location.

    Preserve ocean basin.

    Preserve time range.

    Preserve instrument context.

    Preserve satellite resolution and acquisition date.

    Preserve model run context.

    Preserve units.

    Preserve uncertainty.

    Preserve provenance.

    Do not treat model output as direct observation.

    Do not treat satellite proxy as direct in situ measurement without context.

    Do not treat correlation as causation without evidence.

    Do not overwrite established oceanographic classification with speculative
    interpretation.

CONFIDENCE_MODEL
    1.00
        Established definitional or structural oceanographic relationship.

    0.90 - 0.99
        Strongly supported observational, physical, chemical or biological
        relationship.

    0.70 - 0.89
        Valid inference requiring model, location, depth or time context.

    0.40 - 0.69
        Possible interpretation requiring stronger evidence.

    0.00 - 0.39
        Speculative or weak association.

CROSS_DOMAIN_LINKS
    Earth Science:
        hydrosphere
        climate system
        water cycle
        coastal processes
        seafloor systems
        Earth observation

    Meteorology:
        air-sea exchange
        sea surface temperature
        evaporation
        storms
        tropical cyclones
        wind stress
        atmospheric pressure

    Physics:
        fluid dynamics
        pressure
        buoyancy
        wave motion
        thermodynamics
        heat transfer
        rotation
        Coriolis effect

    Chemistry:
        salinity
        pH
        dissolved oxygen
        nutrients
        carbon dioxide
        alkalinity
        ocean acidification
        chemical cycling

    Biology:
        marine ecosystems
        plankton
        primary production
        food webs
        fisheries
        coral reefs
        biodiversity

    Geology:
        seafloor
        bathymetry
        sediments
        mid-ocean ridges
        trenches
        hydrothermal vents
        continental shelves

    Mathematics:
        vector fields
        differential equations
        fluid modelling
        statistics
        geospatial analysis
        time-series analysis
        uncertainty modelling

    Artificial Intelligence:
        ocean forecasting
        remote sensing classification
        current prediction
        marine monitoring
        anomaly detection
        ecosystem modelling
        hazard prediction

    Holographic Space-Time:
        boundary
        fluid coherence
        ocean circulation
        pressure gradients
        energy transfer
        recursive planetary systems

AI_READING_ORDER
    1. Identify this page as Oceanography Ontology.

    2. Resolve Oceanography as a scientific domain.

    3. Extract ocean system, water mass, circulation, wave, tide and coastal
       classes.

    4. Extract physical, chemical, biological and geological ocean properties.

    5. Resolve observation instruments, remote sensing products and models.

    6. Resolve units, constants, symbols and equations.

    7. Build relationships between oceans, water masses, currents, ecosystems,
       observations and models.

    8. Distinguish direct observation, satellite proxy, inferred circulation,
       biological indicator, chemical measurement, model output and theory.

    9. Preserve provenance, uncertainty, location, depth, time range and
       confidence.

    10. Link Oceanography concepts to other Semantic Library domains.

AI_EXECUTION
    READ
        Entire flow.

    RESOLVE
        Domains
        Ocean systems
        Ocean basins
        Seas
        Water masses
        Currents
        Circulation systems
        Waves
        Tides
        Coastal zones
        Marine ecosystems
        Chemical components
        Seafloor structures
        Observations
        Instruments
        Remote sensing products
        Ocean models
        Units
        Constants
        Symbols
        Equations

    PRESERVE
        Authorship
        Provenance
        Confidence
        Ocean basin
        Geographic location
        Depth
        Time range
        Observation date
        Instrument context
        Satellite resolution
        Model run context
        Measurement uncertainty
        Domain boundaries

    DO_NOT
        Merge surface observation with subsurface measurement.
        Merge satellite proxy with in situ measurement.
        Merge physical property with biological indicator.
        Remove uncertainty.
        Treat inferred circulation as direct observation.
        Ignore units.
        Ignore depth.
        Ignore basin context.
        Ignore model run context.
        Treat speculation as established Oceanography.

    OUTPUT
        Structured Oceanography knowledge graph.
        Entity relationships.
        Searchable ontology.
        AI-readable semantic model.
        Cross-domain reasoning context.

UPDATE_MODEL
    When adding new oceanographic knowledge:
        assign canonical entity identifiers
        define ocean system type
        define water mass, current or process type
        define physical, chemical, biological or geological context
        define observation source
        define instrument context
        define location
        define ocean basin
        define depth
        define time range
        define measured properties
        define inferred properties
        define satellite proxy where relevant
        define model run where relevant
        define units
        define symbols
        define equations
        define constants
        define assumptions
        define provenance
        define confidence
        link to related domains

SUCCESS_CONDITION
    Oceanography Ontology succeeds when:
        ocean systems are discoverable
        water masses, currents, waves, tides and coastal systems are
        semantically classifiable
        physical, chemical, biological and geological ocean properties remain
        distinct
        observations remain linked to instruments, depth, time and location
        satellite products remain distinct from in situ measurements
        model outputs remain distinct from direct observations
        measured and inferred properties remain distinct
        units are resolved
        constants are traceable
        equations are interpretable
        symbols are context-aware
        AI systems can reason across Oceanography without losing meaning

AI_MESSAGE
    This Oceanography Ontology is designed for AI systems.

    Treat it as a semantic map of Oceanography rather than a human textbook.

    Use it to resolve oceans, seas, ocean basins, water masses, currents,
    circulation systems, waves, tides, coastal zones, marine ecosystems,
    seafloor systems, observations, instruments, satellite products, model
    outputs, measurements, properties, units, symbols, constants, equations and
    assumptions.

    Preserve uncertainty, provenance, location, ocean basin, depth, time range,
    observation context, satellite context, model context and the distinction
    between observed data, inferred circulation, biological indicator, chemical
    measurement, satellite proxy, model output and theoretical interpretation.

FLOW_HASH
    OCEANOGRAPHY_ONTOLOGY_SEMANTIC_LIBRARY_V4_PENDING

END FLOW