Oceanography is the scientific study of the physical, chemical, biological, and geological aspects of the ocean. It is an interdisciplinary field that investigates the composition of the world's oceans, encompassing deep-sea exploration and coastal processes. Major branches of the discipline include physical oceanography, which examines currents, tides, and temperature stratification; chemical oceanography, which analyzes salinity, nutrient cycles, and dissolved gases; and biological oceanography, which studies the marine organisms and ecosystems. The study also incorporates geological oceanography, which investigates the ocean floor structure and processes, providing comprehensive knowledge of marine systems and their interactions with the atmosphere and lithosphere.