The exploration of space has always set people’s imagination on fire. Popular science fiction only added to the excitement of the humankind, making people wonder what wonders the Universe has in store for its explorers. However, focusing on the unknown and the mysterious that the outer space concealed, people are apt to forgetting that the Earth also has a range of mysteries that are yet to be revealed.
As a result, a complicated and a very understandable choice between exploring the space and the Earth has to be made. Even though the idea of researching the space may sound much more exciting than the one of taking a closer look at the Earth, the latter is of much greater importance for the modern humankind. Indeed, because of the changes that the earth is currently undergoing, including the process of global warming and the problems that it causes, it is necessary to consider the “Inner Space” Ocean Research (Lutgens and Tarbuck “Oceans: The Last Frontier” 325).
One must admit that making the actual choice between the two alternatives is hardly possible – as a matter of fact, picking only one of the areas to explore is unreasonable. The humankind needs and has the right to know just as much about the outer space as about their home planet. However, while the research of the outer space is a much longer project, which must take place on a considerably larger scale, the “Inner Space” project at the very least has some measurable time boundaries; therefore, it will be more reasonable to put a stronger emphasis on the “Inner Space” exploration at present. More to the point, the research of the Earth and its oceans will provide an opportunity for improving the current strategies for addressing the environment and nature related issues. This, however, does not mean that the study of space should be terminated (Lutgens and Tarbuck “Oceans: The Last Frontier” 331).
It is important to realize that the research of the oceans will have a major effect on the well being of the humankind. First and most important, the nature of hurricanes will finally be researched fully, which will provide a perfect opportunity for making more precise forecasts concerning the emergence of cyclones, typhoon, etc. In other words, the changes in the weather on the earth may possibly become more predictable.
Another crucial opportunity, which the research of the ocean will offer, concerns the analysis of the changes that have occurred to the ocean inhabitants. There is no need to stress the fact that industrial activities affect the ocean life forms negatively; the extent, to which industries harm the life forms inhabiting the ocean is yet to be defined. Moreover, the chances, as well as strategies, to regenerate the ocean life forms, will be evaluated rather precisely after a thorough study of the ocean (Lutgens and Tarbuck “The Restless Ocean” 348).
Though both the study of the outer space and the research of the processes that take place on Earth, particularly, in the ocean, are crucial for facilitating the safety of the humankind, in terms of urgency and significance, the study of the Earth and its oceans is of much greater significance at present. While the study of the outer space must not be ceased, the emphasis should clearly be put on the exploration of the ocean (Lutgens and Tarbuck “The Restless Ocean” 350).
Works Cited
Lutgens, Frederick K. and Edward J.Tarbuck. “Oceans: The Last Frontier.” Foundations of Earth Science. 7th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. 2014. 311– 338. Print.
—. “The Restless Ocean.” Foundations of Earth Science. 7th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. 2014. 339 – 372. Print.