All worksheets / Oceanography
Edition 2026Active Merit Badge
Oceanography
Official Requirements & Fillable Workbook · 2026 Edition
Oceanography studies the 70 percent of Earth covered by seawater — its chemistry, currents, seafloor geology, and marine life. You will explore wave mechanics, underwater topography, and how oceans drive global weather. Requirement 8 asks you to conduct real experiments with seawater salinity and density or visit an oceanographic research vessel.
Key Requirements Covered:
- Ocean Floor Bathymetry & Plate Tectonics
- Seawater Chemistry, Salinity & Currents
- Marine Biology & Coral Reef Ecosystems
- Oceanographic Research Tools & Conservation
5Printable Pages
9Requirements
2026Reqs Revised
What is on the worksheet: Oceanography Requirements
Every requirement for the Oceanography merit badge, word for word as published, with room to write under each one on the printed worksheet.
1Name four branches of oceanography
Name four branches of oceanography. Describe at least five reasons why it is important for people to learn about the oceans.
2Salinity, Temperature, and Density
Explain the following terms: salinity, temperature, and density. Describe how these important properties of seawater are measured by an oceanographer. Discuss the circulation and currents of the ocean. Describe the effects of the oceans on weather and climate.
3Waves, Swell, Surf, and Rip Currents
Describe the characteristics of ocean waves and do the following:
- a Point out the differences among the storm surge, tsunami, tidal wave, and tidal bore.
- b Explain the difference between sea, swell, and surf.
- c Explain how breakers are formed.
- d Explain what a rip current is, how to avoid them, and what to do if you are caught in one.
4Underwater Topography
Draw a cross-section of underwater topography. Name and put on your drawing the following: seamount, guyot, rift valley, canyon, trench, and oceanic ridge. Compare the depths in the oceans with the heights of mountains on land. Show what is meant by:
- a Continental shelf
- b Continental slope
- c Abyssal plain
5Salts, Gases, and Nutrients in Seawater
List the main salts, gases, and nutrients in seawater. Describe some important properties of water. Tell how the animals and plants of the ocean affect the chemical composition of seawater. Explain how differences in evaporation and precipitation affect the salt content of the oceans.
6Benthos, Nekton, and Plankton
Describe some of the biologically important properties of seawater. Define benthos, nekton, and plankton. Name some of the plants and animals that make up each of these groups. Describe the place and importance of phytoplankton in the oceanic food chain.
7Option Selection
Do ONE of the following:
- a Make a plankton net. Tow the net by a dock, wade with it, hold it in a current, or tow it from a rowboat. Do this for about 20 minutes. Save the sample. Examine it under a microscope or high-power glass. Identify the three most common types of plankton in the sample.Note: May be done in lakes or streams.
- b Make a series of models (clay or plaster and wood) of a volcanic island. Show the growth of an atoll from a fringing reef through a barrier reef. Describe the Darwinian theory of coral reef formation.
- c Measure the water temperature at the surface, midwater, and bottom of a body of water four times daily for five consecutive days. You may measure depth with a rock tied to a line. Make a Secchi disk to measure turbidity (how much suspended sedimentation is in the water). Measure the air temperature. Note the cloud cover and roughness of the water. Show your findings (air and water temperature, turbidity) on a graph. Tell how the water temperature changes with air temperature.
- d Make a model showing the inshore sediment movement by littoral currents, tidal movement, and wave action. Include such formations as high and low waterlines, low-tide terrace, berm, and coastal cliffs. Show how offshore bars are built up and torn down.
- e Make a wave generator. Show reflection and refraction of waves. Show how groins, jetties, and breakwaters affect these patterns.
- f With your counselor's and parent or guardian's approval and permission, track and monitor satellite images available on the internet for a specific location for three weeks. Describe what you have learned to your counselor.
8Option Selection
Do ONE of the following:
- a Write a 500-word report on a book about oceanography approved by your counselor.
- b Visit one of the following and write a 500-word report about your visit.
- c Explain to your troop, in a five-minute prepared speech, "Why Oceanography Is Important" or describe "Career Opportunities in Oceanography." (Before making your speech, show your speech outline to your counselor for approval.)
9How Marine Scientists Study the Ocean
Describe four methods that marine scientists use to investigate the ocean, underlying geology, and organisms living in the water.
Two dates, two different things
Requirements Revision vs. Worksheet Date
Scouting America last revised the Oceanography requirements in 2026. That is the badge, not this sheet — an older year does not mean the worksheet is out of date.
Verbatim Fidelity & Verification
This worksheet was checked against https://www.scouting.org/merit-badges/oceanography/ in Aug 2026 and reproduces the requirements word for word. Both dates are printed on the sheet, so a copy in a binder can always be placed in time.
Requirement text is © Scouting America, reproduced verbatim. The worksheet layout and design are original to this project.
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