Which process includes determining depths, beach gradients, and underwater conditions?

The process that includes determining depths, beach gradients, and underwater conditions is oceanography. Oceanography is the study of the physical, chemical, and biological aspects of the ocean. It encompasses various aspects of the ocean, including the mapping of the ocean floor, understanding tidal patterns, and investigating marine environments. By analyzing depths and gradients, oceanographers can gather important information about coastal and underwater ecosystems, which is crucial for navigation, environmental monitoring, and resource management.

Other related fields may touch upon aspects of these topics, but they do not focus on the comprehensive study of the ocean itself. For instance, geodesy primarily deals with the measurement and representation of the Earth’s shape, orientation in space, and gravitational field, but does not specifically cover underwater conditions or beach gradients. Hydrology is concerned with water in the environment, focusing primarily on surface and groundwater rather than marine environments. Cartography involves the creation and study of maps, which may include oceanic features, but does not specifically analyze conditions beneath the water's surface.