History of History of OceanographyOceanographyBrian SchusterBrian Schuster

PolynesiansPolynesians colonized islands in the colonized islands in the

Pacific Ocean (Hawaii, Pacific Ocean (Hawaii, Tahiti, Easter Islands, Tahiti, Easter Islands, etc.)etc.)

navigated with starsnavigated with stars sailed in large canoessailed in large canoes made “stick charts” made “stick charts”

from bamboo and wood from bamboo and wood to diagram islandsto diagram islands

Mediterranean SeaMediterranean Sea first maps were made of this seafirst maps were made of this sea several civilizations navigated hereseveral civilizations navigated here Greeks were the first to sail out of sea into ocean; Greeks were the first to sail out of sea into ocean;

they observed currentsthey observed currents Eratosthenes determined Earth’s circumference to Eratosthenes determined Earth’s circumference to

be 25,000 milesbe 25,000 miles Phoenicians greatly improved navigationPhoenicians greatly improved navigation Phoenicians circumnavigated Africa in 590 BCPhoenicians circumnavigated Africa in 590 BC

Age of Discovery Age of Discovery (1500s-(1500s-1800s)1800s)

stimulated by the lust for resources and better stimulated by the lust for resources and better trade routestrade routes

1513 Balboa finds the Pacific Ocean1513 Balboa finds the Pacific Ocean 15191519 Victoria Victoria, led by Portuguese Ferdinand , led by Portuguese Ferdinand

Magellan, circumnavigates the world; 3 of 5 ships Magellan, circumnavigates the world; 3 of 5 ships are lost on voyage; Magellan is killed in are lost on voyage; Magellan is killed in Philippines, then del Cano takes overPhilippines, then del Cano takes over

1768 English James Cook charts Australia region 1768 English James Cook charts Australia region aboard aboard EndeavorEndeavor; prevents scurvy by getting ; prevents scurvy by getting sailors enough Vitamin Csailors enough Vitamin C

1772 Cook charts islands of Pacific with 1772 Cook charts islands of Pacific with ResolutionResolution and and Adventure; Adventure; killed by natives of Hawaiikilled by natives of Hawaii

Age of Discovery Age of Discovery (1500s-(1500s-1800s)1800s)

1728 John Harrison make a marine 1728 John Harrison make a marine chronometer, which allowed chronometer, which allowed navigators to determine longitude navigators to determine longitude on shipson ships

1769 Ben Franklin and Tim Folger 1769 Ben Franklin and Tim Folger map the Gulf Streammap the Gulf Stream

1842 Matthew Fontaine Maury 1842 Matthew Fontaine Maury (“Father of Oceanography”) (“Father of Oceanography”) systematically collects wind and systematically collects wind and current data; charts North Atlanticcurrent data; charts North Atlantic

1831 Charles Darwin sails aboard 1831 Charles Darwin sails aboard HMS BeagleHMS Beagle as the naturalist; as the naturalist; accurately describes atoll formationaccurately describes atoll formation

HMS ChallengerHMS Challenger (1872-(1872-1876)1876)

first true oceanographic research expeditionfirst true oceanographic research expedition renovated a British corvette, a small warshiprenovated a British corvette, a small warship led by Charles Wyville Thomson and his assistant, led by Charles Wyville Thomson and his assistant,

John MurrayJohn Murray discovered Mariana Trench; deepest spot was discovered Mariana Trench; deepest spot was

later given the name Challenger Deeplater given the name Challenger Deep discovered mid-ocean ridge and collected water discovered mid-ocean ridge and collected water

datadata

Oceanography PioneersOceanography Pioneers

Victor Hensen (1800s): plankton studiesVictor Hensen (1800s): plankton studies Alexander Agassiz (1800s): studied corals Alexander Agassiz (1800s): studied corals

aboard the aboard the AlbatrossAlbatross Fridjtof Nansen (1800s): drifted in ice with the Fridjtof Nansen (1800s): drifted in ice with the

FramFram near the North Pole near the North Pole Walfrid Ekman (1900s): Scandinavian who Walfrid Ekman (1900s): Scandinavian who

studied physical oceanographystudied physical oceanography 1909 Robert Peary reaches North Pole1909 Robert Peary reaches North Pole 1911 Roald Amundsen reaches South Pole1911 Roald Amundsen reaches South Pole

Further Exploration Further Exploration (1900s+)(1900s+)

Ocean Drilling Program: collected data about sea Ocean Drilling Program: collected data about sea floor; started with floor; started with Glomar ChallengerGlomar Challenger (1968), then (1968), then JOIDES ResolutionJOIDES Resolution and and ChikyuChikyu (“Planet Earth”) (“Planet Earth”)

MeteorMeteor: German ship; studied South Atlantic : German ship; studied South Atlantic currentscurrents

FLIP (Floating Instrument Platform): sits still in the FLIP (Floating Instrument Platform): sits still in the waterwater

FAMOUS (French-American Mid-Ocean Undersea FAMOUS (French-American Mid-Ocean Undersea Study, 1974): studied Mid-Atlantic RidgeStudy, 1974): studied Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Further Exploration Further Exploration (continued)(continued)

Trieste: bathyscaphe that still holds the Trieste: bathyscaphe that still holds the deepest dive to 11000 m in Challenger Deep; deepest dive to 11000 m in Challenger Deep; designed by Auguste Piccarddesigned by Auguste Piccard

SCUBA (self-contained underwater breathing SCUBA (self-contained underwater breathing apparatus, 1943): initially developed by apparatus, 1943): initially developed by Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Emile GagnonJacques-Yves Cousteau and Emile Gagnon

SEASAT (1978): short-lived satellite; pioneer in SEASAT (1978): short-lived satellite; pioneer in oceanography remote sensingoceanography remote sensing

TOPEX/Poseidon (1992-2006): satellite that TOPEX/Poseidon (1992-2006): satellite that measured sea surface height to reveal info measured sea surface height to reveal info about circulation; successful missionabout circulation; successful mission

Modern Submersibles of Modern Submersibles of TodayToday

Alvin (max: 4000m): manned DSV; Alvin (max: 4000m): manned DSV; discovered hydrothermal vents, recovered discovered hydrothermal vents, recovered missing bombmissing bomb

Sea Cliff II (max: 6000m): went deeper Sea Cliff II (max: 6000m): went deeper than Alvinthan Alvin

Jason/Medea: pair of ROVs attached to Jason/Medea: pair of ROVs attached to each othereach other