Historical Oceanography Chapter 1

Marine Science (Oceanography) the process of discovering unifying principles in data obtained from the ocean, its life-forms, and the bordering lands the process of discovering unifying principles in data obtained from the ocean, its life-forms, and the bordering lands draws on several disciplines draws on several disciplines marine geologists, physical oceanographers, marine biologists, chemical oceanographers, and marine engineers marine geologists, physical oceanographers, marine biologists, chemical oceanographers, and marine engineers

Oceanography and Exploration driven by: driven by: – war – trade – colonization – curiosity limited by: limited by: – science – technology

Lapita People first to undertake long ocean voyages settled islands of Pacific – – (New Ireland, Figi, Tonga, Samoa) 5,000 to 4,000 B.C. early stick chart to the left shows waves and currents around islands (shells) from Micronesia

What ocean did the Lapita people travel?

Phoenicians Mediterranean region Mediterranean region first to take journeys to trade first to take journeys to trade may have gone as far as the Indian Ocean may have gone as far as the Indian Ocean later, power shifted to Greeks (Great Britain and Ireland) and Romans (British Isles) later, power shifted to Greeks (Great Britain and Ireland) and Romans (British Isles)

What was the purpose of the Phoenicians travel of the ocean?

Scientific Discoveries of the Greeks and Romans Herodotus—450 B.C. map that shows Mediterranean and 3 continents Herodotus—450 B.C. map that shows Mediterranean and 3 continents Pytheas—latitude and longitude (using northern horizon and North Star) Pytheas—latitude and longitude (using northern horizon and North Star)

Scientific Discoveries of Greeks and Romans Eratosthenes—almost accurately predicted Earth’s circumference (40,032km vs 40,000km) Eratosthenes—almost accurately predicted Earth’s circumference (40,032km vs 40,000km)

Scientific Discoveries of Greeks and Romans Strabo—recognized that volcanic activity causes land to rise and sink, thereby causing the sea to invade and recede Strabo—recognized that volcanic activity causes land to rise and sink, thereby causing the sea to invade and recede Ptolemy—map with latitude and longitude lines Ptolemy—map with latitude and longitude lines

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The Middle Ages After the fall of the Roman empire, the knowledge gained was either suppressed (by religious teachings) or lost (ex. Cosmas drew a map of the Earth as a flat rectangle) After the fall of the Roman empire, the knowledge gained was either suppressed (by religious teachings) or lost (ex. Cosmas drew a map of the Earth as a flat rectangle) Vikings—conquered Iceland, Eric the Red discovered Greenland, Leif Eriksson made landfall in North America and called it Vinland (late 900’s) Vikings—conquered Iceland, Eric the Red discovered Greenland, Leif Eriksson made landfall in North America and called it Vinland (late 900’s)

Chinese Exploration—Ming Dynasty Larger, more advanced ships (5 masts, compasses, and charts) Larger, more advanced ships (5 masts, compasses, and charts) Diplomatic missions Diplomatic missions Traveled as far as Africa Traveled as far as Africa

European Exploration and the Renaissance Emerging from the Dark Ages… Emerging from the Dark Ages… Bartholomew Diaz—southern tip of Africa 1488 Bartholomew Diaz—southern tip of Africa 1488 Vasco da Gama—sailed around Africa to India (new trade route) Vasco da Gama—sailed around Africa to India (new trade route) Christopher Columbus—San Salvador (Bahamas) in 1492 Christopher Columbus—San Salvador (Bahamas) in 1492 Ferdinand Magellan—first voyage to circumnavigated the globe Ferdinand Magellan—first voyage to circumnavigated the globe John Cabot—landed on Northeast coast of North America in 1497 John Cabot—landed on Northeast coast of North America in 1497

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Beginnings of Ocean Science Captain James Cook made three voyages and made accurate maps with the chronometer (timepiece invented by John Harrison) and took samples Captain James Cook made three voyages and made accurate maps with the chronometer (timepiece invented by John Harrison) and took samples

Beginnings of Ocean Science Benjamin Franklin’s nephew drew a map of the Gulf Stream which Franklin printed and distributed in 1777 (shortened voyages) Benjamin Franklin’s nephew drew a map of the Gulf Stream which Franklin printed and distributed in 1777 (shortened voyages)

Beginnings of Ocean Science Father of Oceanography—Matthew Fontaine Maury, U.S. Naval Officer, late 18 th century Father of Oceanography—Matthew Fontaine Maury, U.S. Naval Officer, late 18 th century standard methods for marine data collecting and recording standard methods for marine data collecting and recording first oceanography text first oceanography text

Beginnings of Ocean Science Mid 19 th century: Mid 19 th century: Charles Darwin (coral reefs, evolutionary theory), Sir John Ross, Sir James Clark Ross, and Edward Forbes(life in the deep vs. life at the surface) all studied marine life Charles Darwin (coral reefs, evolutionary theory), Sir John Ross, Sir James Clark Ross, and Edward Forbes(life in the deep vs. life at the surface) all studied marine life H.M.S. Challenger—full scale expedition to gather data about marine life and water analysis, record water depth taken at Marianas Trench 11,022 meters (36,163 ft) deep H.M.S. Challenger—full scale expedition to gather data about marine life and water analysis, record water depth taken at Marianas Trench 11,022 meters (36,163 ft) deep

Beginnings of Ocean Science Alexander Agassiz—pioneered oceanography in the United States Alexander Agassiz—pioneered oceanography in the United States Victor Hensen—coined the term plankton (found that more was found in colder waters) Victor Hensen—coined the term plankton (found that more was found in colder waters) Fridtjof Nansen—Norwegian ship Fram, thought ship would drift in ice to North Pole, missed, but proved no continent existed in the Artic Sea Fridtjof Nansen—Norwegian ship Fram, thought ship would drift in ice to North Pole, missed, but proved no continent existed in the Artic Sea

Oceanography in the 20 th Century 1925—Meteor—sampling stations, depth recorders (ocean floor configuration) 1925—Meteor—sampling stations, depth recorders (ocean floor configuration) Institutions—Scripps Institution of Oceanography first in U.S. Institutions—Scripps Institution of Oceanography first in U.S. WWI—U-boat led to echo sounder WWI—U-boat led to echo sounder After WWII—Sea Grant program After WWII—Sea Grant program Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP)

Oceanography in the 20 th Century Theory of Continental Drift by Alfred Wegener in 1915 Theory of Continental Drift by Alfred Wegener in 1915 Seafloor Spreading by Harry Hess in 1960 Seafloor Spreading by Harry Hess in 1960

Oceanography in the 20 th Century Humans and Submersibles: Humans and Submersibles: Bathysphere Bathysphere Jacques Cousteau—SCUBA (1943) Jacques Cousteau—SCUBA (1943) Untethered vessel Untethered vessel Alvin Alvin Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) Remote sensing—oceanographic satellites Remote sensing—oceanographic satellites

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Scuba Doos for the low cost of $17,000!!!!

Aquarius is an underwater ocean laboratory located in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The laboratory is deployed three and half miles offshore, at a depth of 60 feet, next to spectacular coral reefs. Scientists live in Aquarius during ten-day missions using saturation diving to study and explore our coastal ocean. Aquarius is owned by NOAA and is operated by the National Undersea Research Center at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

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