Why do we explore the OCEAN?

We all came from the sea. We are tied to the ocean We all came from the sea. We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea – whether it is to sail or to watch it – we are going back from whence we came. -- John F. Kennedy: 35th President of the United States, Navy veteran, avid sailor

PLANET OCEAN 70% of Earth’s surface is covered in water, yet in name it is ignored The average depth of our ocean is two miles; it supports life at every level Changes in the tropical Pacific can affect snowfall in Seattle, hurricane season in the Atlantic, and more While no one knows for sure, it is likely that most of our planet’s biodiversity exists in the ocean The Gulf Stream moves 10,000 times as much water as the Mississippi River

A Global Map of Human Impacts to Marine Ecosystems

UNCHARTED WATER The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) operates on a budget for ocean exploration that is less than 1% of NASA’s budget We have better maps of Mars than we do of our ocean floor The U.S. controls the surrounding waters out to 200 miles beyond our terrestrial borders, yet most of this exclusive economic zone is unexplored

Support Human Life Ocean currents stabilize Earth’s temperatures, moving heat from the Equator to the Poles The oceans absorb one third of carbon dioxide generated by humans Fish accounts for 20% of animal protein consumed by humans

Modern Civilization The majority of human civilization spread via the oceans 90% of international trade is by ship 50% of the world’s population is coastal

Historical reasons

Historical reasons Gain knowledge about the world Obtain economic benefits Increase political power Spread religious doctrine Advance science and technology Keep pace with other nations

Today, are there other reasons?

Today, are there other reasons? Climate change Energy Human Health Ocean Health Research Technological Innovation Science Education

Climate Change The ocean has a major influence on the Earth’s climate Major decline in sea ice and glaciers

1. Climate Change Earth’s average temperature is warmer than any time since the 1400’s If CO2in atmosphere continues to rise, the resulting climate change poses a potential disaster to humans and the environment Mountain glaciers are melting and polar ice is decreasing

Energy Methane Hydrates are a potential alternative energy source. More Carbon than in Fossil fuels. Protect marine environments in which it is found.

2. Energy Includes non-renewable ( oil and gas) as well as renewable sources In deep , cold water methane gas is trapped inside frozen methane hydrates Methane Hydrates in permafrost and deep sea sediments are potentially significant energy sources

Human Health May find promising sources of new antibiotics, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory drugs.

3. Human Health The ocean is a source of new medicinal compounds Many potentially useful compounds for drugs are present in small amounts in ocean organisms Chemicals produced by marine organisms may be useful in treating human disease

Ocean Health Overfishing, pollution and climate change are adversely affecting the marine ecosystem Changing temperature and pH of habitat

4. Ocean Health Invasive species and over exploitation of large species impact our oceans Changes in pH affect reproduction in some organisms and the formation of shells and skeletal structures through calcification Ocean surface water is becoming more acidic due to increased levels of dissolved CO2

Research Exploring the unexplored will have tangible benefits

5. Research Over the past 30 years we have found more than 600 new species within vent and seep communities We find several new species every time we look somewhere new Exploring the ocean helps focus science into critical areas that can benefit mankind

Technological Innovation Marine environment is hostile

6. Technological Innovation Autonomous underwater vehicles can map the sea floor without being connected to a ship The challenges of working in extreme environments can stimulate technological advances The OKEANOS EXPLORER has telepresence capabilities

Science education Inspire youth Basis for problem solving techniques Improve ocean literacy

7. Science Education Ocean exploration can inspire new generations to seek careers in science and technology The challenges of ocean exploration can serve as the basis for problem-solving instruction Having knowledge of the ocean helps us to understand the critical relationship between the ocean and ourselves

Harmful Human Actions Most fisheries are becoming overfished The weight of garbage that is dumped into the ocean is three times the weight of fish caught As the oceans absorb more carbon dioxide, they are becoming more acidic, threatening corals, shellfish and plankton – the base of the marine food chain Sea level is expected to rise almost a meter this century, harming coastal wetlands and forcing human evacuations from low lying island nations

Early Era Oceans used for transportation/trade/resources PHOENICIANS- 2000 BC- earliest trading routes in the Mediterranean, sailed to Great Britain and Africa VIKINGS- 800-1100 BC- period of global warming, spread Christianity, reached North America (Vinland)

AGE OF DISCOVERY EUROPEAN Explorers seek trade route to EAST Columbus- 1492- reached Bahamas Cabot 1497- mapped NE coast Vespucci- N/S America “New World” Balboa-1513- saw Pacific Ocean Magellan- 1519-circumnavigate Earth Cartier- St Lawrence River, try to go to China Hudson-1607/11-Hudson River/Bay

Age of Scientists Capt Cook- 1768- South Pacific, scurvy, Hawaii; HMS Endeavor Franklin-1706-90- Gulf Stream Current Darwin-1831- Beagle- Galapagos Islands, evolution by natural selection Matthew Maury- 1855- 1st book on oceanography, currents, weather, sea life Charles Wyville Thompson- 1873-76 HMS Challenger- founder of scientific oceanography

Age of Scientists Fridtjof Nansen- 1893-96- FRAM- explored Arctic, Nobel Peace Prize 1922, trapped in ice 3 yrs, proved no land at North Pole METEOR- 1925- used SONAR for the 1st time, revealed ruggedness of sea floor WWII ended civilian era of exploration

Modern Era 1934- William Beebe- Bathysphere 1943- Jacques Cousteau- SCUBA 1950’s Bathyscaphe- Picard’s- TRIESTE- deepest dive to Marianas Trench- Challenger Deep 1960’s Submersibles- ALVIN – Robert Ballard- hydrothermal vents 1979- Dr. Sylvia Earle- deepest solo dive

Modern Era 1985- Dr. Ballard discovers the Titanic 2013- James Cameron repeats deepest dive to bottom of Marianas Trench N.O.A.A. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration