Coral reef scuba

History of Oceanography

  • Mar 3, 600

    Phoenecians and Early Exploration

    Phoenecians and Early Exploration
    Phoenicians explored the entire Mediterranean Sea and sailed into the Atlantic Cornwall, England, and probably circumnavigated Africa. They navigated by familiar coastal landmarks and by the stars. The Phoenecians used the polar star and a tool of navigation. They also recorded wind and currents which they guarded heavily because it was valuable information.
    Extended Information.
  • Period: Mar 3, 600 to

    Growth of Oceanography and Exploration

  • Mar 3, 673

    English Monk Bede

    English Monk Bede
    The English onk Bede published 'De Temporum Ratione', in which he discussed the lunar control of the tides and recognized monthly tidal variations and the effect of wind drag on tidal height.
  • Mar 3, 1452

    Leonardo Da Vinci

    Leonardo Da Vinci
    Leonardo Da Vinci observed, recored, and interpreted details about currents and waves and noted that fossils in the mountains of Italy implied that the level of the sea had been higher in the ancient past. This was extremely important to oceanography. Leonardo implied that the sea level had been higher but actually, the mountains were formed from land that had previously been located underwater.
  • Mar 3, 1569

    Geradus Mercator

    Geradus Mercator
    Geraduc Mercator constructed a map projection of the world that was adapted to navigational charts. Geraduc was great Renessance Cartographer. His useful craftsmanship helpeed progress new discoveries.
  • Captain James Cook

    Captain James Cook
    Captain James Cook commanded three major ocean voyages, gathering extensive data on the geography, biota, currents, tides, and water temperatures of all of the principal oceans. James's achievment in mapping changed the perspective on the world geography.
  • USS Albatross

    USS Albatross
    The USS Albatross was designed and constructed specifically to conducy scientific research at sea and undertook numerous oceanographic cruises.
  • Woods Hole, MA Marine Biology Lab

    Woods Hole, MA Marine Biology Lab
    The Marine Biological Laboratory was established at Woods Hole, Massachusetts, and Dr. Charles Otis Whitman as its first director. Woods Hole currently holds ALVIN, which is soon to be recycled. ALVIN was the first underwater submarine ship to venture into the Mariana Trench. This was a great scientific discovery it shed light on what life was like in the deep sea. ALVIN 2,0 is currently being created which is bigger and can travel deeper into the deep sea.
  • Continental Drift

    Continental Drift
    The German meteorologist Alfred Wegner proposed his theory of continental drift.
  • USS Nautilus

    USS Nautilus
    The nuclear subarine USS Nautilus, commanded by C.D.R. Anderson, reached the North Pole under the ice. Besides this discovery, the submarine was used for numerous battle purposes.
  • USNSF

    USNSF
    The U.S National Science Foundation organized the Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) to core through the sediments and rocks of the oceans. This effort was reorganized in 1975 as the international Program of Ocean Drilling, which continues to be active in all of the world's oceans today.
  • GEOSECS

    GEOSECS
    The Geochemical Ocean Sections Study was organized to obtain accurate biochemical measurements of seawater chemistry in an effort to explain the nature of ocean circulation and mixing and the biogeochemical recycling of chemical substances.
  • GLOBEC

    GLOBEC
    Joint launching of Jason-1 Satellite by NASA and the French Space Agency to improve forecasting of currents and climate. Implementation of GLOBEC (Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamics), in international research program designed by oceanographers, marine ecologists, and fishery scientists.
  • Charles Wyville Thompson

    Charles Wyville Thompson
    Charles Wyville Thompson, abroad the HMS Lightning and the HMS Porcupine, made the first series of deep-sea temperature measurements and collected ample life from great depths, disproving Forbe's azoic zone. Charles studied and specialized in the deep-sea. In this life, he made discovies of life known and unknown creatures.
  • NASA

    NASA
    NASA launched the TOPEX/Poseidon satellite to monitor sea level and to keep track of changes in current patterns as climate fluctuates.
  • Leif Ericson, The original setteler or NA

    Leif Ericson, The original setteler or NA
    Leif Ericson is the son of Eric the Red,who completed the firsts transatlantic crossing and discovered the Arctic Region of North America. Leif progressed his fathers discovery by establishing North American Settlement of Vinland aka Newfoundland.