Imgres

Oceanographic Exploration Timeline

By nzgazzola
  • 432

    First Transatlantic Crossing

    First Transatlantic Crossing
    Eric the Red, a Norseman, completed the first ever transatlantic crossing in which he discovered the Baffin Island in the Arctic region of Canada.
  • Feb 28, 1492

    "Discovery" of America

    "Discovery" of America
    Although it had already been found by natives. Christopher Columbus is credited with rediscovering North America by sailing to the West Indies.
  • Period: Feb 28, 1519 to Feb 28, 1522

    Circumnavigation of the Globe

    Ferdinand Magellan embarked on a journey to sail around the world. Although he started the trip and is given credit for it, he was eaten by cannibals and the voyage was completed by Sebastian del Cano.
  • Feb 28, 1569

    Map Projection of World

    Map Projection of World
    Gerardus Mercator, a renowned cartographer, created a map projection of the world that was soon used and adapted to navigational charts for voyages.

  • Observations and Experiments on the Saltiness of the Sea

    Observations and Experiments on the Saltiness of the Sea
    Robert Boyle, a 17th century Irish Chemist, Philospher, Physician, Inventor and Theological Writer, made observations regarding the salinity of the ocean and how it was correlated to pressure with depth and temperature. It was published in his report "Observations and Experiments on the Saltiness of the Sea".

  • Chart of Gulf Stream

    Chart of Gulf Stream
    Benjamin Franklin, a reknowned scientist, published the first ever ocean chart of the Gulf Stream, which was consistently used to cross the North Atlantic Ocean.

  • Coastal Charting of the United States

    Coastal Charting of the United States
    President Thomas Jefferson required coastal charting of all of the United States, as well as established the US Coast and Geodetic Survey.

  • Renaissance chart of California

    Renaissance chart of California
    The Renaissance chart of California was created by Captain James Cook, a British explorer, navigator and cartographer.

  • First Submarine Valley

    First Submarine Valley
    In 1857 James Alden, an Admiral in the United States Navy, discovered the first submarine valley (long deep indent in ocean's floor) in California.

  • HMS Lightning Discovery

    HMS Lightning Discovery
    The HMS Lightning discovered sea life at approximated 14,400 feet below the surface. This was found using a dredging system. Up until this discovery, it was believed that nothing survived at such great depths.

  • U.S. Fish Commission

    U.S. Fish Commission
    The U.S. Fish Commission was established with a modern laboratory at Woods Hole, Massachusetts. It still plays a central role in oceanographic research to this day.

  • Marine Biological Laboratory

    Marine Biological Laboratory
    Following the US Fish Commission, the Marine Biological Laboratory was established in Woods Hole Massachusetts for intensive oceanographic research. Dr. Charles Otis Whitman served as its first director.

  • Scripps Institution of Biological Research

    Scripps Institution of Biological Research
    The Scripps Institution of Biological Research was founded in La Jolla, California. It later became the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Much similar to in Woods Hole, Scripps is still used to this day.

  • First Acoustic Exploration of Sea

    First Acoustic Exploration of Sea
    Reginal Fessendan used an electrical oscillator to explore the ocean by bouncing echoes off of sea floor and ice bergs. The oscillator was used as a communications device for years to come.

  • Save the Whales!

    Save the Whales!
    The International Whaling Commission was organized to collect data on whale species and also to enforce regulations on the whaling industry.

  • Discovery of Magnetic Striping

    Discovery of Magnetic Striping
    Large amounts of magnetic striping was found among the ocean floor by dragging a magnetometer across it.

  • Trip to the North Pole

    Trip to the North Pole
    The nuclear submarine USS Nautilus, commanded by C.D.R. Andersen, reached the North Pole under the ice.

  • IDOE

    IDOE
    The United Nations created the International Decade of Ocean Exploration in a massive effort to improve our scientific knowledge of every aspect of the oceans.

  • TOPEX/Poseidon Launch

    TOPEX/Poseidon Launch
    NASA launched the TOPEX/Poseidon satellite in an attempt to monitor sea levels and to keep track of changes in the current patterns with regards to climate fluctuations.

  • Salinity of Oceans

    Salinity of Oceans
    Renowned London physician, Alexander Marcet, made the discovery that the proportion of the chemical ingredients in seawater is a constant throughout all oceans.

  • North American settlement of Vinland Founded

    North American settlement of Vinland Founded
    Leif Ericson, the son of Eric the Red, created a North American settlement called Vinland. It is now Newfoundland.