History of Oceanography
Early Civilizations
Phoenicians were the first people to establish trade routes and circumnavigate Africa about 600 B.C. Polynesians were the most accomplished sailors between 1500-500 B.C. Early explorers observed natural phenomena to navigate such as: wind and wave patterns, sense of smell, location and pattern of clouds, and sightings of birds.
Middle Ages
Significant improvement in: ship design and building, navigation, and cartography (maps) Vikings are credited with extensive voyages and colonized Iceland from A.D. 700-1300 Arabs improved trade routes through the Indian Ocean Charts still lacked lines of latitude and longitude In the 13th century, magnetic compass directions were added to maps and information was translated to Latin.
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and Centuries Voyages were the result of a desire to increase trade
Bartholomeu Dias and Vasco da Gama discovered the Cape of Good Hope in 1487 Christopher Columbus is credited with being the first European to see the “New World” Amerigo Vespucci sailed to the New World and believed South America was a separate continent in 1507 Vasco Nuñez de Balboa is credited with first sighting the Pacific Ocean in 1513
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Ferdinand Magellan’s ship was the first to circumnavigate the globe in 1522. He was killed in the Philippines in 1521. Henry Hudson sailed the northwest passage and Hudson Bay. Sir Francis Drake sailed the “Golden Hind” to circumnavigate the globe from 1577-1580 and returned with Spanish gold
Hydrography
James Cook created the early extensive maps during his voyages of the Pacific Ocean. He included: ocean depth, prevailing winds, surface currents, and water temperature Ben Franklin charted the Gulf Stream in 1769 Matthew Maury, “Father of Modern Oceanography” published a book entitled “The Physical Geography of the Sea”. His knowledge reduced travel times by as much as a month
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Century exploration
Charles Darwin was a Naturalist Sailed on the HMS Beagle from 1831-1836 He collected a variety of marine organisms Edward Forbes, one of the leading marine biologist of that time, believed the oceans could be divided vertically into zones. He suggested no life existed below 1800 feet
Challenger Expedition
Voyage lasted from 1872-1876, 3 ½ years Ocean depth measurements were taken at 361 locations Maximum depth of 26, 850 feet deep in the Mariana trench was recorded Water samples analyzed for temperature and chemistry It was shown that relative abundance of major component ions of seawater remains constant 4,417 new species of marine of new organisms were discovered Deep currents were investigated It took 20 years to catalogue the collected data
Fridtjof Nansen-Norwegian scientist
Designed a ship, the Fram, that could be frozen into the ice during winter months so that it would drift with the ice pack under the influence of surface circulation The Fram was frozen into ice for 35 months form 1893-1896 Measurements of the following were taken: depth, weather conditions, water conditions, water temperature and chemistry, and plankton Nansen bottle instrument used to collect deep water samples, is still used today
Oceanographic Technology
Tide predicting machine Echo Sounder/Sonar How explosives act in sea water Accurate charting of coastlines Propagation of sound in water Hydroelectricity Submersibles Satellite Deep sea drilling
History of Oceanography-Quiz review
Mathching Christopher Columbus Capt. James Cook Jacques Cousteau Sir Francis Drake Vasco da Gama Henry Hudson Ponce de Leon Magellan Amerigo Vespucci Vikings
Biological Chemical Geological Physical Oceanography
Fill In the Blank
Vikings crossed N. Atlantic during middle ages Phoenicians and Polynesians gathered early info. About the oceans Balboa first to sight Pacific ocean Darwin sailed aboard the Beagle as a naturalist Nansen’s ship was called the Fram Forbes developed theory of zonation in oceans Voyages of discovery occurred during 15th and 16th centuries Portalanos were harbor finding charts used during middle ages Cook created first extensive maps of the Pacific Challenger expedition traveled over 68,000 miles
True/False captain was C.W. Thompson Challenger expedition’s
Polynesians used shells and sticks for navigation Drake’s expedition was not a biological cruise Fram was built with pointed keel to survive in ice Magellan was killed before circumnavigation was complete Franklin charted Gulf Stream to aid mail delivery Ocean research increased during WW II It took 20 years to analyze data after Challenger expedition Phoenicians began exploration of the oceans Northwest passage was shortcut from Europe to Asia
Short Answer Questions
List 2 reasons Challenger expedition was important. List 2 ways Vikings increased our knowledge about the oceans. List 2 reasons scientific study of the oceans increased during WW II. List 3 examples of current research topics in Oceanography today. Describe Edward Forbes’ theory. What natural means did early sailors use for guidance during long ocean voyages? (3)