Early voyages of the polynesians, vikings, greeks and chinese
Each of the different ancient civilizations had different motives for traveling and exploring the seas. The Polynesians were quickly overcrowding the islands and areas that they had already occupied, which made resources scarce. They traveled afar to discover new islands, as far away as Hawaii, so that they could have greater resources and space. The Vikings accidentally discovered North America from being blown way off course in violent storms. The Greeks were the first Europeans to become sea explorers, looking to expand their empire. The Chinese, under Zheng He, traveled afar in vast fleets, simply to give away treasure to attain the friendship of other countries from afar.
Record keeping and cartography
There is a great importance to record keeping and cartography in sea fairing civilizations. It allows other members of that civilization to both study the findings and discoveries of explorers, and for other peoples to travel back to newly discovered lands. If maps were never kept of far off lands, consistently finding them would be extremely difficult for people who have never been there before, or even for accidental discoverers.
Prince henry, magellan and columbus
Three explorers in particular have made incredible contributions to marine science. Prince Henry established a center at Sagres specifically for the study of marine science and navigation. Magellan was the first to circumnavigate the globe. Columbus accidentally "discovered" the new world while seeking western passage to India.
captain james cook
Captain Cook was sent on 3 specific voyages, charting and making maps of the areas he traveled as he went. The first voyage was to observe the movement and orbit of the planet Venus. The second voyage was a quest to look for the fabled continent of Antarctica, which he was never able to reach. The third voyage he taveled up the middle of the Pacific Ocean, and in such he had "discovered" Hawaii.
United States Exploring Expedition
Lead by Charles Wilkes (left), the US felt that it was being left behind in marine science, and so founded the USEE expeditions. The main objective of the expeditions were to find new marine animals and to chart unknown waters. While it was rather successful, Wilkes' not-so-agreeable personality did not help the foundations funding.
the challenger
The challenger was a British ship, who's specific goal was to expand on marine science. It was the first sailing expedition exclusively for marine science, observing many plants and animals of the sea. It's findings were so fast, that the information it recovered were published in 50 volumes of books, some of which are still used today. The expedition, however, would turn out to be a one time voyage.
land-based oceanographic institutions
The first land-based laboratory was in Naples, Italy. William Ritter wanted an oceanographic institution for the US, and with the help of EW Scripps and Browning Scripps, made the 1st institution in San Diego. Later, in Cape Cod on the other side of the States, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution was founded, which had immense growth during WWII.
disciplines of marine science
There are many different disciplines of marine science, covering wide aspects of the different studies undertaken in the ocean. They range from four different and specific aspects of marine science: biological oceanography, chemical oceanography, geographical oceanography, and physical oceanography. Disciplines within these areas range from biogeochemistry, biogeography, coastal geography, environmental science, geophysics, glaciology, hydrography, hydrology, limnology to meteorology. Each of these different branches of marine science focus on very specific and individual aspects of the oceans, from it's geographical layout, to the life that lives within it, to it's currents and physical properties.
marine science definitions
voyaging
Traveling on the ocean for a specific purpose. This relates to marine science in that in order to carry out studies of the oceans, you need to actually venture out into the ocean.
cartography
The practice of map or chart making. This is important to marine science because in order to go from place to place via the ocean, you need a map to see where the place is in order to get there.
chart
Graphic representations of water and water related information. This relates to marine science in that the charts are directly representing data of the ocean.
celestial navigation
The technique of finding one's position on Earth by reference to the apparent position of the heavenly bodies. This is important to marine science because in the olden days of oceanic exploration, it allowed people to find their way amongst the oceans.
latitude
Lines drawn (on a map) parallel to the equator. This allows the easy mapping of the world and the oceans.
longitude
Lines drawn (on a map) from pole to pole. This allows for the easy mapping of the world and the oceans.
compass
An instrument that points to magnetic North. This allows people on boats at sea to find their direction.
chronometer
John Harrison's timekeeping invention (1728). This helps sea farers to find their way at sea.
soundings
Depth measurements of the ocean. This allows for ships to know where it is okay to travel and where it is too shallow.
echo sounder
A device that bounces sound waves off of the ocean bottom. This allows for the mapping of the geographical bottom of the ocean.
satellite oceanography
The use of satellites to study the ocean in remote locations or the oceans surface. This allows marine scientists to gather vast amounts of data remotely.
oceanographic institution
A place specifically devoted to the study of the ocean. This is where marine science is conducted.
gps
A device using satellites in orbit to determine position on Earth. This helps marine scientists to find their way at sea, and keep track of important locations.
Dark ages
The concept of a period of intellectual darkness and economic regression that supposedly occurred in Europe following the collapse of the Western Roman Empire. This was a period of great oceanographic exploration.
renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that profoundly affected European intellectual life in the early modern period. This was a period of great discovery, much over the oceans.
glomar challenger
A deep sea research and scientific drilling vessel for oceanography and marine geology studies. It was a boat specifically designed to study the oceans.