Early sailors cared little about the Early sailors cared little about the sea floor unless it was too shallow.sea floor unless it was too shallow.

The first attempt to The first attempt to study and map study and map the deep ocean the deep ocean was made by was made by “H.M.S. “H.M.S. Challenger” in its Challenger” in its pioneering pioneering circumnavigation circumnavigation voyage of 1872 – voyage of 1872 – 76.76.

•http://www.wshs.fcps.k12.va.us/academic/science/bjewell/ocean/hhocean/final/chall.htm

The HMS Challenger, like all vessels up till then, determined

depth to the sea floors by dropping a weighted line. Their measurements at least permitted the first rough understanding of

the topography of the ocean bottoms.

How Low Can You Go? – How Low Can You Go? – Beebe’s “Bathysphere”Beebe’s “Bathysphere”

In the 1930s, In the 1930s, William Beebe and William Beebe and

Otis Barton Otis Barton descended more descended more

than half a mile in than half a mile in this steel ball. It is this steel ball. It is now on display at now on display at the Aquarium for the Aquarium for

Wildlife Wildlife Conservation in Conservation in Coney Island.Coney Island.

Copyright: National Geographic Society

SONARSONAR In the 1920s, a new technique—In the 1920s, a new technique—

SONAR-- was developed.SONAR-- was developed. SoSound und NaNavigation and vigation and RRanging anging

provided a rapid method of looking provided a rapid method of looking through water to identify features in through water to identify features in the water beneath a vessel and on the water beneath a vessel and on the sea floor.the sea floor.

The next slide represents how a ship The next slide represents how a ship can send down a signal and detect can send down a signal and detect the echo.the echo.

Also in the 1940s, Also in the 1940s, Jacques-Yves Cousteau Jacques-Yves Cousteau and colleagues in the and colleagues in the French Navy invented French Navy invented SCUBA (Self-Contained SCUBA (Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Underwater Breathing

Apparatus.) This Apparatus.) This allowed people to allowed people to

explore and study the explore and study the shallow floors more shallow floors more

efficiently.efficiently.http://www.cousteausociety.org/people.htm

In the 1960s, In the 1960s, Cousteau Cousteau

developed habitats developed habitats so “aquanauts” so “aquanauts”

could stay could stay underwater for underwater for

weeks. His 1964 weeks. His 1964 film “World Without film “World Without

Sun” won an Sun” won an Academy Award.Academy Award.

http://www.usni.org/hrp/SEALAB%20II%20on%20deckndate.htmhttp://www.usni.org/hrp/SEALAB%20II%20on%20deckndate.htm

Piccard’s “Trieste”Piccard’s “Trieste”

By 1960, Swiss inventor Auguste By 1960, Swiss inventor Auguste Piccard, with support from the U.S. Piccard, with support from the U.S. Navy, developed the bathyscaphe Navy, developed the bathyscaphe “Trieste.” This “underwater balloon” “Trieste.” This “underwater balloon” took Jacques Piccard and Lt. Donald took Jacques Piccard and Lt. Donald Walsh to the bottom of the Walsh to the bottom of the Mariannas Trench. They proved that Mariannas Trench. They proved that life can exist even in the greatest life can exist even in the greatest depths of the oceans.depths of the oceans.

Now, small Now, small maneuverable maneuverable research research submersibles, such submersibles, such as the “ALVIN” as the “ALVIN” operated by Woods operated by Woods Hole Oceanographic Hole Oceanographic Institution, provide Institution, provide access to deep-sea access to deep-sea features not features not otherwise accessible.otherwise accessible.

http://www.comptons.com/encyclopedia/CAPThttp://www.comptons.com/encyclopedia/CAPTIONS/18005895_P.htmlIONS/18005895_P.html

Drilling through the CrustDrilling through the Crust

Following up on the success of Following up on the success of the “Trieste” in reaching the the “Trieste” in reaching the bottom of the ocean, the next bottom of the ocean, the next challenge became finding a way challenge became finding a way to try to drill through the crust to try to drill through the crust into the mantle. into the mantle.

“ “Project Mohole” was initiated Project Mohole” was initiated in the early 1960s to accomplish in the early 1960s to accomplish this. this.

The Glomar Challenger was built as the The Glomar Challenger was built as the world’s first deep-sea drilling ship to world’s first deep-sea drilling ship to test the promise of Project Mohole.test the promise of Project Mohole.

http://pubs.usgs.gov/publications/text/glomar.htmlhttp://pubs.usgs.gov/publications/text/glomar.html

FLIPFLIP The Research Platform FLIP is a The Research Platform FLIP is a

355 foot long manned spar buoy 355 foot long manned spar buoy designed as a stable research designed as a stable research platform for oceanographic platform for oceanographic research.research.

This ship has been used for over This ship has been used for over 50 years to gather important 50 years to gather important data.data.

FLIP in ActionFLIP in Action

CorerCorer

The Giant Gravity Core uses The Giant Gravity Core uses inexpensive PVC pipe as its inexpensive PVC pipe as its

barrel/sample liner and has been barrel/sample liner and has been used to recover cores up to 6.5 used to recover cores up to 6.5

meters in length. Normally operated meters in length. Normally operated from a hydrographic winch, this from a hydrographic winch, this

gravity core can travel through the gravity core can travel through the water column at speeds up to 125 water column at speeds up to 125

meters a minute. meters a minute.

CorerCorer

DredgeDredge

Dredging Dredging equipment equipment includes chain includes chain bag dredges of bag dredges of various sizes and various sizes and configurations. configurations. Just the thing to Just the thing to get samples get samples from hard from hard bottom areas.bottom areas.

Nansen BottleNansen Bottle

The Norwegian The Norwegian explorer and scientist explorer and scientist Fridtjof Nansen (1861-Fridtjof Nansen (1861-

1930) invented a 1930) invented a water-sampling bottle. water-sampling bottle.

The Nansen Bottle, The Nansen Bottle, which is named in his which is named in his

honor, is still used honor, is still used today. It is used to today. It is used to

collect water samples collect water samples from different depths from different depths in the water column.in the water column.

Conductivity, Temperature Conductivity, Temperature and Depth (CTD) Sensorsand Depth (CTD) Sensors

A CTD is a package of sensors A CTD is a package of sensors that record conductivity, that record conductivity, temperature, and depth temperature, and depth

information. A remotely operated information. A remotely operated device allows the water bottles to device allows the water bottles to

be closed selectively as the be closed selectively as the instrument ascends.instrument ascends.

Conductivity, Temperature and Conductivity, Temperature and Depth (CTD) SensorsDepth (CTD) Sensors

RAFOS FloatsRAFOS Floats RAFOS Floats are neutrally buoyant, RAFOS Floats are neutrally buoyant,

free drifting instruments, which are free drifting instruments, which are launched from a ship in the launched from a ship in the

research area. Once deployed the research area. Once deployed the float will settle to a predetermined float will settle to a predetermined

depth (typically from 300-4000 depth (typically from 300-4000 meters) and remain there for up to meters) and remain there for up to

two years. Much sub surface current two years. Much sub surface current information comes from these.information comes from these.

RAFOS FloatsRAFOS Floats

The Secchi DiskThe Secchi Disk This disk is dropped This disk is dropped

into the water to the into the water to the length of the rope. The length of the rope. The rope is then pulled up rope is then pulled up slowly. As soon as the slowly. As soon as the secchi disk is visible to secchi disk is visible to

the naked eye the the naked eye the length of the ropes is length of the ropes is

measured and a measured and a general general

photosynthesis zone is photosynthesis zone is determined.determined.

Trawl NetTrawl Net

Plankton NetPlankton Net

The Zoo Plankton The Zoo Plankton Net is used to Net is used to determine zoo determine zoo

plankton life in the plankton life in the ocean. The net can ocean. The net can

determine the determine the type, how much, type, how much, availability, and availability, and the well-being of the well-being of

the zoo plankton in the zoo plankton in the ocean. the ocean.