Questions about Oceanography
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What was the Challenger expedition and why is it important in the history of oceanography?
The Challenger expedition, which ran from 1872 to 1876, is considered the founding event of modern scientific oceanography. The British vessel traveled nearly 70,000 nautical miles, took 492 deep-sea soundings, and discovered around 4,700 new species of marine life. Sir John Murray, who supervised publication of the expedition's report, described it as the greatest advance in knowledge of the planet since the discoveries of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.
Who was the first person to scientifically study the Gulf Stream?
Benjamin Franklin made the first scientific study of the Gulf Stream and gave it its name. He measured water temperatures during several Atlantic crossings and correctly explained the current's cause. Franklin and Timothy Folger published the first map of the Gulf Stream in 1769-1770.
What is ocean acidification and how does it affect marine life?
Ocean acidification is the decrease in ocean pH caused by anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions. About 30-40% of added atmospheric CO2 is absorbed by the oceans, lowering pH from a preindustrial level of about 8.2 to below 8.1, with projections reaching 7.7 by 2100. Marine organisms with calcium carbonate shells and skeletons, including oysters, clams, sea urchins, and corals, are particularly vulnerable.
What was the first purpose-built oceanographic ship?
The first purpose-built oceanographic ship was Albatros, built in 1882. Before that, vessels such as HMS Challenger were leased from navies and modified for scientific work.
Who was Easter Ellen Cupp and what was her contribution to oceanography?
Easter Ellen Cupp was the first woman to earn a PhD in oceanography in the United States, receiving her degree at Scripps. In 1934 she completed a major taxonomy of diatoms that remained the standard reference in the field well past her death in 1999. Despite this, she was dismissed from Scripps in 1940 and spent the remainder of her career teaching high school.
What role did the Portuguese play in the early history of oceanography?
Portuguese navigators conducted what is considered the earliest systematic scientific study of ocean currents and winds, mapping the Atlantic over many decades beginning in the 15th century. Pedro Nunes, appointed by royal decree to instruct pilots from 1527, documented that Portuguese voyages relied on instruments, astronomy, and geometry rather than chance. Their accumulated oceanographic knowledge directly influenced the 1494 Treaty of Tordesillas, which moved a major line of maritime demarcation 270 leagues westward.