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Early sailors cared little about the sea floor unless it was too shallow. “H.M.S. Challenger” voyage of 1872 – nce/bjewell/ocean/hhocean/final/chall.htmhttp:// nce/bjewell/ocean/hhocean/final/chall.htm

How Low Can You Go? – Beebe’s “Bathysphere” In the 1930s, William Beebe and Otis Barton descended more than half a mile in this steel ball. In the 1930s, William Beebe and Otis Barton descended more than half a mile in this steel ball. Copyright: National Geographic Society

SONAR In the 1920s, a new technique— SONAR-- was developed. In the 1920s, a new technique— SONAR-- was developed. Sound Navigation and Ranging Sound Navigation and Ranging

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

In the 1960s, Cousteau developed habitats so “aquanauts” could stay underwater for weeks. His 1964 film “World Without Sun” won an Academy Award.

Piccard’s “Trieste” By 1960, Swiss inventor Auguste Piccard, with support from the U.S. Navy, developed the bathyscaphe “Trieste.” By 1960, Swiss inventor Auguste Piccard, with support from the U.S. Navy, developed the bathyscaphe “Trieste.” “underwater balloon” Piccard and Lt. Donald Walsh to the bottom of the Mariannas Trench.

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

Drilling through the Crust Following up on the success of the “Trieste” in reaching the bottom of the ocean, the next challenge became finding a way to try to drill through the crust into the mantle. Following up on the success of the “Trieste” in reaching the bottom of the ocean, the next challenge became finding a way to try to drill through the crust into the mantle. “Project Mohole” was initiated in the early 1960s to accomplish this. “Project Mohole” was initiated in the early 1960s to accomplish this.

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

FLIP The Research Platform FLIP is a 355 foot long manned spar buoy designed as a stable research platform for oceanographic research. The Research Platform FLIP is a 355 foot long manned spar buoy designed as a stable research platform for oceanographic research. This ship has been used for over 50 years to gather important data. This ship has been used for over 50 years to gather important data.

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FLIP in Action

Corer

Corer Long tubes (pvc or metal) Drilled into seafloor by winch Used to recover sediment samples Can go up to 6.5 meters

Dredge Drag chain “bags” Drag chain “bags” Obtain samples from hard surfaces Obtain samples from hard surfaces

Nansen Bottle Collect water samples Collect water samples Designed to open and close at certain depth Designed to open and close at certain depth

Conductivity, Temperature and Depth (CTD) Sensors

Package of sensors to test: conductivity, temperature, and depth Package of sensors to test: conductivity, temperature, and depth Remotely operated Remotely operated Works at different depths Works at different depths

RAFOS Floats

Booyant, drifting, instruments Booyant, drifting, instruments Can sink and remain to certain depth (300-4,000m) Can sink and remain to certain depth (300-4,000m) Remain in place for up to 2 years Remain in place for up to 2 years

The Secchi Disk Measures turbidity (clarity of water) Measures turbidity (clarity of water)

Trawl Net

Plankton Net Both designed to drag and pick up organisms in the water column Both designed to drag and pick up organisms in the water column