-
276
Eratosthenes
276-192 BC: First determined the world's circumference by looking down a well on the summer solstice. -
325
Pytheas Sails Northward
Sailed north from Greece to Iceland to find a method for determining latitudes and to prove that tides were a product of lunar influences. -
Jan 4, 1400
Prince Henry
established a marine observatory to improve the Portuguese sailing expeditions and conquered one of the greatest trade problems, getting around the tip of Africa. -
Jan 4, 1486
Bartholomeu Diaz
Rounded the Cape of Good Hope. -
Jan 4, 1513
Ferdinand Magellan
Circumnavigated the globe through a passage way at 52° S latitude now called the Straights of Magellan. -
James Cook
published his findings in the royal Society’s
Philosophical transactions for 1767 which gained him
notoriety and several more voyages charting New
Zealand, East coast of Australia, southern India
Ocean. South Pacific, rediscovered Easter Island and
many others along the way. -
Benjamin Franklin
Discovered surface currents and published the first map of the Gulf Stream. -
Hawaiian Group
Cook discovered the Hawaiian group and determined the outline of the worlds largest ocean. -
Matthew Maury
Established uniform methods of making nautical and meteorological observations at sea. -
Challenger Expedition
Between 1872 and 1876; It was the first expedition organized specifically to gather data on a wide range of ocean features, including ocean temperatures seawater chemistry, currents, marine life, and the geology of the seafloor. -
Bathysphere
Developed by William Beebe and Otis Barton. They recorded every animal that passed before their portholes, including fish and invertebrates never before seen. -
SONAR
Underwater sound detection technology that detects other vessels or communicate with them. Stands for Sound Navigation and Ranging. -
Ptolemy
Most influential of Greek astronomers and geographers of his time. Created the geocentric theory. -
Eric the Red
Sailed west from Greenland and discovered Baffin Island. -
Leif Ericson
discovered what was
then called Vineland and spent the winter in an area
of North America we call Newfoundland.
