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150
The Greek Ptolemy 150 A.D.
A map was complied a map of the entire Roman World that showed latitudes and longitudes. Latitude was measured from the equator, but Ptolemy preferred to show it as the length of the longest day rather than degrees of arc. He put the meridian of 0 longitude at the most western land he knew -
276
Greek Eratosthenes 276 B.C. - 192 B.C.
How they determined circumfrance The Greek Eratosthenes (scholar at Alexandria) determined the circumference of the Earth, with great accuracy using trignometry and the specific angleof sunlight that occurred in Alexandria and in Egypt. -
Feb 28, 1452
Leonardo da Vinci's findings 1452-1519
Leonardo da Vinci observed, recorded and interpreted details about ocean currents and waves. He noted that fossils on the mountians of Itay meant that the sea level had been higher in the past. From his Notebooks that are filled with observations he made about mountains and rivers, and they reveal that he understood the principle of sedimentation, rocks could be formed by the deposition of sediments by water, and rivers erode rocks and carry their sediments to the sea in a cycle -
Feb 28, 1492
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus rediscovered North America by sailing to the islands of the West Indies. Columbus benefited from calm seas and steady winds that pushed him steadily westward. Columbus believed that the world was a sphere, and that by sailing due west along the latitude of the Canary Islands he could reach India and China after a short voyage. -
Feb 28, 1519
Ferdinand Magellan; Sebastian del Cano 1519-1522
Ferdinand Magellan embarks on a circumnavigation of the globe, Sebastian del Cano completes the voyage. Magellan's expedition in 1519–1522 was the first expedition to sail from the Atlantic Ocean into the Pacific Ocean and was the first expedition that completed circumnavigation of the Earth. Magellan was killed during the voyage and Sebastian del Cano completed the voyage. -
Benjamin Franklin 1769-1770
Benjamin Franklin published the first ocean chart of the Gulf Stream, which shippers consulted extensively as the crossed the North Atlantic Ocean. Franklin heard complaints that westward mail from Europe to America took weeks longer than the east-bound ships from America. He learned that by, measurement of the water's temperature and the speed of bubble on the surface he was able to chart the 'Gulf Stream' It took many years for Britian to take his adivce on how to navigate the Gulf Stream. -
Captian James Cook 1768-1771, 1772-1775, 1778-1779
Captian James Cook commanded three major ocean voyages, gathering extensive data on the geogrpahy, geology, currents, tides and water tempratures of all the principal oceans. On his first voyage he arrived in Tahiti and continued on to sail along the length of Australia's eastern coast, which had never before been seen by Europeans. On his third voyage Cook wanted to find the North-West Passage that was believed to connect the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, unable to do so Cook explored Hawaii. -
Charles Darwin 1831-1836
The journey of Charles Darwin on the HMS Beagle led to the theory of evolution by natural selection. On his first stop, he found that a white band high in the volcanic rock cliffs included seashells.Darwin made a major find of fossil bones of extinct mammals beside modern seashells, indicating recent extinction with no signs of change in climate or catastrophe. Darwin observed similarites and differences in finches and tortises on two different islands. -
Charles Wyville Thomson
Charles Wyville Tomson aboard the HMS Lightning and HMS Porcupine made the first series of deep-sea temperature measuremnts and collected life from great depths. This showed that animal life existed down to depths of 650 fathoms, and that deep-sea temperatures are not as constant as had been previousley supposed, and that they vary considerably, and indicate oceanic circulation. -
Marine Biological Laboratory Established
Marine Biological Laboratory was established at Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Dr. Charles Otis Whitman serving as the first director. This is the oldest independent marine laboratory in the Americas. Scientists at the MBL study terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and issues such as resource management and global climate change. -
Continenta Drift 1912
The German meterologist Alfred Wegener proposed his theory of continental drift. This idea came from him noticing that the different large landmasses of the Earth almost fit together like a jigsaw. He analyzed the sides of the Atlantic Ocean for rock type, geological structures and fossils, noticing similarities between sides of the continents. He revealed that shallower oceans were geologically younger. He noticed the same fossiles in different continents as well. -
TOPEX/Poseidon
NASA launched the TOPEX/Poseidon satellite to monitor sea level and keep track of changes in current patterns as climate fluctuates. TOPEX/Poseidon's radar provided the first continuous global coverage of the surface topography of the oceans. The satellite's measurements of the hills and valleys of the sea surface led to a fundamental new understanding of ocean circulation and its effect on climate. -
YOTO
International Year of the Ocean is organized to educated the public about the value and importance of the ocean's resources. The purpose of this is to promote public awareness of the worlds oceans. This is the first time a year has been devoted to the oceans, and an environmental issue. The information and awareness YOTO is aiming to spread is necessary in order to encourage decision-makers to take action to protect and manage the world’s oceans. -
Indian Ocean Expedition 1959-1965
The International Indian Ocean Expedition was established under the United Nations to makes system to investage the oceanography of the Indian Ocean. Many expedition have been sent to research and gather information about different aspects of the Indian Ocean. -
Egyptians develope ships. 4000 B.C.
Ideal transportation
Egyptians developed the arts of ship building and coastal piloting. They had boats but needed something that would with stand storms. Used for trade and transportation of goods
