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414 BCE
414 B.C.
The Greek historian Thucydides writes about diving used in warfare in his narration of the siege of Syracuse. His writings tell of Greek divers who submerge to remove underwater obstacles from the harbor in order to ensure the safety of their ships. (Military) -
900
900 A.D.
The Vikings begin to explore and colonize Iceland, Greenland, and Newfoundland. They are among the first to use the North Star to determine their latitude. (Navigation) -
1888
The French Navy launches the Gymnote. It is the first electrically powered and fully functional military submarine. The steel-hulled craft is powered by a 204-cell battery. It completes over 2,000 successful dives before being scrapped for its limited range. (Military) -
1903
he Scripps Institute for Biological Research is founded. It is the first major institution in the United States to concentrate on marine studies, and the first of many such institutions that will foster a growth spurt of new knowledge in the twentieth century. (scientific research) -
1912
On April 15, 1912, The White Star Liner Titanic sinks after striking an iceberg in the North Atlantic Ocean. Over 1500 passengers lose their lives during one of the worst peacetime maritime disasters in history. This tragedy leads to a concerted effort to devise an acoustic means of discovering objects in the water ahead of a moving vessel. (navigation) -
1950
Large-scale government funding for ocean science increases greatly after World War II. (Military) -
1957
Russia develops Sputnik, the first manmade satellite. It leads to a technological race between Russia and America. As a result, funding for American science increases greatly. Among others, the Office of Naval Research (ONR) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) contribute significantly to oceanographic research. (Scientific Research) -
1968
The Deep Sea Drilling Program, a cooperative project involving universities and other research institutions, begins to sample the earth's crust beneath the sea. The drill ship Glomar Challenger is used for the sampling. (Navigation) -
1970
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is established. This U.S. Government agency is responsible for all U.S. weather and climate forecasting, monitoring and archiving of ocean and atmospheric data, management of marine fisheries and mammals, mapping and charting of all U.S. waters, coastal zone management, and research and development in all of these areas. (Scientific Research) -
2000
The National Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP) creates Ocean US in 2000, dedicated to developing an integrated ocean observing system (IOOS) within the next decade. It will allow for improved weather forecasting via ocean data, and, among other things, the restoration and preservation of marine ecosystems. (Scientific Research)