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Marine Research and Oceanography:
H.M.S. Challenger circles the globe conducting research for the Royal Society of London, laying the groundwork for modern oceanography. -
First Oceanographic Research Vessel
The U.S. Fisheries Commission steamer Albatross begins operations as the first ship built to serve as an oceanographic research vessel. -
The Sonar discovery
Lewis Nixon invented the very first Sonar type listening device in 1906 as a way of detecting icebergs. Interest in Sonar increased during World War I when there was a need to be able to detect submarines -
First Acoustic Exploration of the Seas
Reginald Fessenden uses an oscillator to bounce a signal simultaneously off an iceberg and the seafloor, the first acoustic exploration of the seas. -
Discovery of Magnetic Striping on Ocean Floor:
The U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey ship Pioneer, in a joint project with the U.S. Navy and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, tows the first marine magnetometer and finds magnetic striping on the seafloor off the West Coast. The discovery adds a key element to the theory of plate tectonics. When magnetic stripping was discovered, more evidence was discovered that helped to support the theory that the continents had moved around. -
Development of the Deep Tow System:
The Scripps Institution of Oceanography begins development of the Deep Tow System, the forerunner of all remotely operated unmanned oceanographic systems. -
Submersible Deep Dives
The Deep Submergence Vehicle Alvin is constructed by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. Alvin was the first U.S.-based deep-diving submersible, and has now made over 4,400 descents and led to numerous ocean floor discoveries. -
Robert Ballard's Discovery of Hydrothermal Vents:
Hydrothermal vents are discovered, along with an ecosystem that survives without the energy of the sun, by a team led by Robert Ballard. These ecosystems rely on biota absorbing chemical energy from the venting materials in a process called chemosynthesis. They help regulate ocean chemistry and circulation. They also provide a laboratory in which scientists can study changes to the ocean and how life on Earth could have begun. -
Creating Sea Surface Maps
TOPEX/Poseidon satellite begins mapping the surface of the sea. Topex/Poseidon spent 13-plus years in orbit improving understanding of ocean circulation and its impact on global climate. -
Creating Seafloor Maps
Declassification of GEOSAT radar altimetry data from a U.S. Navy Earth observation satellite leads to the worldwide mapping of the seafloor. They are helpful to prospectors scouting for oil, gas, and mineral resources.
