Age of the ocean basin 200 my old

Age of the ocean basin: 200 my old Millions of Years Before Present

It formally began in the 1800’s. Previously, it was thought that the deep ocean had no life below 550 m (Edward Forbes- Azoic Theory).

Prior to then: 1500 B. C. , Phoenicians were skilled sailors and traded goods

Migration Routes of Polynesia

An early stick chart from Micronesia shows the waves and currents around the islands which are represented by shells.

Voyage of Columbus (1492) and Magellan (1519)

Cook (1700’s)- sailed twice around the world 1 st European to visit Hawaii Cook

Humboldt (1800’s)- German naturalist, contributions in geophysics, meteorology, and oceanography

Voyage of the HMS Beagle Darwin (1831): • Subsidence theory of coral reef formation (atolls) & origin of species

Ben Franklin (1770’s)- mapped the Gulf Stream 1996 1786

Voyage of the HMS Challenger (1872 -1876) • collected thousands of biological and sea bottom samples • traveled in every ocean except arctic • cruise directed by Charles Wyville Thompson • 362 stations, 715 new genera, 5000 new species • discovered Mariana Trench and Mindarniad (34, 000 ft deep)

Voyage of the HMS Challenger (1872 -1876) Deep sea Collections HMS Challenger's Chemical Laboratory

Late 19 th century – early 20 th century: • Founding a number of important marine laboratories, including coastal labs and open ocean labs. 1888 Founded 1930 Founded 1903

Recent: Meteor Expedition (1925)- introduced modern optical and electronic equipment (echo sounder)

Glomar Challenger (1968)- drilling for deep sea sediments

Rachel Louise Carson (1907 -1964) Marine biologist at U. S. Bureau of Fisheries & Fish & Wildlife Service

Jacque Cousteau (1910 -1997) Navy officer, explorer, film maker, inventor of scuba (1947) "From birth, man carries the weight of gravity on his shoulders. He is bolted to the earth. But man has only to sink beneath the surface and he is free. ”

Bob Ballard (1942 -) Navy officer, explorer, film maker