Week 1- History of Oceanography

Question 1

What is oceanography?

Answer 1

The interdisciplinary study of the physical and biological properties and phenomena of the ocean

Question 2

How much of the earth’s surface is covered by water?

Answer 2

71%

Question 3

How much of earth’s water is contained in the ocean (and is salt)

Answer 3

97% (not drinkable)

Question 4

What is the ocean?

Answer 4

Vast body of saline water occupying depressions on the Earth’s surface

Question 5

Where is the ocean shallowest?

Answer 5

Middle due to plate techtonics

Question 6

The five main oceans

Answer 6

Arctic
Atlantic
Pacific
Southern
Indian

Question 7

Concept of one world ocean

Answer 7

The ocean is one single entity

Question 8

How deep is the deepest part of the ocean and what is it called?

Answer 8

11km
Challenger deep located in the Mariana Trench

Question 9

What is the largest geographic feature on earth?

Answer 9

Pacific ocean basin

Question 10

Who has been to the challenger deep?

Answer 10

Victor Vescovo on the Five Deeps Expedition in 2019
-discovered at least 4 new species

Question 11

What drove ancient civilizations to explore, study and travel the ocean?

Answer 11

• Food (access, nutritional advantage)
• Economic advantage
• Politics/power
• Money

Question 12

When did early exploration start?

Answer 12

2000 BC around the mediterranean
Travelled into the atlantic, red sea and indian ocean

Question 13

Who started early exploration?

Answer 13

Phoenicians
Ancient Greeks

Question 14

What and when was the Library of Alexandria?

Answer 14

3rd century BC (egypt)
- repository of scientific knowledge
- beginning of marine science
- flourishing of cartography

Question 15

Three points about the vikings

Answer 15

1. Had fast, stable, strong ships
2. Reached iceland and greenland
3. Settled in Vinland and established a settlement called L’Anse aux Meadows

Question 16

Chinese explorations key points

Answer 16

1. Led by Admiral Zheng He
2. There were 7 voyages from 1405 to 1433
3. They explored the Indian Ocean, Indonesia and to Africa
4. Their fleet was greater than 417 ships
5. Led to technological advancement (compass, central rudder)

Question 17

What were the years of the age of discovery?

Answer 17

1400w to 1600s

Question 18

Who were the primary voyagers?

Answer 18

French, English, Spanish, Portuguese and Dutch

Question 19

Henry the Navigator main roles

Answer 19

Started European ocean-going era of exploration (1400)
Sponsored voyages and the development of the caravel

Question 20

Christopher Columbus main roles

Answer 20

3 voyages
1492 thought they reached the East Indies

Question 21

John Cabot main roles

Answer 21

Reached North America in 1497 (some believed he was first but vikings were there before him)

Question 22

Ferdinand Magellan

Answer 22

First circumnavigation (1519-1522)
(sail around the world in one sail)

Question 23

Captain James Cook main roles

Answer 23

(1728-1779)
British royal navy
Famous cartographer (map maker)
Drew maps of the pacific
His maps were used in WWII
Helped establish and maintain the British presence
Killed on a voyage in Hawaii

Question 24

Capt. James Cook first voyage

Answer 24

• Transit of Venus (from Tahiti) - mapped in this in across the sun
• Had a ‘secret’ mission to find southern land (Terra Australis Incognita) *he failed

Question 25

Who was Tupaia?

Answer 25

A polynesian navigator

Question 26

Tupaia and Cook's first voyage

Answer 26

Helped Cook navigate his was from Tahiti to Aotearoa (New Zealand) Tupaia's interactions with the Maori made it possible for Cook to reach Australia

Question 27

Capt. James Cook second voyage

Answer 27

Continued search for Terra Australis Still believed that a large land mass could be found

Question 28

Was Cook the first to discover Antarctica?

Answer 28

Oral history says Maori may have been first but not sure

Question 29

Polynesians and the Pacific - Where ? - Common traits?

Answer 29

Polynesian triangle (Pacific ocean) Common traits in language, customs and society Excellent way finders

Question 29

Capt. James Cook third voyage goal

Answer 29

Return Omai to his homeland (young man from Raiatea) which was a cover for his plan to discover the Northwest passage *Jan 18, 1778 was killed in Hawaii

Question 29

Non-instrumental methods of way finding

Answer 29

- Position of sun and stars - Natural cues such as waves, currents, wildlife behaviour - info passed on by oral tradition (master to apprentice)

Question 30

What was the challenger expedition and when was it?

Answer 30

First true scientific expedition 4 year voyage from Dec 1872 to May 1876 *First use of the term oceanography

Question 31

Where did the challenger expedition travel?

Answer 31

Left London to North America and made a detour in Halifax in 1873

Question 32

What did the challenger expedition discover?

Answer 32

The Challenger Deep!!

Question 33

Scientific goals of the challenger expedition

Answer 33

1. Investigate the physical conditions of the deep sea 2. determine the chemical composition of seawater at various depths 3. Establish and chart the nature of marine sediments and determine their provenance 4. Study the distribution and abundance of organisms at diff depth and determine their origins

Question 34

What was a misbelief of the challenger expedition explorers?

Answer 34

That life was not possible below 549m

Question 35

What did the Challenger expedition discover? (2)

Answer 35

- 4700 new species - salinity, temp and water density measurements - data on ocean currents, meteorology, sediment distribution - coral reef locations

Question 36

Matthew Fontaine Maury main roles

Answer 36

(1806-1873) Pathfinder of the sea Father of oceanography 1st to use word oceanography 1st oceanography text

Question 37

What did Matthew Fontaine Maury do?

Answer 37

- collect data on winds, currents, water temp, biology - developed charts that showed the fastest shipping lanes

Question 38

Why was Matthew Fontaine Maury bad?

Answer 38

Believed in slavery Fast shipping lanes for slavery

Question 39

Marie Tharp main roles

Answer 39

(1920-2006) - Created the first scientific map of the ocean floor - Contributed to continental drift

Question 40

What did Marie Tharp prove/discover?

Answer 40

The existence of mid ocean ridges and rift valleys (proof of plate techtonics) in 1952

Question 41

WHO IS CHRISTAS FAV GEOLOGIST?

Answer 41

Marie Tharp