The study of the Earth’s oceans and its boundaries is called oceanography. The oceans, which overs over 70 percent of the surface of the world, are interconnected. Humans rely on the oceans for food, as a source of weather and their climates. The oceans are also the pathways which ships of trade travel. They have been the source of theories for centuries.
Until the H.M.S. Challenger went off to explore the oceans in 1872, the theories could neither be confirmed or laid to rest. After the success of the Challenger, scientific study of the oceans took off. Along with these studies came a variety of equipment to be used.
Nets
One of the basic tools used to study the ocean is nets. One net can be used to collect ocean life, such as plants and animals. If it is small enough, it can be used to gather material from the surface, or if a scientist would need several nets at the same time, there are frames that can manipulate them while laboratories on the ship can study information that they gather. Nets can also be used to determine the depth and temperature within a column of water in the ocean.
Computers
Computers, with many different instruments on them, are used by oceanographers when the water pressure is high. The computers stay buoyant enough so they do not disturb the sea floor and so that the instruments within it stay safe and protected. When the computers settle, they are often directed to place a probe into the sediment at the bottom of the ocean, in such a way that the water will not degrade the probe. This computer can stay at the bottom of the sea long after the ship has returned to the shore, only to be gathered up after a period of time. There are systems called “fish,” which are hooked up to a computer on board the ship. These fish continuously send data, like depth, temperature, salinity, turbidity, oxygen, carbon dioxide, heavy metals and pollutants in an area, on a single dive.
Robots
Robots are also used to help study the ocean. These robots are placed in the ocean, attached to the ship by a tether. It can then explore, photograph, or collect samples for a longer period of time than man would be able to remain undersea. In the laboratory on board ship, the scientists can study the information that is obtained through computer.
Disposable instruments
In the early days of oceanography, bathythermographs were used to find the temperatures and the depth of water, down to 980 feet. As time progressed, disposable instruments have been created for this purpose. Some of these include thermistors and pressure sensors which transmit their information to moving ships.
Meters
Different meters can be used for different purposed when studying the ocean. There are meters that are constructed to study the speed and temperature of water at different depths. There are other meters that are used to discover the height, length and direction of waves.
Submersibles and habitats
By using scuba gear, scientists are able to personally explore the ocean more directly. When the diver needs to investigate in an area that is highly pressurized, they can use an underwater craft built for this purpose. This type of tools has been used to explore hydrothermal vents or for transporting material to the ship.
Habitats have also been built to provide oceanographers an atmosphere where they can live while studying the environment. One such device, Aquarius, was built for depths of 120 feet. It was placed, in 1987, off the coast from St. Croix. In 1993 it was relocated to the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
As oceanography continues to progress so will the advancement of the tools that are used to study the seas.
