What is Oceanography?

Marine Science

• Or oceanography is the study of the oceans, how they are formed, its associated life forms, the coastal interactions, and the atmosphere.

How can aquatic research affect us?

• What are some ways that you can think of the aquatic research can affect us in everyday life?

• How will these become more important in the future?

S.C.U.B.A.

• Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus.

• Scientists first used SCUBA equipment to map the ocean floors (shallow) and look at aquatic life.

Scientific Advances in Marine Science

Underwater Exploration

Underwater Exploration- Drifters, HOVs, ROVs,

AUVs

• Argo-adjustable oil pack

allows buoy to rise and sink every 10 days. (6500 ft max depth)

             

                         

http://www-hrx.ucsd.edu/www-argo/statusbig.gif

Argo • Continuously measures temperature and

salinity of the upper 2000 m of the ocean (data made publicly available within hours after collection)

• Because over 90% of the observed increase in heat content of the air/land/sea climate system over the past 50 years occurred in the ocean [Levitus et al., 2001]

• It will improve our understanding of the ocean's role in climate

Spray Glider

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Spray

• Adjustable oil packs enable it to sink and rise, with wings that propel it forward 10”/second (max depth 5,000 ft)

• Sensors measure nutrient density, chlorophyll abundance, and current motion

• GPS tracks location

Exploration Vehicle Types

• HOV-human operated vehicles-subs

• ROV-remotely operated vehicles-tethered robots

• AUV-autonomous untethered vehicles- preprogrammed robots

AUV-Autonomous Benthic Explorer (ABE) being deployed

                                                                               

           

ABE - first underwater robotic vehicle of its kind

• ABE is untethered, unmanned and works for long hours at extreme depths.

• ABE can survey bottom environments at depths of 5000 meters with a variety of sensors and tools. ABE carries a full complement of scientific survey equipment including: conductivity and temperature probes, a depth recorder, video cameras, and a magnetometer to measure magnetic fields. Also equipped with sonar for advanced mapping, as well as geological sampling tools

• Weighs approx. 1200 pounds and 2 meters long, with top cruising speed of 2 knots

Alvin-Sub

• Alvin was the first deep-sea submersible capable of carrying passengers, usually a pilot and two observers

• Upgraded Alvin can plunge to a maximum depth of 14,764 ft (21,000 in 2009)

• Scans ocean floor, cameras image surroundings, and manipulator arm collects specimen

              

                   

HOV

• Deepworker

                                         

     

ROV• Remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs) are

unoccupied, highly maneuverable underwater robots operated by a person aboard a surface vessel

• They are linked to the ship by a group of cables that carry electrical signals back and forth between the operator and the vehicle

• Most are equipped with at least a video camera and lights. Additional equipment is commonly added to expand the vehicle’s capabilities. These may include a still camera, a manipulator or cutting arm, water samplers, and instruments that measure water clarity, light penetration, and temperature.

ROV• Kept aboard vessels for safety reasons • In the event that a submersible becomes

entangled it can use cutter blades to the manipulator arm and used to free the sub

• If a sub loses power and cannot surface, the ROV’s manipulator arm can grab onto the sub

Exploring the Titanic

• The ROV JJ was controlled remotely by a pilot inside Alvin through a fiber optic cable

• S2 Phantom ROV can move horizontally, vertically and laterally.

                                 

Hybrid ROV (HROV)-due 2006• Swim free or fiber optic tether to the ship• Ceramic pressure housing allows for 36,000 ft max depth,and

36 hours of seafloor surveys (sonar imaging), temperature and chemical readings, pictures, videos to sampling of rocks/deep-sea animals –all in one!

Measuring Depth

Bathymetry - Mapping & Measuring the Oceans Depth

• How do we know how deep the entire ocean is when we’ve only explored less than 25%??!

• Letting down a weighted line

• Weighing a ball of string with a known weight after letting out a length

Early Depth Measurements

Depth Technology - Today

• Echo Sounding (pinging)• Multibeam Systems • Satellite Altimetry

© 2002 Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc.

Echo sounding is a method of measuring depth using powerful sound pulses. The time it takes for the sound pulse to travel to the sea bed and bounce back is a measure of the depth.

Bathymetry

Multibeam System

© 2002 Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc.

Bathymetry

Multibeamsystems can provide more accurate measurements than echo sounders. Multibeam systems collect data from as many as 121 beams to measure the contours of the ocean floor.

• Side Scan Sonar (sound navigation and ranging)

Satellite Altimetry

Have to wait until tomorrow to find out!!

Formula Depth= Time x 4800

2- 4800 is the speed of sound in salt

water- Divide by 2 for the time to reach

bottom and back