This document summarizes several historical expeditions that contributed to the development of ocean science and marine studies. It discusses early expeditions by Vikings and the Chinese admiral Zheng He in the 15th century. It then outlines the voyages of Captain Cook in the 18th century who made accurate maps of many ocean regions. The document also mentions the United States Exploring Expedition led by Wilkes that explored and charted parts of Antarctica. Charles Darwin's voyage on the HMS Beagle helped establish his theory of evolution by natural selection. The Challenger Expedition in 1872 was the first devoted entirely to marine science and discovered over 4,700 new species. Later, the German Meteor Expeditions introduced echo sounders to study ocean depths

1. Sunirmal Mahato
M.Sc Ist Semester
Ocean Studies And Marine Science

2. INTRODUCTION
 Key words:
Ocean science or Oceanography : Scientific study
of the oceans and ocean floor.
Expedition : A long journey made by a person or a
group of person for a specific purpose.

3. Expeditions and Contributions :
 Vikings Expeditions :
- for adventure and treasure.
• Chinese Expeditions :
- Admiral Zheng He commanded the greatest
fleet with 317 ships and 37000 men undertook 7
missions to explore the Indian Ocean, Indonesia, and
around the tip of Africa into the Atlantic.
- Aim: To display the wealth and power of the
young Ming dynasty.

4.  The Age of Discovery :
 Prince Henry, third son of the royal family of Portugal,
established a study center for marine studies and
navigation at Sagres.
 During his expedition ( in 1451 and 1470), for
navigation , his marines used the compass.
 Voyages of Captain James Cook by HMS
Endeavour :
 Between 1768 and 1779, he undertook 3 voyages and
made the first accurate map of many regions of the
ocean with the aid of marine chronometer (
inventor - John Harrison).
 He mapped the south georgia islands and hawaiian
island.

5.  He pioneered sampling of sub surface temperature,
measuring winds and currents, and collected data
on coral reefs.
 The United States Exploring Expedition:
 Lead by Lt. Charles Wilkes.
 Goal – whale scouting, mineral gathering,
charting and observing.
 Wilkes’s team explored and charted a large sector of
the east Antarctic coast and made observations that
confirmed that the landmass as a continent.

6.  Charles Darwin and HMS Beagle, 1831 :
 The expedition in HMS Beagle helped Darwin to
study about the evolution behaviour, such as he
identified 14 closely related species of finches in
Galapagos Island but the difference is the structure
of their beaks that were suited to their diverse
feeding habitat.
 In the expeditions, he also explained the distinctive
formation of rings of coral reef called Atoll.

7.  The Challenger Expedition 1872:
 The first sailing expedition devoted completely to
marine science.
 Lead by Charles Wyville Thomson and John
Murray, inspired by HMS Beagle expedition.
 Discovered – 4717 new species.
 The scientist took salinity, temperature and water
density measurement and stored 77 samples of sea
water for detailed analysis ashore.
 The German Meteor Expeditions:
 Introduction of Echo Sounder, a device that bounces
sound waves off the ocean bottom , to study the depth
and contour of the sea floor.

8.  IUSS ( Integrated Undersea Surveillance System)
 In 1950s, the U.S. Navy developed IUSS that used
passive under water acoustics and sophisticated
computers to track submarines over oceanic
expansion.
 IUSS and its SOSUS( SOund SUrveillance System)
component consist of a series of ocean bottom
mounted and towed hydrophones.
 Used in the study of underwater earthquakes and
the vocalizations of whales.

9.  Reference
 Oceanography- An Invitation to Marine Science by
Tom Garrison
 Marine Biology by Peter Castro and Michael E. Huber
 Essentials of Oceanography by Trujillo and Thruman

10. Thank you