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Platforms: VesselsThe waters covering our planet are vast, extending over 70 percent of its surface. Beyond the Coastlines of Earth's major continents, however, the ocean remains virtually unexplored, due in part to the sheer size of the ocean and the potentially deadly conditions that await ocean travelers.

Vessels are arguably the most critical element in any ocean-going venture. Once a ship leaves the safety of its dock, it is an island unto itself on the open seas, its crew at the mercy of the waves. Any ship, from a 15-foot sailboat to a 1,500-foot tanker, must carry all of the food, water, fuel, and equipment that its crew will need to live safely for the duration of the journey.

In the case of research vessels, such as those highlighted here, the ships must also be equipped with special tools and technology that allow scientists to explore ocean environments. Research vessels are highly advanced mobile research stations, providing stable platforms from which explorers can deploy equipment, divers, and submersibles. In addition, these vessels carry state-of- the-art electronics, computers, and navigational and communications systems.

Platforms: SubmersiblesOver the last few decades, engineers have developed submersible technologies capable of meeting the many challenges that the deep sea imposes upon explorers. Using advanced submersible technologies, remarkable new deep-water ecosystems have been discovered. Many of these communities were believed not to exist in harsh environments devoid of light and under crushing pressure. One such community was found in an area surrounding a hydrothermal vent, where water temperatures reach hundreds of degrees Centigrade and the water is bathed in caustic sulfur. After preliminary studies, which discovered many new species and raised even more questions about these organisms, researchers declared these communities to be as complex as many found on land.

As much as we may learn about our planet's underwater habitats through the use of satellites, shipboard sensors and divers, these technologies scratch only the surface of the oceans. Submersibles alone enable us to explore the abyssal depths. This section of the site highlights some of the major advancements in submersible technology. These submersibles allow us to travel deeper and with a greater degree of freedom than ever before, so that we can observe, describe and ultimately explain the phenomena of life in the deep ocean realm.

Observing Systems and SensorsThe exploration of any ecosystem requires detailed study and observation. Even on land exploration can be a challenge. In the ocean, however, the obstacles are even greater. The ocean is the most complex, challenging, and harsh environment on Earth and accessing it requires specially designed tools and technology. It has only been within the last 50 years that technology has advanced to the point that we can examine the ocean in a systematic, scientific, and noninvasive way.

Our ability to observe the ocean environment and its resident creatures has finally caught up with our imaginations.

Certain tools, such as sondes, CTDs, and drifters, provide specific information about the ocean environment. Other instruments, such as satellites, provide generalized data from which a wide range of observations can be made. The information gathered from the instruments deployed in the oceans and the sky will help us answer many fundamental questions about our world.

If we are truly fortunate, we will also gain a better understanding of ourselves and the role we play in the complex web of life on Earth.

Communication TechnologiesTechnologies that allow scientists to collaborate and transmit data more quickly and to a greater number of users are changing the way that we explore. From telepresence to shipboard computers, these technologies are increasing the pace, efficiency, and scope of ocean exploration.

When depths are not too great or conditions are not too unsafe, divers can descend into the water to explore the ocean realm firsthand. However, we are creatures evolved to live on land. Unaided by technology, people are about as helpless underwater as, well, a fish on grass.

It is only through relatively recent advances in technology that exploration via diving has been possible. Even with these advancements, severe restrictions remain on the depth and length of time that divers can spend underwater.

Aquarius Underwater LaboratoryAquarius an undersea laboratory and home for scientists studying the marine environment. Owned by NOAA, the Aquarius program is operated by Florida International University. The underwater habitat currently sits in about 60 feet of water, 4.5 kilometers offshore of Key Largo, Florida. Scuba DivingThe self-contained underwater breathing apparatus or Scuba diving system is the result of technological developments and innovations that began almost 300 years ago. Scuba diving is the most extensively used system for breathing underwater by recreational divers throughout the world and in various forms is also widely used to perform underwater work for military, scientific, and commercial purposes. Technical DivingTechnical diving is a term used to describe all diving methods that exceed the limits imposed on depth and/or immersion time for recreational scuba diving. Technical diving often involves the use of special gas mixtures (other than compressed air) for breathing.
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10y ago
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14y ago

Ships, Vehicles, Instruments, & Observing Systems
Armed and Dexterous

Jun. 11, 2009 - A conversation with WHOI engineer Matt Heintz

Nereus Soars to the Ocean's Deepest Trench
Jun. 4, 2009 - New hybrid deep-sea vehicle descends 6.8 miles in the Challenger Deep
Jason Meets the Carnivorous Sea Squirt
Apr. 3, 2009 - Expedition to the Tasman Fracture finds unknown species
A New Deep-Sea Robot Called Sentry
Mar. 19, 2009 - Autonomous underwater vehicle completes its first scientific mission
Building the Next-Generation Alvin Submersible
Nov. 10, 2008 - Plan offers a roadmap to extend sub's diving capacity to reach 99 percent of the seafloor
'Green' Energy Powers Undersea Glider
Sep. 25, 2008 - Thermal glider uses heat from the ocean to fly through the deep blue
Knorr Skirts Ice to Search for 'Arctic Haze'
Jun. 11, 2008 - WHOI research ship helps track pollutants and their impacts near the Pole
She's Got the Whole Fleet in Her Hands
Jun. 4, 2008 - A conversation with WHOI ship scheduler Liz Caporelli
Can't Bring Deep-sea Samples Up? Send a Lab Down.
May. 9, 2008 - Engineers develop instruments to analyze materials that only exist in the depths
Knorr Shoots the Moon (Pool) to Drill for Coral
Mar. 13, 2008 - Coral cores offer an unprecedented record of the rise and fall of Earth's sea level
The Lo-o-o-ng Corer
Apr. 20, 2007 - The deeper you can sample the seafloor, the further back in time you can go
Two Ships Passing Passengers in the Night
Mar. 20, 2007 - WHOI research vessels Knorr and Tiogarendezvous at sea to evacuate injured mate
Young Pup Teaches Old Undersea Robotic Bloodhound New Tricks
Feb. 21, 2007 - MIT/WHOI graduate student improves the Autonomous Benthic Explorer's ability to hunt for seafloor vents
ABE-The Autonomous Benthic Explorer
Apr. 19, 2006 - WHOI's deep-diving vehicle makes Wiredmagazine's robotic hall of fame
Live From the Tropics, It's an Ocean Network
Apr. 10, 2006 - New underwater observatory monitors marine ecosystem off Panama
Three Ships and a Sub
Dec. 1, 2005 - Keeping up with the research vessels Knorr, Atlantis, Oceanus, and the deep-sea submersible Alvin
'Ever Get Scared in the Sub?' and Other Questions
Aug. 3, 2005 - Interviews with the pilots who take Alvin to the deep
Seafloor Reconnaissance Reveals Hidden Dangers Off Antarctica
Jun. 30, 2005 - Science team discovers potential navigation hazard near research station
Oceanographic Telecommuting
Jun. 21, 2005 - 'Virtual' chief scientist directs a research cruise without leaving land
Sensors to Make Sense of the Sea
Jun. 1, 2005 - An expanding variety of sensors is changing they way we monitor dynamic ocean systems
A Glide Across the Gulf Stream
Mar. 24, 2005 - The remote-controlled Spray glider takes historic steps toward a new era of ocean exploration
For the Navy, the Coast Isn't Clear
Jan. 25, 2005 - Oceanographers mobilize to help the Navy operate effectively in complex, shallow waters
Realizing the Dreams of da Vinci and Verne
Aug. 27, 2004 - A diverse fleet of innovative deep-submergence vehicles heralds a new era of ocean exploration
Unique Vehicles for a Unique Environment
Aug. 23, 2004 - New autonomous robots will pierce an ice-covered ocean and explore the Arctic abyss
A Sea Change in Ocean Drilling
Apr. 1, 2004 - Scientists launch a new drill ship and ambitious research plans

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13y ago

Gravity corers- they collect samples of seafloor sediments; the cores give valuable information on the Earth's recent climatic history.

Submersibles- the deepest oceanic trenches at depths exceeding 7 miles have been visited by these vessels. Most submersibles are equipped with cameras, lights, mechanical arms for collecting samples, and can accommodate specialized instruments for measuring shear strength, inclination of the sediment surface, and temperature of sediments.

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13y ago

sumberians, under water cameras and sattlite radars

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Q: What are the three technologies used to explore the ocean and how is it used?
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