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