Technological innovation
The Challenger expedition used simple but robust methods to collect observations and samples: geological dredges and biological nets, water sampling bottles and mercury in glass thermometers for the chemistry and physics of seawater. Navigation was by star sights and the depth measured by sounding lead line. Apart from improvements in depth measurement and navigation, methods used by marine scientists barely changed until the late 1960s. Since then the progress has been dramatic.Many technology developments for oceanography in the UK from the 1960s to the late 1980s came from the National Institute of Oceanography at Wormley (later the Institute of Oceanographic Sciences), examples of which can be found via the following links
Acoustic releases
Autosub
Current meter moorings
Data Buoy (DB1)Double Barrelled Capstan/Winch
Geological Long-Range Inclined ASDIC (GLORIA)
Meteorological measuring and recording (Multimet)
Neutrally buoyant floats
Ocean bottom Seismographs
Open Ocean Tide Gauges
Ship-borne Wave Recorder (SBWR)
Towed Ocean Bottom Instrument (TOBI)
The stories of other notable technology developments can be found at
Continuous plankton recorder
Marine seismics at University of Cambridge
Tide Prediction Machines
Sediment corers
Analytical chemistry methods
Latest News
MEDIN Open Meeting - Enhancing the national framework for sharing UK marine data
We are excited to invite you to the next MEDIN Open Meeting entitled “Enhancing the national framework for sharing UK marine data.” on April 26th 2023.
Challenger Expedition Portal
Check out the Challenger Expedition Portal created by SAMS: https://challenger-expedition.sams.ac.uk/
Upscaling of Marine Autonomy: Marine research community consultation
Upscaling of Marine Autonomy: Marine research community consultation
A recommendation of the landmark Net Zero Oceanographic Capability (NZOC) report was that "NERC should expect to double the size of the autonomous fleet it supports every five years." In response, the NOCA and the Challenger Society for Marine Science have formed the joint Upscaling Autonomy Working Group (UAWG). The UAWG is running a series of information webinars, followed by a consultation, on the future shape of upscaling of marine autonomy in the UK. For further details and to register, please see the event flyer which may also be found on the NOCA web page which now also features the presentations from the first webinar and survey questions.