Chapter 1 - The Growth of Oceanography

Oceanography encompasses several sub-disciplines including biological, chemical, geological, and physical oceanography. The field has its roots in the early days of seafaring and exploration. It was not distinguished as a discipline of scientific endeavor however until the late 1800's. This occurred with the voyage of the HMS Challenger from 1872-1876.

Today oceanographic research is conducted by scientists at public and private institutions world-wide. In the United States, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution on the east coast and Scripps Institution of Oceanography on the west coast are perhaps the most widely known. However, oceanographic research and education is conducted in more than a hundred other institutions including the Department of Oceanography at Florida State University. For a sampling of these other organizations click here.