Introduction
19
Currents and winds. Benjamin Franklin was responsible in 1770 for
producing a chart of the Gulf Stream, the current which sweeps
across the North Atlantic from the east coast of the United Statesto
western Europe. By setting a course from American ports which
put them in this massive ocean river, Ships could achieve good times
on the crossing to England and conversely could
sary slowing down on their return by avoiding the current. Major
james Rennell of theBritish East India Company was a further -
contributor by making a comprehensive study of ocean currents in
various parts of the world. However, the name most commonly
associated with this aspect of physical oceanography is that of
Matthew Fontaine Maury. An American naval ofcer, Maury was
_
among the rSt to recognizethe valueof observations
currents
and winds by merchant vessels and by warships of allicountries. He
prevailed updn the United Statesgovernmentto arrange an inter—
national congress where a system of making such Observations could
be agreed. It was convened in 1835 and led directly to the rst wind '
-
andcurrent charts in 1847.
;f
«
Findings
'
from oceanography have an even wider commercial
application in present times, as applied oceanography leads im—
,
per‘ceptiblÿ into technology and engineering. For example, the
design of an o‘cean drilling platform must take into account—the
conditions it is lik€ly=toface during a working lifetime, and Such
information only comes =from0ceanofgraphic research; the study of
marine geology provides a broad guide to companies interested in
obtaining sand, gravels and other marine «mineral
knowledge. of Ocean currents can help theè
by
:
,
indicating where good catcheS canba—eXpectedggAS
and more companies are becoming involved in
ÿQ1‘
oceanology;
cannot aord
…neglect'
promises to be highly lucrative“in the future
'
exploiting the ocean and for service
supply1ng,say,
Océanographie instruments.
£?
3
1 *
“:
«
; The British Commercial Oceahology Study
up "in 1965 is a? case in: point: Six companies
to
inVeStigätidrï L îof
{Richard
Cbsæiiî,
Imperial Chemical 'lndu‘Striesg.
the Rio? Tinto—Zine {Corporation
Each
already
operated in
areas
.
inv01ved in the development of under—sea oil resources; Co‘Stain ate
19
Currents and winds. Benjamin Franklin was responsible in 1770 for
producing a chart of the Gulf Stream, the current which sweeps
across the North Atlantic from the east coast of the United Statesto
western Europe. By setting a course from American ports which
put them in this massive ocean river, Ships could achieve good times
on the crossing to England and conversely could
sary slowing down on their return by avoiding the current. Major
james Rennell of theBritish East India Company was a further -
contributor by making a comprehensive study of ocean currents in
various parts of the world. However, the name most commonly
associated with this aspect of physical oceanography is that of
Matthew Fontaine Maury. An American naval ofcer, Maury was
_
among the rSt to recognizethe valueof observations
currents
and winds by merchant vessels and by warships of allicountries. He
prevailed updn the United Statesgovernmentto arrange an inter—
national congress where a system of making such Observations could
be agreed. It was convened in 1835 and led directly to the rst wind '
-
andcurrent charts in 1847.
;f
«
Findings
'
from oceanography have an even wider commercial
application in present times, as applied oceanography leads im—
,
per‘ceptiblÿ into technology and engineering. For example, the
design of an o‘cean drilling platform must take into account—the
conditions it is lik€ly=toface during a working lifetime, and Such
information only comes =from0ceanofgraphic research; the study of
marine geology provides a broad guide to companies interested in
obtaining sand, gravels and other marine «mineral
knowledge. of Ocean currents can help theè
by
:
,
indicating where good catcheS canba—eXpectedggAS
and more companies are becoming involved in
ÿQ1‘
oceanology;
cannot aord
…neglect'
promises to be highly lucrative“in the future
'
exploiting the ocean and for service
supply1ng,say,
Océanographie instruments.
£?
3
1 *
“:
«
; The British Commercial Oceahology Study
up "in 1965 is a? case in: point: Six companies
to
inVeStigätidrï L îof
{Richard
Cbsæiiî,
Imperial Chemical 'lndu‘Striesg.
the Rio? Tinto—Zine {Corporation
Each
already
operated in
areas
.
inv01ved in the development of under—sea oil resources; Co‘Stain ate