1. An Overview of Oceanographic Exploration

Earth’s scientists have been interested in the ocean as well as the continents for at least the last 150 years. However, “modern oceanography” started after World War II in 1946, when the world’s politicians and scientists realized that in order to have supremacy over other countries and acquire knowledge of our planet it would be necessary to increase the capability of sea floor exploration. Private and government funds were provided to enhance underwater technology. Ocean-going ships began to carry out regular and more extensive expeditions on all the major oceans and seas. Also, we now know that the modern oceans and seas are relatively young (150–170 million years old) when compared to the continental landmasses. Geological records found on the continents indicate that the ocean must have existed since our planet’s creation 4.6 billion years ago, and it seems probable that the Earth has undergone several cycles of ocean formation and retrieval during the past 4 billion years.