50 Years of Ocean Discovery: National Science Foundation 1950-2000

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has been a major supporter of ocean science research for over 50 years. During that time, NSF has funded groundbreaking research that has led to a better understanding of the ocean's role in the Earth's climate system, the development of new technologies for exploring the ocean, and the discovery of new species of marine life.

This book, 50 Years of Ocean Discovery: National Science Foundation 1950-2000, tells the story of NSF's support for ocean science research. The book is divided into five parts:

• Part 1: The Early Years (1950-1970)
• Part 2: The Golden Age of Ocean Science (1970-1990)
• Part 3: The Challenges of the 1990s
• Part 4: The New Millennium
• Part 5: The Future of Ocean Science

Each part of the book tells the story of a different era in NSF's support for ocean science research. Part 1 discusses the early years of NSF, when the agency was just beginning to fund ocean science research. Part 2 discusses the "golden age" of ocean science, when NSF funded groundbreaking research that led to major advances in our understanding of the ocean. Part 3 discusses the challenges that NSF faced in the 1990s, as the agency struggled to maintain its support for ocean science research in the face of budget cuts. Part 4 discusses the new millennium, when NSF began to invest in new initiatives to support ocean science research. Part 5 discusses the future of ocean science, and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

50 Years of Ocean Discovery: National Science Foundation 1950-2000

by Brynne Asher

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE

50 Years of Ocean Discovery: National Science Foundation 1950-2000 is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the history of ocean science research. The book provides a comprehensive overview of NSF's support for ocean science research, and it tells the stories of the scientists who have made major contributions to our understanding of the ocean.

NSF was established in 1950 as an independent federal agency to promote the progress of science. In its early years, NSF focused on funding basic research in the physical sciences, mathematical sciences, and biological sciences. However, NSF also recognized the importance of ocean science research, and in 1957, the agency established the Division of Oceanography.

The Division of Oceanography was responsible for funding research in all aspects of oceanography, including physical oceanography, chemical oceanography, biological oceanography, and geological oceanography. In the early years, the division's budget was small, but it grew rapidly in the 1960s as NSF recognized the importance of ocean science research to the nation's security and economic well-being.

During the early years, NSF funded a number of groundbreaking ocean science research projects. These projects included:

• The International Geophysical Year (IGY),a global research effort that took place from 1957 to 1958. NSF played a major role in the IGY, and the agency's support for the IGY helped to launch the modern era of ocean science research.
• The Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP),which was launched in 1968. The DSDP was the first international scientific drilling program, and it revolutionized our understanding of the Earth's history.
• The Ocean Drilling Program (ODP),which was launched in 1985. The ODP was a successor to the DSDP, and it continued to drill into the ocean floor to learn about the Earth's history.

NSF's support for ocean science research in the early years helped to lay the foundation for the modern era of ocean science research. The agency's funding for the IGY, the DSDP, and the ODP helped to make the United States a world leader in ocean science research.

The 1970s and 1980s were a golden age for ocean science research. During this time, NSF funded a number of groundbreaking research projects that led to major advances in our understanding of the ocean. These projects included:

• The Global Ocean Flux Study (GOFS),which was launched in 1989. GOFS was a global research program that studied the role of the ocean in the global carbon cycle. GOFS provided new insights into how the ocean absorbs and releases carbon dioxide, and it helped to improve our understanding of the role of the ocean in the Earth's climate system.
• The World Ocean Circulation Experiment (WOCE),which was launched in 1990. WOCE was a global research program that studied the circulation of the ocean. WOCE provided new insights into how the ocean transports heat and salt around the globe, and it helped to improve our understanding of the role of the ocean in the Earth's climate system.
• The Joint Global Ocean Flux Study (JGOFS),which was launched in 1995. JGOFS was a joint research program between the United States and the United Kingdom that studied the role of the ocean in the global carbon cycle. JGOFS provided new insights into how the ocean absorbs and releases carbon dioxide, and it helped to improve our understanding of the role of the ocean in the Earth's climate system.

NSF's support for ocean science research in the golden age led to major advances in our understanding of the ocean. The agency's funding for GOFS, WOCE, and JGOFS helped to make the United States a world leader in ocean science research.

The 1990s were a challenging time for NSF. The agency's budget was cut in the early 1990s, and the agency struggled to maintain its support for ocean science research. Despite these challenges, NSF continued to fund important ocean science research projects. These projects included:

• The Ocean Drilling Program (ODP),which continued to drill into the ocean floor to learn about the Earth's history.
• The Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS),which was launched in 1996. GOOS is a global system of observations that helps to monitor the health of the ocean. GOOS provides data on a variety of oceanographic parameters, including temperature, salinity, and currents.
• The Joint Global Ocean Flux Study (JGOFS),which continued to study the role of the ocean in the global carbon cycle.

NSF's support for ocean science research in the 1990s helped to maintain the United States' position as a world leader in ocean science research. Despite the challenges of the 1990s, NSF continued to fund important ocean science research projects that helped to advance our understanding of the ocean.

The new millennium has been a time of renewed investment in ocean science research. NSF has increased its funding for ocean science research in recent years, and the agency has launched a number of new initiatives to support ocean science research. These initiatives include:

• The Ocean Carbon and Climate Change Program (OCCCP),which was launched in 2007. OCCCP is a research program that studies the role of the ocean in the global carbon cycle and climate change. OCCCP provides funding for research on a variety of topics, including the ocean's role in absorbing and releasing carbon dioxide, the impact of climate change on the ocean, and the potential for using the ocean to mitigate climate change.
• The Dimensions of Biodiversity (Dimensions) program, which was launched in 2012. Dimensions is a research program that studies the biodiversity of the ocean. Dimensions provides funding for research on a variety of topics, including the discovery of new species, the distribution of marine species, and the impact of human activities on marine biodiversity.
• The Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI),which was launched in 2011. OOI is a cutting-edge research platform that will provide scientists with access to real-time data from the ocean. OOI will provide data on a variety of oceanographic parameters, including temperature, salinity, currents, and biological activity.

NSF's support for ocean science research in the new millennium has helped to position the United States as a world leader in ocean science research. The agency's investment in new initiatives, such as OCCCP, Dimensions, and OOI, will help to ensure that the United States continues to be a world leader in ocean science research for years to come.

50 Years of Ocean Discovery: National Science Foundation 1950-2000

by Brynne Asher

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE