Science & Technology for Exploration

Today’s technologies allow us to explore the ocean in increasingly systematic, scientific, and noninvasive ways. With continuing scientific and technological advances, our ability to observe the ocean environment and its resident creatures is beginning to catch up with our imaginations, expanding our understanding and appreciation of this still largely unexplored realm.

This section highlights some of the technologies that make exploration possible today and the scientific achievements that result from this exploration. Technologies include platforms such as vessels and submersibles, observing systems and sensors, communication technologies, and diving technologies that transport us across ocean waters and into the depths and allow us to scientifically examine, record, and analyze the mysteries of the ocean.

Telepresence Technology
Telepresence is the concept of providing an individual or group of individuals with the data and information necessary for participation in an event or effort live when those individuals are not physically present for the event.
Trawls
Trawls, which are nets towed behind a boat to collect organisms, have been used by fishermen for centuries. Trawls are used to collect quantitative data of marine organisms, such as biomass, length and weight, and age class distributions.
Uncrewed Surface Vessels
Uncrewed Surface Vessels
Observation Platforms: Vessels
XBTs (Expendable Bathythermographs)
Expendable bathythermographs, or XBTs, are small torpedo-shaped probes used to collect ocean temperature data. After being deployed from a vessel with a launcher, the XBT probe falls through the water column at a predictable rate of descent, measuring the ocean’s temperature and transmitting the data back to the surface.
Showing 25 to 29 of 29 items