The Chinese character combination for the planet earth is "ti ch'iu", which literally translates as "land globe." But when considering that over 70% of the surface of the earth is covered by water, it has been humorously suggested that the more precise appellation should be "shui ch'iu", or water globe.

Making up the greatest amount of these vast water resources are, of course, the earth's oceans. If we use the other planets as comparative examples, we can begin to see the fundamental importance the oceans play in our ecological survival. For instance, the oldest known fossils to be discovered, the Trilobita, were aquatic creatures that existed in the oceans, leading many experts to theorize that the origins of life more than likely came from the ocean. Climatically speaking, the ocean acts as a huge modifier of temperature conditions as it has the capacity to absorb heat when it is hot, and release it when temperatures are low. The water vapour that is evaporated from the ocean's surface is a major source of precipitation be it rain, snow, fog, or clouds. If we look at other planets and see the evident lack of any developed life forms, we can also see that they (at least at this time) do not support any large bodies of water.

Although man has had a long association with the sea, especially through fishing, it was not until the late 19th century that he really began to study the complex world of this watery realm.

In 1872, the English Navy, in cooperation with the Royal Society embarked on a major sea voyage, one that traveled all the major oceans and seas of the earth. This first oceanographic expedition was conducted aboard the Challenger and lasted approximately three and one half years. The crew of researchers collected data on almost every aspect of the ocean, including data on temperature, salinity, sediments, animal life, currents, and water composition. The resulting records of the trip required 23 years to compile and edit into 50 volumes. This extraordinary undertaking employed 76 men.

By the early years of this century the first successful experiments in off-shore drilling for oil and natural gas took place off the coast of southern California. This marked an important step forward in understanding the importance of the ocean.

Many people have termed the ocean as our "inner space" as opposed to outer space. Like the complex realm of the vast inter-planetary systems of outer space, the study of the ocean requires specialized experts, and a high influx of research capital for the development of research instruments. Presently the countries with the most sophisticated oceanographic research programs are the highly industrialized countries of the West.

Taiwan, because of its island location, has developed an intimate relationship with the sea. Whether it be in terms of her economic, defense or environmental aspects, all have close ties to the sea. In 1968, the National Taiwan University established an Institute of Oceanography to help cultivate oceanographic research of native waters. The following year the institute obtained a navy ship which was converted into a research vessel.

This past January marked a new era in oceanographic research for the island. The National Science Council purchased a new vessel, the Ocean Researcher I to replace the first vessel. Purchased at a cost of US$6.2 million, the ship was built in Bergen, Norway. The maiden voyage from Norway to home port in Taiwan took three months and was manned by a crew of 19 under the leadership of some eminent professors. The return voyage was also used to conduct a series of tests with the ship's new equipment. Measuring 50 meters in length, and 10.3 meters in width, the ship is not extremely big. It does, however, possess many advanced capabilities including equipment to launch and retrieve buoys, take measurements, conduct seismic experiments as well as carry a variety of fishing equipment. The consensus of opinion among the professors on board was that it surpassed the old ship in all ways.

Oceanographic research on the island of Taiwan is still in the nacent stages. The institute operates on a current budget of US$1 million, a paltry sum when compared to many western nations which spend nearly 50 times as much at the university oceanographic department research level. In fact, the struggle to reach this present stage required years of testing before the new ship could be bought. Now that this step has been made, the future looks bright.

Oceanography, because it involves the complete study of the sea, is really an interdisciplinary science that can be broken down into four different science areas: physics, chemistry, geology and biology.

Physics involves the study of the tides and current systems. The ocean waters surrounding Taiwan are of particular interest to researchers. The equatorial Kuroshio Current, which flows north from the Philippines washes the east coast of the island. Its warmer temperatures have a profound influence on climate, while its consistent flow pattern intrigues scientists. Experiments are also carried out to compare the marine life within the current and outside in surrounding waters, to determine if there is any difference.

The chemistry-related fields of oceanography involve the experimental study of the composition of ocean water. Chemical analysis of the water has also yielded commercial gains with the exploitation of such chemical elements as bromine and magnesium. In discussing the metallic content of the ocean's waters, scientists have estimated that the waters potential metal content equals a 50 meter high stack that would cover the entire globe.

Pollution is another area in which chemistry plays an important research role. Human pollution of the oceans has been most serious in the following specific areas: heavy metals, insecticides, radioactive wastes, and hydrocarbons like oil spills. The sheer volume of water can dissolve and absorb a great deal of the pollutant, but the danger results from ingestion of the waste into the marine food chain. Plankton which absorbs pollutants have given readings of being 60,000 times more contaminated than the surrounding waters. This suggests that the toxic substances are not broken down, and as it progresses up the food chain, it becomes much more serious. In studying these effects, scientists usually monitor shellfish, as they are more sedentary than fish.

Geology deals with the ocean floor, especially its nature and composition. A major part of this study of the ocean floor involves researching its prehistory. This line of study shares a close relationship with physics. Geology also entails the study of the development of the rich mineral deposits locked beneath the ocean floor.

Underwater mountain building throughout the world's major oceans provided scientists with a valuable clue to the earth's geological processes. Lava gushing up from subterranean faults cooled and solidified on contact with the cold ocean waters. This resulted in ever expanding mountain chains that spread out in all directions on the ocean floor. This phenomenon helped researchers confirm another important theory, that of Plate Tectonics.

Taiwan is said to be located in a zone of plate convergence between the Eurasia Plate and the Philippine Plate (which is part of the Pacific Plate). The ensuing friction from the opposing directional movements of the plates played a part in the building of island chains, especially the Japanese archipelago.

Mineral potential seems quite high in the waters around Taiwan. The northwest coast sits on a heavily sedimented piece of the continental shelf (2 km. thick in areas), which has proven oil reserves, that have yet to be commercially developed.

The most interesting portion of oceanography is biology. From the magical world of the coral reef, with its colorful and sometimes bizarre life forms, to the microscopic planktons so vital to the organic food chain, researchers are involved in a host of experiments.

The Researcher I promises to open new frontiers for oceanography on Taiwan. It is capable of voyages of up to 45 days, and is outfitted with some advanced equipment. One of the most advanced instruments installed is the Multi-channel Seismometer, valued at over US$1 million. This intricate device is capable of capturing and recording through seismic waves the composition of the ocean bed. Different sound frequencies are used to determine different levels.

While these are impressive advances, most research relies on the use of collecting instruments. Most human work is done near the surface of the water.

The job of the research technician may seem to get tedious with its constant demands on collecting samples and taking care of equipment. But all scientists agree that without the valuable assistance of technicians, their work could not be completed.

Future development of oceanographic research on the island will require the continued research efforts of the institute plus the cooperative input of such commercial research enterprises like the China Oil Company. Coupled with this of course, is continued human research input and investment money. If all these conditions are met, oceanographic research will be able to go full sail ahead.

(Gerald Hatherly)

[Picture Caption]

1. Facing the length and breadth of the ocean frontier, man's exploration work is ever expanding. Pictured is an aquatic world made up of swimming fish and an ocean bed of sea flowers. (Picture courtesy of Hsia Kuo-ching). 2. The multi-faceted research vessel, the Ocean Researcher I at work upon the azure waters off southern Taiwan.

1. Research technicians use wire lines to send sample bottles into the depths to collect materials. 2. The electrical instruments room is designed and outfitted with a variety of equipment. On the lower right is a Fish Finder Screen. The green ripples represent transmitted signals from the ocean waters. If pink ripples appear on the screen, this represents a strong and stationary signal, most likely a school of fish.

1. Occasionally stray pigeons who have lost their way will alight upon the ship's deck. 2. A diagrammatic explanation of the function of the Multi-channel Seismic Systems and the Piston Corer. The left-hand side photo shows three balloons (with facial features drawn in) which are tied to the air guns in order to mark their position. The right-hand photo depicts a Piston Corer which has just been lifted from the water. The corer portion is hung next to the boat, while the long pipe is still outside of the ship.

Technicians preparing a Plankton Net.

1. Three transparent Jelly Fish caught in a Plankton Net. Their actual sizes measure in the range of 1 to 1.5 centimeters. 2. Extracted from the depths, this Diatom fossil appears like an attractive crystal under the electron microscope. The pictured sample is 500 times its actual size. 3,4. Samples of ocean water are taken back to the on-shore laboratory for further composition analysis: 3. Is a test procedure to determine the ATP content. If the ATP content reading is high, this represents large numbers of plankton, which expresses the favorability of organic life growth. 4. Analysis of a water sample to determine the total organic carbon levels. This can help determine organic pollution levels and the concentration of organisms present in the water.

2. The multi-faceted research vessel, the Ocean Researcher I at work upon the azure waters off southern Taiwan.

1. Research technicians use wire lines to send sample bottles into the depths to collect materials.

2. The electrical instruments room is designed and outfitted with a variety of equipment. On the lower right is a Fish Finder Screen. The green ripples represent transmitted signals from the ocean waters. If pink ripples appear on the screen, this represents a strong and stationary signal, most likely a school of fish.

1. Occasionally stray pigeons who have lost their way will alight upon the ship's deck.

2. A diagrammatic explanation of the function of the Multi-channel Seismic Systems and the Piston Corer. The left-hand side photo shows three balloons （with facial features drawn in） which are tied to the air guns in order to mark their position. The right-hand photo depicts a Piston Corer which has just been lifted from the water. The corer portion is hung next to the boat, while the long pipe is still outside of the ship.

Technicians preparing a Plankton Net.

1. Three transparent Jelly Fish caught in a Plankton Net. Their actual sizes measure in the range of 1 to 1.5 centimeters.

2. Extracted from the depths, this Diatom fossil appears like an attractive crystal under the electron microscope. The pictured sample is 500 times its actual size.

3,4. Samples of ocean water are taken back to the on-shore laboratory for further composition analysis:.

3. Is a test procedure to determine the ATP content. If the ATP content reading is high, this represents large numbers of plankton, which expresses the favorability of organic life growth. 4. Analysis of a water sample to determine the total organic carbon levels. This can help determine organic pollution levels and the concentration of organisms present in the water.