1761 - Birth of Oceanography

The Danish 50-gun Grønland, launched five years ago at Nyholm island near Copenhagen, departs for a scientific expedition in the Mediterranean sea.

She got used to navigating these dangerous waters for she protected Danish trade ships against Barbary pirates lately.

This expedition is named the Arabia mission. It has been mounted under the auspices of King Frederick V, who has wisely achieved not to get involved in the global war which begun five years ago. It aims at an exploration of Mediterranean sea from a new viewpoint which consists of a survey of its physical features and of the species which live in it. It is is worth noting that even the Mediterranean sea which has been sailed for thousands of years is considered as a quasi virgin field of exploration from this viewpoint.

The ship has been fitted with nets appropriate for fishing at great depths so as to collect unheard-of species, and with scraps to sample sea bottom. Preparation has been thorough in every respect : for instance, German Mathematician Karsten Niebuhr has been recruited and trained last year by famous Astronomer Tobias Mayer for the twofold purpose of navigation and of accurate cartography. He will use the lunar-distance method to meter time so to determine longitude. This is, together with Nevil Maskelyne's expedition to St Helena this year for the purpose of observing the transit of Venus, thus of calculating the distance of the Sun, the first navigation to put the method into action.

One may wonder why the Danes apply their curiosity to the Mediterranean sea before the Baltic or the North ones... War in the Northern waters may be the cause, in addition with fascination for Arabic world. Yet seeing the Danes on the high seas is not surprising after the illustrious Naddodd in the 9th century, Erik the Red (†c.1003), Leif Erikson (†c.1020), and, closer to our days, Vitus Jonassen Bering (†1741), who recognised the strait between Asia and America in 1728.

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LINK WITH A PREVIOUS CHRONICLE

1752 - Accurate Lunar Tables

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IN RETROSPECT FROM TODAY

NOTE A - On the outcome of this expedition.

The oceanographic portion of the expedition is limited to the navigation in the Mediterranean sea in 1761. Survey is supervised by Peter Forsskaol, a Swedish naturalist, 29 years old.

As for Niebuhr, quality of his charts is amazing and makes a reference. He will be the only scholar to survive the expedition.

NOTE B - On the aftermath.

The French and the Brits will follow with scientific expeditions around the world on the same global-purpose model in 1766 and in 1768 respectively, once peace restored.