Virtual Oceanography

Cruise planning may seem like an ordinary task for oceanographers, but it actually involves logical and strategic thinking, collaboration, and multidisciplinary work. The "Challenger" expedition, led by Charles Wyville Thomson from 1872 to 1876, was the first to be fully dedicated to understanding oceans (Rice et al. 1999) and was responsible for the discovery of over 4,000 new species. In this activity, the authors encourage students to set their imaginations free by playing the role of the adventurous Thomson to prepare and virtually execute an oceanographic cruise plan and report their findings. The authors use the northeastern Gulf of Mexico (GoM), which includes the Mississippi River Bird-Foot Delta, as a sample location for preparing a cruise plan. The authors encourage teachers to explore other areas such as the Hudson, Congo, or Amazon rivers.