Category Archives: Oceans

Who gave Santa all that Oil?

Posted on August 12, 2014 by Ron Miksha

This weekend Russia announced that the world’s most northerly oil well was about to spud.  Vladimir Putin did the actual announcing himself from his summer vacation palace in Sochi. (He is the guy behind the big desk, above.) He was … Continue reading →

Posted in Exploration, Oceans, Plate Tectonics | Tagged , | Leave a comment

All Aboard the Barracuda

Posted on August 8, 2014 by Ron Miksha

Maurice Ewing was a Texas-panhandle farm boy,  became a geophysicist, and then and oceanographer. He conducted the first marine seismic acquisition, inventing the equipment he needed as he sailed the oceans. I find it odd that a lad from the … Continue reading →

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The Death of Heezen

Posted on June 21, 2014 by Ron Miksha

The Des Moines Register described Bruce Heezen as a large man. This, they said, contributed to his early death at age 53, on this day in 1977. But when we look at photographs of Bruce Heezen, he doesn’t appear to … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, History, Oceans, The Book | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Searching for Haida Gwaii

Posted on May 25, 2014 by Ron Miksha

Haida Gwaii. Totem poles and sea mist shroud the west coast islands of Canada. Rain is occasionally heavy enough to drown a duck. (30 cm a day is possible.) Or maybe the ducks drown in the tsunamis – earthquakes give … Continue reading →

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Columbus rides again

Posted on May 13, 2014 by Ron Miksha

    It seems the Santa Maria has been found. Marine archaeologist Barry Clifford and his team believe they have found the sunken vessel. Columbus left Europe in August, 1492, with three ships – La Pinta, La Nina, and Santa Maria, … Continue reading →

Posted in Exploration, Oceans | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

The Dustbowl Oceanographer’s Birthday

Posted on May 12, 2014 by Ron Miksha

William Maurice Ewing was a Texas farmboy from the state’s desert panhandle. Somehow he became one of America’s greatest oceanographers. Today we remember his birthday (May 12, 1906) and remember a bit about what he did for the study of … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, Exploration, Oceans | Tagged , , | 1 Comment