On this day in history,...

...in 1968, the Steering Committee for the International Decade of Ocean Exploration (IDOE) met, marking the first significant step in launching one of the most ambitious global oceanographic research programs. The meeting, held under the guidance of the National Science Foundation (NSF), set the framework for what would become a decade-long effort (1971-1980) to advance ocean exploration, marine resource assessment, and climate-ocean interaction studies.

Key Achievements of IDOE:

•    Discovery of Hydrothermal Vents (1977): expeditions funded under the IDOE led to the discovery of hydrothermal vents along the Galápagos Rift, revolutionizing deep-sea ecology and geochemical sciences.
•   World Ocean Circulation Studies: the program contributed to early data collection efforts that later informed the World Ocean Circulation Experiment (WOCE).
•   Development of Ocean Monitoring Networks: enhanced observational capabilities through new buoy systems, satellite oceanography, and deep-sea submersibles.

The IDOE laid the foundation for modern oceanographic programs, fostering international collaboration and inspiring later initiatives such as TOGA (Tropical Ocean-Global Atmosphere Program), WOCE, and Argo. The program emphasized the necessity of long-term, coordinated ocean exploration to address global climate challenges.

Sources

•    WHOI Digital Archive: dlaweb-dev.whoi.edu/repositories/2/archival_objects/40437
•   NOAA Ocean Explorer: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/history/timeline
•   WHOI Report on IDOE: https://www.whoi.edu/feature/history-hydrothermal-vents/pdf/ReportofDecadePrologue.pdf