Cliff Barnes Influences

The unorthodox ardent oceanography professor, Clifford Barnes, tracked icebergs during the Second World War before rescuing Curtis Ebbesmeyer’s academic career. His unique holistic approach to science eventually drew Ebbesmeyer to take an apprenticeship under him and would serve beneficial to the field of oceanography. Unfortunately, Barnes would succumb to Alzheimer’s disease, but before that, he would prepare Ebbesmeyer with a broader, more integrated understanding before proceeding to research. Cliff Barnes’ influence becomes apparent through Ebbesmeyer, which drives him to seek unique venues that illustrate the power of oceanography and the resourcefulness of a comprehensive approach to science; In the spirit of Cliff Barnes, the work and

As a young man during the war, Barnes aided by identifying icebergs in the North Atlantic Ocean to provide convoys bound to Britain with a safe route. Barnes was a combustion engineer in Ohio prior to his recruitment to the University of Washington’s oceanography department. Of all the professors at the University of Washington, Barnes was the most unconventional as he would take naps during guest lectures and had the most raucous laugh, but was very practical towards oceanography as Ebbesmeyer dubbed him as a water chaser. Through a mutual appreciation and liking for each other, Barnes took Ebbesmeyer under his wing and provided Ebbesmeyer with everything he needed and would become a model scientist for Ebbesmeyer. Resources such as opportunities, equipment, and knowledge were all available to Ebbesmeyer under Barnes. Barnes would wait for Ebbesmeyer to finish his studies on water slabs before retiring. In 1995, Barnes lost the battle against Alzheimer’s disease. Despite the loss of a great oceanographer, Ebbesmeyer inherited Barnes’ work and continues to make progress in the name of

Ebbesmeyer began by reviewing pumice from a nearby volcano, Mount St. Helens, before chasing information about Krakatoa, Toba, Vatna, and a 1962 eruption in the South Sandwich Islands. From his investigation Ebbesmeyer learned many things about history; Research found that ashes were the original drifters, an eruption produced one of the greatest drifts on record, and a plausible hypothesis for the origins of life. Ebbesmeyer examined pumice from the 1962 eruption in a plastic tub and noticed scum forming. As a permeable matrix, the pumice could accrue chemicals afloat to create complex organic compounds. The hypothesis of the origins of life could possibly relate to Stromatolites as they were colonies of single-celled organism afloat. Indeed, Ebbesmeyer’s allure to volcanic ash has gifted him more data thanks to his scientific approach which has been quite resourceful. Similarly, through oceanography Ebbesmeyer is able to derive a plausible hypothesis about the origins of life which does not even relate to his career. However, this illustrates the power of oceanography as there is much interdisciplinary knowledge out in the