Practical ocean instruments
Vine studied with Maurice Ewing at Lehigh University and worked for many years at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. He and colleagues improved the accuracy and operating speed of bathythermographs, which recorded temperature against depth, and adapted them for submarines. His interests also included underwater acoustics and deep-sea photography.
The case for researchers at depth
At a 1956 scientific symposium, Vine argued that instruments measured specified quantities well, while observers could recognize unexpected problems and investigate them. The meeting supported a national programme for human-occupied undersea vehicles, and Vine continued campaigning for a small scientific submersible.
A collaborative engineering project
In 1962 Vine and WHOI colleagues sought construction bids using drawings by Bud Froehlich. Industrial and research teams developed the craft that entered service in 1964 as Alvin, named in Vine’s honour. His contribution combined advocacy with practical work on instrumentation and ocean operations.