Maritime disasters underscored the urgency of finding a solution from "summary" of Longitude by Dava Sobel
Maritime disasters, with their tragic consequences, served as a stark reminder of the pressing need for a solution to the problem of determining longitude at sea. The loss of countless lives and valuable cargo due to ships veering off course highlighted the urgency of finding a reliable method for sailors to pinpoint their exact location on the vast expanse of the ocean. The frequency and severity of maritime disasters spurred governments, scientists, and inventors to intensify their efforts in search of a solution. The economic implications of lost ships and goods, as well as the human cost in terms of lives lost at sea, made it imperative to find a way to accurately measure longitude. The gravity of the situation demanded a concerted and focused approach to resolving the issue once and for all. The quest for a reliable method of determining longitude was further fueled by the recognition that existing techniques were inadequate and often led to disastrous outcomes. Traditional methods such as dead reckoning and celestial navigation were imprecise and prone to error, leaving sailors at the mercy of unpredictable and treacherous seas. The need for a more accurate ...
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