Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) is the world's premier independent organization dedicated exclusively to ocean research, technology, and education. We combine state-of-the-art science, engineering, and ship operations to unravel the mysteries of the deep and devise science-based solutions to planet-wide problems.
RECENT NEWS
A cascade of life
The power of conservation, as seen through the lens of award-winning ocean photographer Henley Spiers
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🌊 🐙🐠🦑🦈 Understanding our living ocean is beyond urgent– and we can`t do it without you!
Become a WHOI member and receive this exclusive #InTheZone T-shirt before it becomes available in the WHOI store. Memberships directly support our marine research!
📲 Get yours today! Visit our bio for the 🔗
#LifeBeyond #OurLivingOcea
Jun 15
This year our beloved human-occupied submersible #Alvin turns 60– and we want YOU to help us celebrate! 🎉
🖍️Color your way to the deep sea with a free ALVIN coloring page, designed for adventurers of all ages.📲 Download yours at the link in bio– and be sure to share the results with us by tagging #Alvin60!
Jun 15
After residents of a small fishing village protested overfishing and destruction of their reef off of #BajaCalifornia Sur, Mexico, a 27-square-mile (70-square-kilometer) area was protected in 1995 and officially became Cabo Pulmo National Park in 2000.
Since then, the community has enforced a 100% no-take zone, fought off large coastal developments, and pioneered a sustainable tourism industry to share the bounty of their reef. Fifteen years after the area was protected, a study found that the total fish biomass had increased by 463%– evidenced by this shoal of bigeye #trevally swarming a #bullshark.
🐬🐠🦑 In a new photo essay for #WHOI’s #Oceanus magazine, award-winning photographer @henleyspiers takes us to places where ocean life is flourishing in #marineprotectedareas– and where it`s under threat. 📲 See for yourself at the link in bio!
#OurLivingOcean #LifeBeyond #BeyondBoundaries #30x30
Jun 14
🎉 Woods Hole celebrated the arrival of the R/V Roger Revelle this week! The @scripps_ocean operated research vessel will use #WHOI as a port through November while scientists from around the world conduct climate and acoustic research in the North Atlantic.
Though this is not the Revelle’s first time in #WoodsHole, the ship is more often seen in the Pacific Ocean. As part of the @unols_org academic research fleet, research vessels are owned by @usnavyresearch and are largely funded by @nsfgov
#NSFfunded
📹 by Elise Hugus ©️ WHOI
Jun 14
In the late 1950s, when the idea of a human-occupied submersible was just an engineering sketch, WHOI’s newly-formed Deep Submergence Group started calling it "ALVIN” after the scientist Allyn Vine.
"A good instrument can measure almost anything better than a person can if you know what you want to measure," Vine said at a 1956 symposium convened by @thenasciences and National Research Council. "But people are so versatile, they can sense things to be done and can investigate problems. I find it difficult to imagine what kind of instrument should have been put on the Beagle instead of Charles Darwin."
Vine’s argument for human exploration of the ocean proved persuasive. The symposium passed a resolution to create a national program that would develop vehicles capable of transporting humans to the deep sea. Six years later, in 1964, ALVIN was ready to dive.
📲 Celebrate #Alvin60 with us! Get to know #OceanPioneer Al Vine at the 🔗 in bio!
Jun 14
✈️🌀⛈️ Would you willingly fly through the eye of a #hurricane? #WHOI senior scientist Steve Jayne does it regularly! As a member of @af_reserve_hurricane_hunters, he deploys Alamo floats keep tabs on Atlantic Ocean temperature, salinity, and currents during intense storms.
Jayne and fellow WHOI researcher Robert Todd spoke with @boston25 about how ocean monitoring data contributes to better storm forecasts.
📲 Watch at the link in bio!
Jun 13
OUR WORK
WHOI is at the forefront of groundbreaking science and technology development, unlocking the mysteries of our ocean, its connections to life on Earth, and solutions it may hold to some of our most pressing environmental challenges.
Our scientists and engineers lead more than 800 concurrent projects, tackling some of the most challenging and important problems of our time, from climate change and ocean pollution to sustainable food and energy production.
We operate a fleet of research vessels and vehicles, including two large ships (R/V Neil Armstrong and R/V Atlantis), a smaller coastal research vessel, the iconic human-occupied submersible Alvin, and dozens of other underwater robots.
Through our higher education programs, including the prestigious MIT-WHOI Joint Program, we train new generations of ocean scientists, engineers, and leaders-providing access to cutting edge facilities and unparalleled access to the sea.
WHOI plays a leading role in ocean communications, sharing our insights and knowledge about the ocean to the general public, policymakers, educators, and more, so we can make wise decisions about our ocean, our planet, and our future.
FEATURED PROJECTS
We have over 1,000 scientists, engineers, technicians, and support staff working around the globe and cutting edge laboratories to push the boundaries of knowledge about the ocean.
Ocean and Climate Innovation Accelerator
Bringing together industry, academia, and philanthropy to develop and accelerate new climate change solutions.
Ocean Twilight Zone
Exploring the globe-spanning region beneath the sunlit upper ocean where life thrives
Ocean Worlds
Discovering the links between life in our ocean and the search for life beyond Earth
Marine Microplastics Initiative
Investigating the fate of microplastics and their impacts on marine life and human health
Super Reefs
Searching for corals around the world to help ensure a future for reefs in a warming ocean
Ocean Observatories Initiative
The NSF-funded program measures physical, chemical, geological and biological properties from the seafloor to the air-sea interface.
HADEX
Research and exploration of the deepest parts of the ocean, Earth’s final frontier
Reef Solutions
Working to protect corals and reverse the global decline of reef ecosystems