The ocean is a dynamic and interconnected system that governs Earth's climate, sustains countless ecosystems, and shapes the lives of all species, including humans. Covering over 70% of the planet's surface, it plays a critical role in regulating temperatures, cycling nutrients, and driving weather patterns. From the shallow coastal regions teeming with biodiversity to the mysterious depths of the seafloor, the ocean's vast expanse is a cornerstone of life on Earth.
Understanding how the ocean works involves exploring the intricate processes that define its structure and behavior. Its chemistry influences everything from the water's ability to support life to its role in carbon storage. Ocean circulation, powered by winds and temperature gradients, connects distant regions and redistributes heat. Additionally, the ocean's relationship with the atmosphere, frozen poles, and underlying seafloor reveals a complex web of interactions essential to maintaining the planet's balance.
Ocean Encounters
Vital Coasts
Salt marshes, kelp forests, and mangrove swamps are vibrant places, protecting coastlines, supporting diverse marine life, and helping regulate Earth’s climate. They also face a myriad of threats.
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Changing shorelines & erosion
Waves, currents, wind, storms, and tides form complex interactions over time to cause erosion along some stretches of shoreline and growth in others.
Groundwater
Groundwater is water that exists underground in the spaces between grains of sand or gravel or in the cracks and fractures in solid rock—part of the global water cycle.
Rivers, estuaries, & deltas
Rivers, estuaries, and deltas are key to understanding the chemical structure of seawater, and are home to some of the world's most diverse ecosystems.
Oceanus Magazine
[ ALL ]In-depth research on Coastal science
How an MIT-WHOI student used Google Earth to uncover a river–coral reef connection
Rising tides, resilient spirits
Seeding the future
The 10,000-foot view
Happy Working in the Mud
The climate won’t wait
An introduction to marsh bothering
Living on the edge
The teetering balance of coastal CO2
Wilmington’s shark tooth divers can thank the last ice age for their treasure trove
A toxic double whammy for sea anemones
