Environmental Science
Rainfall prediction illustration
Spring winds boost Atlantic salinity, fueling summer rains in Africa and the U.S. via soil moisture buildup, convection, and increased moisture transport.
Read MoreRecent Past and Near-Future Sea Level Rise Rates
Dispersants break oil into tiny droplets using detergents and solvents, but sunlight quickly weakens their effectiveness on oil floating at the sea surface.
Read MoreScale depicting the concentration of pH and examples of solutions
Seawater is becoming more acidic as CO? levels rise. Even small drops in pH can harm marine life that builds shells or skeletons from calcium carbonate.
Read MoreScallop Life Cycle being affected by ocean acidification
Climate change and ocean acidification could wipe out over half of Atlantic sea scallops in 3080 years—unless strong management and CO? cuts slow the trend.
Read MoreGroundwater cycle
Groundwater flows into the ocean through coastal sediments, carrying chemicals that can impact ocean chemistry—an overlooked part of Earth’s water cycle.
Read MoreMicroplastics breaking down in different areas of the environment
Scientists study how larger plastics break down into microplastics, exploring land and ocean processes like sunlight, temperature, and abrasion that cause plastic fragmentation.
Read MoreMicroplastics in the Food Chain illustration
Plastics that get into the ocean often degrade into microplastics that are ingested by fish and shellfish and can go up the food chain to be ingested by humans.
Read MoreMonsoon season rain cycle
WHOI scientists are studying the link between water at the surface of the Indian Ocean and predicting monsoon rains.
Read MoreSinking water in the North Atlantic
Global map showing warm Gulf Stream waters flowing north toward the Arctic, where they cool, sink, and return south as part of the global ocean circulation.
Read MoreNorth Atlantic Ocean circulation pump
Map of North Atlantic currents labeled, with temperature shown in color and ocean surface elevation represented using a rainbow color ramp.
Read MorePhases of North Atlantic Oscillation
Global maps comparing weather over the North Atlantic during positive and negative oscillation phases.
Read MoreOcean-atmosphere interactions in the Northern Hemisphere
Global maps showing how atmospheric and ocean conditions interact in the Northern hemisphere, influencing sea surface temperature, weather patterns and climate.
Read MoreOceanic conveyor belt
Global map showing ocean current temperatures and flow patterns, illustrating a conveyor beltlike connection across the world’s oceans.
Read MoreCalcium carbonate skeleton formation
Corals build skeletons from calcium and carbonate ions, but lower ocean pH reduces carbonate availability, making it harder for corals to grow their skeletons.
Read MoreInfographic measuring amount of radioisotopes at 3 different nuclear disasters
The Fukushima disaster resulted in an unprecedented release of radioisotopes into the ocean.
Read MoreInfographic showing different levels of radiation doses
People are constantly exposed to radiation from a variety of manmade and natural sources. The risk of harm from the radiation depends on both the dose and the dose rate.
Read MoreJune 2011 Cesium-134 levels in the Pacific
Researchers on the Kaimikai o-Kanaloa found the Kuroshio Current blocked the southward flow of radioisotopes, trapping high levels south of Fukushima.
Read MoreInfographic showing the effects of radiation on human tissue
Different types of ionizing radiation have different potential to cause cellular damage, depending on their size, energy, and access.
Read MoreIron fertilization consideration
Iron fertilization is a Carbon Dioxide Removal technique that adds iron to the ocean’s surface, stimulating phytoplankton growth to help mitigate climate change.
Read MoreLa Nina
Global map illustrating changes in sea surface temperatures, wind, and weather patterns that define an El Niño event.
Read MoreGlobal Map of Cesium-137 Levels in the Ocean
Map shows global ocean levels of Cesium-137, a radioactive isotope released from nuclear fission and major nuclear events like weapons tests and reactor accidents.
Read MorePlastic debris in the North Atlantic
Map of floating plastic debris collected over 22 years by students at sea shows high concentrations trapped in the slow-moving North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre.
Read MoreMercury cycle illustration
Mercury cycles between Earth, air, and ocean, where it becomes toxic monomethylmercury that builds up in tuna, swordfish, and other fish we consume.
Read MoreSubsea oil seep
About half of ocean oil comes from natural seeps. Studying their path helps scientists better understand how oil moves and settles after spills.
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