Oceanography
Development of a rip current along a coastal beach
Waves, currents, and seafloor shape interact in coastal surf zones, moving sand and water up, down, and along the shore, constantly reshaping the coastline.
Read MoreDiagram demonstrating how a Slocum glider operates in the water column
An ocean glider moves up and down in the water column collecting data, surfacing to get a GPS reading on its position and to exchange data with scientists back on shore.
Read MoreNorth Atlantic circulation
Global map illustrating general circulation patterns in the Northern Hemisphere with a focus on the Greenland Strait.
Read MoreDiatoms and Coccoliths carbon-dioxide carbon removal from atmosphere
Conditions that influence how diatoms and coccoliths removal of carbon-dioxide — from the atmosphere to the deep ocean.
Read MoreDrawing of Timoides agassizii by Henry Bigelow
Henry Bigelow, WHOI’s founding director, began his oceanography career on a 1901 Maldives expedition, where he studied and sketched gelatinous sea life.
Read MoreKuroshio Current: Both highway and barrier for Fukushima radiation
Map of drifter flow lines overlaid on the Kuroshio Current shows how Fukushima disaster radiation was swept away from shore, but blocked from flowing South.
Read MoreDTAG data plot showing whale could dive deeper after disentanglement
Tracking showed an entangled right whale dove shallowly, but after rescue, dove much deeper—revealing how gear hinders whale movement and effort.
Read MoreSharks ride eddies to the depths
White sharks in the open ocean seem to seek out eddies for a surprising reason: The eddies offer a beeline to a banquet of food.
Read MoreEffects of light penetrating the ocean
Phytoplankton absorb red and blue light but reflect green, which satellites can detect—revealing life and particles in sunlit ocean surface waters.
Read MoreEl Nino
Global map illustrating changes in sea surface temperatures, wind, and weather patterns that define an El Niño event.
Read MoreTitanic debris-field
First map of Titanic shipwreck debris field, provides a detailed layout of the scattered remains, seafloor/ocean characteristics and existing photographs.
Read MoreBiomass of mesopelagic organisms in Ocean Twilight Zone (OTZ)
The ocean twilight zone hosts Earth’s largest animal migration and plays a key role in the climate by helping move carbon from the surface to the deep sea.
Read MoreCarbon drawn into the ocean by plankton sinks and dissipates with depth
Only a small fraction of the carbon drawn into the ocean by plankton blooms makes it into the depths where it no longer can be exchanged with the atmosphere.
Read MoreCarbon emissions projection featuring possible reduction methods called "wedges"
Without climate action, emissions will keep rising. To close the gap, multiple solutions—including ocean iron—may be needed to reach carbon reduction targets.
Read MoreChemical process by which phytoplankton and harmful algal blooms grown
Phytoplankton thrive where sunlight and nutrients overlap—often just below the surface—creating a “sweet spot” for growth that fuels ocean life and ecosystems.
Read MoreCiguatera Fish Poisoning cycle
Ciquatera fish poisoning, caused by toxins made by phytoplankton, can cause several gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms in people.
Read MoreCO Solubility Pump
Cold seawater absorbs CO? from the atmosphere, which sinks to the deep ocean via circulation, storing carbon long-term in the solubility pump process.
Read MoreComparing carbon loss considering different sunlight penetration depths
Global maps of ocean carbon estimates highlighting the need to account for sunlight (Buesseler et al., 2020).
Read MoreComparison of oil dispersant effectiveness in different weather
Sunlight changes oil chemistry on the ocean surface, reducing dispersant effectiveness by limiting how well surfactants break oil into small droplets.
Read MoreTransport of microplastics in the North Atlantic
Global maps illustrating how microplastics may travel through the North Atlantic and Arctic, based on global transport simulations.
Read MoreCoral reef deterioration stages
Healthy corals support healthy marine ecosystems, but corals are in crisis on many fronts.
Read MoreCross-section of an anticyclonic eddy, warm core ring used for food sourcing
White sharks use warm, swirling anticyclonic eddies from the Gulf Stream to dive deeper and hunt efficiently in the ocean twilight zone, saving energy.
Read MoreCurrent vortices peeling off cylinders
Fluid usually doesn’t flow smoothly around cylindrical objects. Instead, the flow breaks away from the object into vortices, similar to those made by fish.
Read MoreGreenland circulation
Map illustrating North Atlantic currents flowing into two Greenland fjords, combined with seafloor bathymetry.
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