Oceanography
Cities and sea level impact
2013 map highlighting 20 cities projected to be at risk due to sea level rise.
Read MoreAcoustic Sensing Cube in the Ocean Twilight Zone
An ocean network could provide a comprehensive view of the twilight zone, or mesopelagic, using several different technologies including moored buoys equipped with acoustic survey systems
Read MoreAnatomy of a rip current
Waves push water toward shore, but it escapes fast through narrow gaps—rip currents form as water funnels out to sea through these hidden channels.
Read MoreAnatomy of the Fukushima earthquake and tsunami
Before and after the Fukushima earthquake and tsunami.
Read MoreAntarctic ecosystem, summer environment
Antarctic animals all make their living in the ocean, because the land is too cold, dry, and dark for plants and animals.
Read MoreAntarctic ecosystem, winter environment
Antarctica’s coastal seas are especially important because they shelter an abundant ecosystem, supporting large predators such as penguins, seals and whales.
Read MoreArctic Ocean currents
Detailed map illustrating Arctic currents and the surrounding sovereign regions in flat projection.
Read MoreArctic ecosystem, including humans
Arctic animals, including humans, survive on the ocean’s plentiful resources.
Read MoreWhat happens in the ocean as a hurricane passes over?
Hurricanes are powerful storms that cause massive damage on land. Here’s a look at what happens below the surface during a storm.
Read MoreAre offshore wind farms harming whales?
A collection of seemingly grass-roots organizations claim that offshore wind projects are responsible for an uptick in whale deaths. But there’s no evidence to support their claims. Whales have been…
Read MoreWhat is a marine heatwave?
From waning winds to warmer atmospheres, here is the recipe for sudden temperature spikes in our ocean
Read MoreHow deep do marine plastics go?
Learn how plastic pollution pervades the ocean, from surface debris to deep-sea trenches. With 390 million tons produced annually, plastic poses a significant threat, impacting marine ecosystems and organisms.
Read MoreWill the Gulf Stream really shut down?
Recent news headlines suggest the Gulf Stream current could shut down in just a few years—or perhaps a few decades—bringing about a catastrophic change in global climate.
Read MoreHow does ocean warming affect fisheries?
The ocean has absorbed 93% of excess heat from human activities, raising its temperature by 1.5°F since 1901. Warming oceans impact fish migration, leading to conflicts and overfishing.
Read MoreEnvironmental DNA (eDNA)
Environmental DNA (eDNA) is essentially DNA collected from the environment. As animals swim through the ocean, they’re constantly releasing DNA as they shed skin or scales into the water column.
Read MoreWhere does all the carbon go?
Explore the ocean’s critical role in carbon sequestration and how it could be a pathway to mitigate climate change.
Read MoreIt’s always freezing in the Arctic. Or is it?
WHOI experts dig into a popular misconception that the Arctic is always frigid.
Read MoreCan AI help us explore the ocean?
Learn how scientists at WHOI are using AI, like the software “Spock,” to enable autonomous underwater robots, such as Nereid Under Ice and CUREE, to study marine life and explore ocean environments.
Read MoreWhat are ocean robots?
From the icy poles to sensitive coral reefs, robots empower us to understand more of the ocean than ever before. But just what are they?
Read MoreHow do ocean robots take the pressure?
Find out how engineers build robots to withstand the crushing pressures of the deep sea
Read MoreIs the Great Barrier Reef making a comeback?
The world’s largest reef saw record growth after years of bleaching, but it’s not out of the woods yet
Read MoreWhat is a rogue wave?
Behemoth waves are more than just folklore. Learn the science behind these deadly swells.
Read MoreHow do polynyas help feed emperor penguins?
When female emperor penguins—and later, males—return to the ocean to feed, they need a spot that gives them easy access to both the water and the ice. And, they also need places that are teeming with fish and other types of prey. Learn how polynyas provide a place where penguins can feast and build their energy reserves after breeding.
Read MoreOcean acidification is no big deal, right?
Some people argue that ocean acidification isn’t an issue of concern. After all, they say, the ocean isn’t actually acidic. There is some truth to that. On the pH scale,…
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