Pollution
WHOI Scientist Chris Reddy on NBC Boston
Boston Harbor water quality is thriving again—but Reddy discusses some potential threats on the horizon. WATCH
Read MoreOil Spills
Oil in the Ocean The systematic study of oil in the ocean is relatively new to science, but since the…
Read MoreFukushima Radiation
On March 11, 2011, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake 80 miles off the northeast coast of Japan triggered a series of tsunamis that struck nearby shorelines and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
Read MoreMarine Microplastics
What are marine microplastics? Marine microplastics are small fragments of plastic debris that are less than five millimeters long. Some…
Read MorePollution
Oil spills, discarded chemicals, and leaky engines are burdens to the ocean and those who try to clean it.
Read MoreBeach Closures
Hundreds of beaches nationwide are closed each year due to the presence of potentially harmful bacteria, viruses, and parasites in the water.
Read MoreFAQ: Japan Earthquake and Tsunami
Frequently Asked Questions What caused the earthquake? The magnitude 9.0 earthquake that occurred 80 miles east of the island of…
Read MoreFAQs: Radiation from Fukushima
On March 11, 2011, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake—one of the largest ever recorded—occurred 80 miles off the coast of Japan.…
Read MoreFukushima and the Ocean
Oceanus Magazine Volume 50, No. 1, Spring 2013 A special, bi-lingual issue of Oceanus Magazine that explores the causes and…
Read MoreInvestigating Oil from the USS Arizona
Flounder Now Tumor-free in Boston Harbor
In the late 1980s, more than three-quarters of the winter flounder caught in Boston Harbor – one of the most polluted harbors in America – showed signs of liver disease, many of them with cancerous tumors. But now, a scientist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) has documented a dramatic rebound in flounder health spurred by decades of remediation efforts, including a $3.8 billion project to construct a sewage treatment plant and a 9.5-mile discharge tunnel with a 6,600-foot-long outfall diffuser. The findings appear in the Nov. 20, 2018 issue of the journal Diseases of Aquatic Organisms.
Read MoreWill Oxygen in the Ocean Continue to Decline?
Levels of oxygen in the ocean have decreased in the past, causing catastrophic losses of marine life. Scientists worry that…
Read MoreReassessing Guidelines for Oil Spill Cleanups
Dispersants contain detergents, not unlike those people use to wash dishes, which help break oil into small droplets that can…
Read MoreThe Bacteria on Your Beaches
The widespread use of antibiotics is increasing the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria—perhaps into the ocean, too.
Read MoreReassessing Guidelines for Oil Spill Cleanups
A new discovery could change the way officials approach oil spill cleanups.
Read MoreA Long Trail of Clues Leads to a Surprise About Oil Spills
Scientists followed evidence from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill to discover an unexpected phenomenon.
Read MoreSunlight Reduces Effectiveness of Dispersants Used in Oil Spills
A research team led by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) found that sunlight chemically alters crude oil floating on the sea surface within hours or days. In a follow-up study the team reported that sunlight changes oil into different compounds that dispersants cannot easily break up. The results of these two studies could affect how responders decide when, where, and how to use dispersants.
Read MoreBacteria-Based Sensor Could Detect Oil and Gas Leaks
To Track an Oil Spill
WHOI scientists are helping to develop a robotic underwater vehicle that can track oil spills and help responders mitigate damage in remote or ice-covered areas such as the Arctic Ocean and the Great Lakes.
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