One Ocean, Many Worlds of Life
Humpback whale. Photo courtesy NOAA
The International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) was declared by the United Nations “to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues.” The event is in its 11th year with Marine Biodiversity the theme for 2012....
May
22
Where do squid, jellyfish and other sea creatures begin life? The story, told from the viewpoint of a sea urchin, reveals a stunningly beautiful saga of fertilization, development and growth in the ocean depths.
Although this targets children on TED-Ed, the visuals – and the information...
May
14
Sharp Increase of Small Plastic Debris in the ‘Garbage Patch’ Could Have Ecosystem-Wide Consequences
The marine insect Halobates sericeus, also known as a “sea skater” or “oceanic water strider.” Photo credit: Anthony Smith.
A 100-fold upsurge in human-produced plastic trash in...
May
09
Watch surface currents circulate in this high-resolution, 3D model of the Earth’s oceans, courtesy of NASA. Driven by wind and other forces, currents on the ocean surface cover our planet. Some span hundreds to thousands of miles across vast ocean basins in well-defined flows. Others are...
Apr
17
A tangled ghost net captured during one of the surveys. Photo courtesy algalita.org
Oceanic Garbage Soup – Choking the Food Chain
Floating on or just beneath the surface of the north Pacific Ocean, over 1,000 miles (1,610 km) from any landmass, lies a soup of trash; the Great Pacific Garbage...
Apr
04
The amazing revelations of what lives in our oceans are awe-inspiring. Paul Snelgrove, a professor at Memorial University in Newfoundland, takes us on a trip to discover new species and habitats, migratory routes and changing distribution patterns.
From 2000 to 2010, the Census of Marine Life...
Mar
08
High tide threatens Nukutoa island, Takuu. Photo Professor Richard Moyle Creative Commons
Sea Level Rise is Real
It is now widely accepted that sea level rise (SLR) due to climate change is real. The International Panel on Climate Change’s most optimistic calculations predict a minimum rise of 38...
Mar
05
Low Coastlines Under Watery Siege
Part 1
Aitutaki in the Cook Islands. Photo Courtesy NASA
Low-lying islands and coastlines around the world face a “perfect storm” of warming atmosphere and rising seas (Hansen et al., 2006; Hearty, 2011). If, as scientists predict, the oceans rise 1m or more...
Mar
01
