Ocean science news, explainers, and statistics covering marine environments, currents, climate, coasts, seafloor research, and the changing global ocean.
Sea level does not form a smooth, uniform shell around Earth. The ocean surface follows the planet’s uneven gravity field, while currents, temperature and winds create additional slopes and bumps. A tide gauge also measures water against moving land, so two coasts can record different changes even while the global ocean gains the same total…
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About half of the oxygen produced on Earth each year comes from the ocean. Most is released by microscopic phytoplankton, algae and photosynthetic bacteria near the sunlit surface. The estimate concerns gross production, not a claim that every second breath contains a newly made oxygen molecule from today’s plankton. Marine organisms and chemical reactions consume…
A marsh organ is an outdoor experiment that lets scientists test how tidal wetland plants respond to different flooding levels. Rows of vertical PVC pipes resemble the pipes of a musical organ, which gives the device its name. Each pipe holds marsh soil and plants at a measured elevation relative to the tide. The design…
A beach can look clear and inviting while tests show that entering the water carries an elevated risk of illness. Local health agencies close swimming areas or post advisories when monitoring, spills or visible hazards indicate unsafe conditions. Bacteria after heavy rain are a common reason, but harmful algal blooms and sewage releases can also…
