Water science news, explainers, and statistics covering freshwater, hydrology, lakes, rivers, groundwater, ice, and Earth’s connected water systems.
Marine aquaculture is the breeding, rearing and harvesting of animals or plants that live in saltwater. Farms may operate in coastal bays, estuaries, offshore waters, or land-based tanks supplied with seawater. They raise seafood such as oysters and salmon while cultivating seaweed. Some operations produce juveniles for restoration and help rebuild depleted populations. NOAA’s aquaculture…
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Flotsam is vessel-related wreckage or cargo that entered the water accidentally, while jetsam is material deliberately cast overboard, traditionally to lighten a vessel in distress. The everyday phrase “flotsam and jetsam” means scattered odds and ends, but the two words preserve different histories in maritime practice. NOAA’s comparison uses intent as the key separator: accident…
A perigean spring tide occurs when a new or full moon falls close to perigee, the moon’s nearest point to Earth in its monthly orbit. The alignment of the sun, Earth and moon produces a spring tide, while the moon’s closer distance strengthens its tide-producing effect. High water is generally higher and low water lower…
High-tide flooding occurs when seawater covers normally dry coastal land during high tide, often without a major storm. Rising relative sea level has brought routine tides closer to streets, storm drains and buildings in many communities. A strong astronomical tide, wind, ocean currents, waves, or rain can provide the smaller extra rise needed to cross…
