Archive for October 2017
Out of the ocean
Science fiction and Hollywood authors have provided increasingly sophisticated jump-so-much-you-drop-your-popcorn monsters, mutants, and aliens over the years, some of which you might have seen haunting the streets this past weekend. Even the fanciest CGI though can’t quite match mother nature’s own bizarre creations. Here’s my shortlist of the creepy-crawliest ocean inhabitants. The most likely to…
Read MoreHate construction noise? Turns out marine animals aren’t fond of it either.
Written by Ian Jones Across the globe, humans continue to hammer giant steel piles into the ocean floor. Why? Such piles are necessary to support docks, piers, and variety of offshore energy platforms, from oil rigs to offshore wind farms. This pile driving activity adds an incredible amount of noise to the marine environment. It’s…
Read MoreSCARF 2017: A modern-day transatlantic crossing
At 16:00 UTC (12 noon, EST) on October 8 2017, midway across the Atlantic Ocean, Earth’s magnetic field strength dropped to 0. Had we just made an exciting new discovery? Was this evidence of an imminent geomagnetic reversal? Was a mysterious lump of magnetite on the seafloor cancelling out the ambient field?…or did the magnetometer…
Read MoreCoastal oceanography in the height of hurricane season
Written By: Mallory Ringham Oceanographic research cruises are typically planned months, if not years, in advance of sailing. So we often have to view cruise itineraries as suggestions rather than as definite plans, with an understanding that weather and equipment status may significantly impact scientific goals. On September 8, the CO2 Systems Laboratory from Woods…
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