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OUR OCEAN. OUR PLANET. OUR FUTURE.®

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) is the world's premier independent organization dedicated exclusively to ocean research, technology, and education. We combine state-of-the-art science, engineering, and ship operations to unravel the mysteries of the deep and devise science-based solutions to planet-wide problems.

💥🌋TONIGHT🌋💥 Join us for an explosive conversation about #volcanoes – on land and in the deep sea! ⁠
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📲 Find us live on Facebook or YouTube or register for the Zoom at our bio page 🔗⁠
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#OceanEncounters is an official event of the @unoceandecade⁠
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🌊🌋🌊 Why do oceanographers study volcanoes? It turns out, most of the planet’s volcanic activity happens in– or around– the ocean! Peer inside the caldera with us at Ocean Encounters TOMORROW at 7:30pm (ET)!⁠
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📲 Head to the bio 🔗 to register for the Zoom– or find us live on Facebook or YouTube!⁠
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#OceanEncounters is an official event of the @unoceandecade⁠
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🛑🦠🦪 A salt pond on outer #CapeCod closed to shellfishing twice this year due to early-season #redtide outbreaks. The toxic #algae has put a damper on the community’s clamming efforts– but it might be a sign of deeper trouble for coastal ponds across New England.⁠
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#WHOI experts tell @provincetownindependent what they know about harmful algae blooms or #HABs 📲 Get informed at the link in bio!⁠
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📸 by Jack Styler
🌡️ A marine #heatwave last year turned the #CaribbeanSea and #Florida coast into a veritable hot tub, devastating #coralreefs and the fisheries that depend on them. ⁠
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🥵 From 2014 to 2016, a mass of water in the North Pacific– nicknamed #TheBlob –reached up to 11°F (6°C) higher than average and wreaked havoc on the marine ecosystem.⁠
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⁉️ So... what is a marine heatwave, and why should you care? ⁠
📲 Find out at the bio 🔗⁠
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📹 This @nasaearth animation shows the evolution of accumulated heat stress from July through September 2023. The colors depict “degree heating weeks” (°C-weeks)—a measure that provides an estimate of the severity and duration of thermal stress. Animation by Wanmei Liang, using Daily 5km Degree Heating Weeks data from Coral Reef Watch.

OUR WORK

WHOI is at the forefront of groundbreaking science and technology development, unlocking the mysteries of our ocean, its connections to life on Earth, and solutions it may hold to some of our most pressing environmental challenges.

Our scientists and engineers lead more than 800 concurrent projects, tackling some of the most challenging and important problems of our time, from climate change and ocean pollution to sustainable food and energy production.

We operate a fleet of research vessels and vehicles, including two large ships (R/V Neil Armstrong and R/V Atlantis), a smaller coastal research vessel, the iconic human-occupied submersible Alvin, and dozens of other underwater robots.

Through our higher education programs, including the prestigious MIT-WHOI Joint Program, we train new generations of ocean scientists, engineers, and leaders-providing access to cutting edge facilities and unparalleled access to the sea.

WHOI plays a leading role in ocean communications, sharing our insights and knowledge about the ocean to the general public, policymakers, educators, and more, so we can make wise decisions about our ocean, our planet, and our future.

KNOW YOUR OCEAN

The ocean covers more than 2/3 of Earth's surface and is a fundamental reason why life exists on Earth-but yet many know so little about it. Dive in to learn more about our ocean planet.

EXPLORE WITH US

For nearly a century, WHOI has been one of the best known and most trusted names in ocean science and exploration. Become a part of the research that shapes our understanding of the ocean, our planet, and life on Earth.