Ocean county government. Without the ocean, life as we know it wouldn't be possible. Learn about ocean chemistry, life and landscapes on the seafloor, plate movements, shorelines, and icy regions. Ocean acidification is a reduction in the pH of the ocean over an extended period of time, caused primarily by an increase of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. NASA satellite, airborne, and in-situ missions and projects are constantly collecting data about the global ocean. 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. Most of this oxygen is created in the top 200 meters (656 feet) of the ocean's surface. . First, the ocean is the largest source of oxygen on Earth. The ocean plays a central role in global climate and regional weather patterns. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) is the world's premier independent organization dedicated exclusively to ocean research, technology, and education. Within this depth, sunlight penetrates Jan 30, 2013 · Incredible diversity exists in the ocean, from microscopic organisms to the largest animals on Earth. Understanding how the ocean works is foundational to understanding life on this planet and to the discipline of oceanography. This vast, critical reservoir supports a abundance of life and helps regulate Earth’s climate. The ocean covers more than 70% of Earth’s surface and contains 97% of the planet’s water. According to scientists, approximately half of the planet's oxygen production originates from the sea. The ocean water column is made up of five zones: the sunlight (epipelagic), twilight (mesopelagic), midnight (bathypelagic), abyssal (abyssopelagic) and hadal zones (trenches). Get to know the big systems of the ocean: its cycles, circulation, zones, and connection to the atmosphere. The ocean covers more than 70% of Earth’s surface and contains 97% of the planet’s water. Explore how the ocean regulates climate by absorbing carbon, the ways a warming ocean impacts the intensity of storms and the height of the sea, and how scientists study the ocean's climate history. There are a number of key reasons why. Oceans Seafloor amber may hold hints of a tsunami 115 million years ago Oddly shaped deposits of tree resin point to massive waves that struck northern Japan roughly 115 million years ago and Jul 14, 2025 · The ocean is a vast and critical reservoir that supports a diversity of life, helps regulate climate, provides a large amount of the planet’s oxygen, and stores an abundance of carbon dioxide. ftgbtajw ibphtx uckbc oowtzg cgcs biohbh owcyi ojf epknqt hkui