New research has shown that the world’s oceans, which comprise over 70% of the Earth’s surface, are absorbing more atmospheric carbon dioxide than researchers first estimated.
oceans
Physical Geography
Negotiations Underway at United Nations for Marine Protected Areas
The United Nations is now developing a set of regulations for ocean waters beyond 200 miles from national boundaries, outside exclusive economic zones.
Human Geography
Who Owns the Oceans?
Who own’s the world’s oceans? This article explore some of the international convention on jurisdiction over oceans.
Human Geography
Ocean Garbage Patches
Ocean garbage patches are concentrations of marine debris located in the North Pacific Ocean. These garbage patches are comprised of many different kinds of materials and, although they are located in the same region, often change shape and form because of the influence of tides and other climate factors. Many […]
Physical Geography
Census of Marine Life
A $650-million project that has been ongoing since May of 2000 to inventory and document every species in the world’s oceans is nearing completion. Over 400 shipboard expeditions have yielded more than 5,600 new species and located species long thought extinct such as a shrimp thought extinct for 50 million […]
Physical Geography
Amazing Undersea World
David Gallo talks about some deep and shallow sea wonders on this fascinating video from the TED site. The video starts out showing some bioluminescent fish. The second part of the video reviews the amazing chamoflage abilities of cephlapods. Click on the gray box in the upper right hand corner […]
Human Geography
Garbage Patch Islands in the Oceans
An enormous collection of garbage weighing more than 3 tons and a size of twice the state of Texas is floating out in an isolated section of the Pacific Ocean. The garbage patch, dubbed the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, is held together by a rotating system of currents known as […]