Plastic Garbage in Oceans: Understanding Marine Pollution from Microplastic Particles
Plastic bottles washed on to the beach are as much a part of the coast as the sound of seagulls. What the eye does not see are the innumerable ultra-small plastic objects which float in the water, are washed on to the beach or settle on the sea bed. The majority of microplastic particles are smaller than a grain of sand or the tip of a needle. It is this property that also makes them so dangerous to the sea dwellers…
Two Years Later: New Partnership for People and Nature in the Gulf
New Partnership aims to show that environmental restoration is the foundation for lasting economic security for Gulf Coast communities.
How Much is a Dolphin Worth?
Two years after the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster, BP and US authorities wrangle over how much should be paid in damages
Marine Scientists Urge Government to Reassess Oil Spill Response
On the second anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon blowout, a national panel of researchers is urging the federal government to reassess how it would respond to similar oil spills that might occur in the future.
BP Seals $7.8 bn Settlement in US Oil Spill
Oil giant BP said Wednesday it has finalized a $7.8 billion deal to settle thousands of claims from fishermen and others affected by the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill…
5 Misconceptions About Sea-Level Rise
Clear scientific consensus on global climate change amongst scientists does exist. Every major scientific organization in the United States, Europe, and Asia has produced statements supporting the science behind the human contribution to global warming and indicating an expected acceleration in the rate of sea-level rise over the next century…
Oil Safety Weak Two Years After BP Spill
Offshore drilling safety and oversight is still lacking two years after the massive BP oil spill sullied the US Gulf Coast, two reports released Tuesday have found.
Can Whales Predict Tsunamis?
As tsunami warnings hit the Indonesian and Sri Lankan coasts last week, observers at sea watched as every species of cetacean, from massive blue whales to diminutive spinner dolphins, vanished in the space of a few minutes.
NOAA Releases New Views of Earth’s Ocean Floor
NOAA has made sea floor maps and other data on the world’s coasts, continental shelves and deep ocean available for easy viewing online. These are critical data for modeling coastal flooding, from tsunami to hurricane storm surge.