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.
RECENT NEWS
WHOI receives $1.6 Million to build revolutionary Antarctic ice shelf monitoring system
SAMS will operate autonomously for years in hostile, difficult-to-reach locations that are Ground Zero for global sea-level rise
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🏖️Heading to the #beach? Why not combine fun in the sun with a bit of #citizenscience?
@whoiseagrant’s #CoastSnap camera mounts make it easy for you to take a picture of the changing shoreline with your cell phone! As you can see in this #timelapse from Town Neck Beach in Sandwich, MA, the images provide coastal scientists with insights into the effects of beach nourishment, wave conditions, and extreme storms over time.
@coastsnap can be found in six states across the Northeastern US and in 22 countries around the world. 📲 Find one near you at the 🔗 in bio!
Aug 19
🐋 It’s a whale of a tale… a whale without a tail!?
This tail-less #humpback has been observed swimming in Washington`s #SalishSea – but it’s not a fluke. Missing fins are usually the result of entanglements by fishing gear, which #WHOI expert Michael Moore calls “a totem for crisis.”
📲 Dive into the issue with @seattletimes (story link in bio)
🎥 by Eric Guth | @thewhalemuseum under NMFS Permit 24359
Aug 19
🐧 In Antarctica’s icy kingdom, #emperorpenguins march along the front lines of climate change. Similar to polar bears in the Arctic, penguins depend on thick sea ice for breeding, feeding, and molting. Too little ice–or ice that breaks up too early– can be catastrophic.
This year, Antarctic sea ice reached the second-lowest minimum extent in the 46-year satellite record. Without strong action on climate, scientists say that emperor #penguins may vanish entirely by 2100.
#WHOI researchers have been working in #Antarctica for decades to understand how penguins respond to climate change and gain deeper insights into the their ecology. Their work has played a pivotal role in getting the emperor penguin listed as a threatened species under the US Endangered Species Act–a powerful example of how science leads the way for conservation of marine life.
📲 Visit the link in our profile to find out what it`ll take to bring these threatened seabirds back from the brink.
📸 by Alan Chung © Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Aug 18
Ever go to drink from your #waterbottle, only to find out it`s empty? That will never happen again with this clear, ALVIN-inspired water bottle designed by @capeclasp! 😰
ALVIN has ventured where few have gone before, taking researchers to jaw-dropping depths of 6453 meters (that`s nearly 4 miles down, folks!) to uncover the mysteries of the ocean`s abyss.
🎂Celebrate ALVIN`s 60th birthday, one sip at a time! 📲 Get yours from the #WHOI Shop!
#Alvin60
Aug 17
📣 🏅🏃♀️ Meet Sue Nevler, one of the 10 #TeamWHOI runners Racing for the Ocean in tomorrow`s @falmouthroadrace! Sue has raised over $4,000 to benefit #WHOI`s marine research, but her connection to the ocean runs deep. The Falmouth native`s father had a long history on WHOI ships and her brother, A.D. Colburn III, served as captain of @rv.atlantis
"Our family stories were tied to WHOI and the oceans," Nevler says. "I`m worried about our ocean, and that`s why I`m running to support WHOI research. I hope you will support too."
👟 Support the runners by cheering them along the 7-mile course– and donating to their favorite cause at the 🔗 in bio!
Aug 17
⁉️Have you ever heard of #ProjectFAMOUS?
From 1971 to 1974, the French-American Mid-Ocean Undersea Study (FAMOUS) broke the boundaries of #deepsea #exploration. For the first time, scientists were able to study the tectonic boundary at the #MidAtlanticRidge using human-occupied submersibles– including #Alvin!
📲Watch the full-length feature documentary about what they found (YouTube 🔗 in bio)!
#Alvin60
Aug 16
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.
FEATURED PROJECTS
We have over 1,000 scientists, engineers, technicians, and support staff working around the globe and cutting edge laboratories to push the boundaries of knowledge about the ocean.
Ocean and Climate Innovation Accelerator
Bringing together industry, academia, and philanthropy to develop and accelerate new climate change solutions.
Ocean Twilight Zone
Exploring the globe-spanning region beneath the sunlit upper ocean where life thrives
Ocean Worlds
Discovering the links between life in our ocean and the search for life beyond Earth
Marine Microplastics Initiative
Investigating the fate of microplastics and their impacts on marine life and human health
Super Reefs
Searching for corals around the world to help ensure a future for reefs in a warming ocean
Ocean Observatories Initiative
The NSF-funded program measures physical, chemical, geological and biological properties from the seafloor to the air-sea interface.
HADEX
Research and exploration of the deepest parts of the ocean, Earth’s final frontier
Reef Solutions
Working to protect corals and reverse the global decline of reef ecosystems