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.
In a rare alignment of research projects and ship schedules, two of our hybrid remotely operated vehicles are currently in the water: #Mesobot (picture 1) is imaging deep-sea life around American Samoa, and #NereidUnderIce (picture 2) is getting up close and personal with a Greenland glacier!
🤔 But what, exactly, is an #HROV? And how do they help us learn more about the ocean?
📲 Find out in our handy guide (link in bio!)
📸 by Molly Curran + Eric Hayden © Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Aug 20
📣 🏃🏅Shout-out to our fabulous #TeamWHOI runners, seen here getting ready to #RacefortheOcean in yesterday`s @falmouthroadrace!
👟 This powerhouse team worked hard to support our marine research and engineering programs. You can support them by donating to their favorite cause through September 30– without breaking a sweat!!
📲 Help Team WHOI reach the finish line via the link in bio!
Aug 19
🏖️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
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.