Many scientists consider the Earth’s oceans to hold some of the last real mysteries on the planet, with new species still being discovered every year and the depths of the deepest seas yet unexplored. These engaging interactives from the Woods Hole Oceanagraphic Institution were a clear reader favorite, bringing blue water and sundry sea life onto our monitors and into our conversations. Of...

In light of a number of recent events, there is increased concern about the management of America's coastal and ocean resources. It is a pressing issue for economic reasons, along with the simple fact that over fifty percent of the U.S. population lives close to the coastlines of two oceans and the Great Lakes. Persons interested in these matters will appreciate the NOAA Office of Ocean and...

Created and managed by a team of partners, including the United Nations, the Ocean Data Viewer was developed "to help inform decisions that are important for the conservation of marine and coastal biodiversity." The Data Viewer website is elegant and intuitive, even for neophytes, and it offers sixteen datasets combined in a mashup style format with a political map of the world. On the homepage,...

This website discusses the USGS Coastal and Marine Geology Program's studies of the extent and causes of hurricanes' and extreme storms' coastal impacts in order to improve the ability to predict coastal change. Students can find a tutorial about hurricanes, El Ni'os, and Northeasters. The site provides a map of the current tropical storm tracks. Researchers can learn about the USGS's use of video...