Ocean Blog
Taking the Ocean PersonallyPublished by: Christine Hoekenga - Jun 8, 2010Last week, we began asking visitors to the Ocean Portal a simple question: “How do you feel about the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico?" |
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A Watershed Moment for the OceanPublished by: Christine Hoekenga - Jun 2, 2010As the days grow long, school bells fade into distant memories, and families start taking long weekends at the beach, the Ocean Portal Team is preparing for the weeks ahead. The way we see it, June 2010 is going to be a significant month for the ocean. |
 Dr. Erica Miller, of the Louisiana State Wildlife Response Team, cleanses an oil-covered pelican in Plaquemines Parish, LA.
Justin Stumberg, U.S. Navy/Marine Photobank
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A Current Event in the Classroom: Deepwater Horizon Oil SpillPublished by: Catherine - May 10, 2010Sometimes, a tragic event can become a powerful teaching opportunity. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has the potential to capture students’ attention and stimulate discussion on topics like: • biology and ecology (How will the oil effect wildlife and the environment?), • physics and chemistry (How do water conditions, currents, and weather affect the way the oil disperses? What techniques and materials can we use to clean up this mess?), |
 Students share a microscope to get a closer look at plankton samples from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.
Seaberry Nachbar, NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries
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State of Emergency in the GulfPublished by: Smithsonian Institution - Apr 30, 2010The explosion of Deepwater Horizon, an oil-drilling platform roughly 50 miles off the coast of Louisiana, is quickly growing into an environmental disaster that will leave its mark on coastal communities, fisheries, wildlife, and ecosystems along the Gulf Coast for decades to come. |
 Satellite view of the Gulf Coast oil spill off of Louisiana, April 29, 2010.
NASA
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Into the Blue: Join Us for Science & Scuba SymposiumPublished by: Christine Hoekenga - Apr 29, 2010Jacques Cousteau once said, “When you dive, you begin to feel like an angel." It’s true. When a diver dons a tank and slips into the water, the noisy clatter of the world disappears and the sensation of weightlessness takes over. The unrestrained expanse of blue water. The dazzling rainbow of marine life. The splinters of silver light dancing through the water column. Scuba diving is an experience like no other. |
 A scientific diver collects data on an underwater slate.
Mike Lang/Smithsonian Institution
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On Earth Day, Think Blue.Published by: Christine Hoekenga - Apr 22, 2010Earth Day is a fitting occasion to celebrate the Big Blue. While our planet may be called “Earth,” 71% of its surface is actually covered by water. This vast ocean makes our planet habitable—for us and all life. It produces half the oxygen we breathe. It moderates climate, absorbs carbon from the atmosphere, furnishes food and jobs to millions of people, and provides countless other services to humankind. The ocean does so much for us. On Earth Day, surely we can return the favor. Whatever you’re planning to do today, there are actions you can take to protect the ocean. |
 Students hike up to Inspiration Point in the Channel Islands.
Claire Fackler, NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries
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The Ocean Hits the Big ScreenPublished by: Christine Hoekenga - Apr 17, 2010It may be called Earth Day, but April 22nd is a perfect day to remind ourselves that we actually live on a planet dominated by water. In fact, with 71% of the earth’s surface covered by water, we might just as well call it Planet Ocean. This year, we’ll have a chance to explore the other three quarters of our planet on the big screen with Disney Nature’s release of Oceans, opening on Earth Day in theaters around Canada and the U.S. |
 A cameraman navigates a smack of sea nettles (Chrysaora fuscescens) in Monterey Bay. Sea nettle blooms have become more common in recent years.
© 2010 Walt Disney Pictures
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Teach UsPublished by: Christine Hoekenga - Mar 12, 2010Welcome Teachers! Thank you for visiting the Ocean Portal. We hope the “OP” will be a valuable tool for you and for your students—a place where you can find teaching resources and your students can find helpful, exciting, or just-plain-weird content that sparks interest in science and the ocean. When we began developing educator resources for the OP, we surveyed hundreds of teachers about the kinds of features and materials they would find useful (thanks to those of you who participated!). |
 A student participates in shoreline survey in the Western Cape Province of South Africa.
Kathleen Reaugh/Marine Photobank
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Climate Change on the BrainPublished by: Christine Hoekenga - Mar 2, 2010We’re only two months into 2010, and climate change is shaping up to be one of the year’s big buzz topics. Our friends at NOAA have released a prototype of their new Climate Portal. |
 A screenshot from the NOAA Climate Portal prototype.
NOAA
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Finding Little Gems in the SeaPublished by: Christine Hoekenga - Feb 23, 2010This month, our friends at National Geographic are featuring Smithsonian's own bio-scavenger, Chris Meyer and his work in one of our favorite places: Moorea, French Polynesia. |
 A collage of the wildlife found in one cubic foot on the reef near Moorea, French Polynesia.
© David Liittschwager/National Geographic
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