On the Coast: Coastline Changes Over Time
Whatever a coastline's shape today, it was probably different yesterday, as it will no doubt be tomorrow. Coastal zones are among the most dynamic areas on Earth, subject to a host of factors that make every coast a work in progress.
Something in the Air: Meteorology and Hurricanes
Some of the most important research currently underway in the field of meteorology involves hurricanes.
Dirty Water: Pollution in Bays and Estuaries
Among the areas hardest hit by marine pollution are bays and estuaries which, under normal circumstances, are extraordinarily productive. Estuaries are vulnerable to more than just oil spills and harbor development. They can also be harmed by the ch...
Dirty Water: Eutrophication
Among the greatest threats to estuaries and other closed bodies of water is eutrophication. This is the process by which abnormally high levels of nutrients are introduced into the environment. This can create an imbalance in the local ecosystem, wh...
On the Coast: Protecting the Coastal Environment
Given the extensive use of the coast by humans, the task of protecting the coastal environment is enormously challenging.
Dirty Water: Urban Runoff
The amount of oil that reaches the ocean from urban runoff and other terrestrial sources greatly exceeds the oil that comes from tanker spills.