Alfred Wegener and Continental Drift
Geophysicist and geologist Tanya Atwater discusses the role of Alfred Wegener in bringing together a variety of evidence in support of the theory of continental drift.
Beneath the Surface: Light in the Ocean
One of the defining elements that distinguishes one ocean layer from another is the presence or absence of light. The impact of light in the marine environment is significant. It affects the behavior of marine animals an..
Beneath the Surface: Ocean's Horizontal Layers, The
The area beneath the surface of the ocean is laid out in discrete zones and layers. These provide a convenient framework within which to analyze ocean structure.
Beneath the Surface: Physical Processes and Marine Chemistry
Marine chemistry is used to understand physical processes, such as ocean circulation, as well as various biological processes.
Beneath the Surface: Spreading, Scattering and Shadow Zones
The rate at which sound spreads out in the ocean is affected by scattering, which often occurs when sound waves hit boundaries, like the seafloor and the ocean surface. When sound waves scatter, they may cause the format..
Beneath the Surface: Use of Sound by Marine Mammals
Marine mammals use sound in much the same way that animals on land use their sight and, to some extent, their hearing. It offers the best means by which to detect their prey at a distance.
Beneath the Surface: Using Sound to Study the Ocean's Interior
Sound is sometimes used to study the ocean's interior. For example, the speed of sound in the ocean can be used to measure the temperature between the source and the receiver.
Beneath the Surface: Water and the Speed of Sound
Sound in the ocean travels about five times as fast as it does in the atmosphere. As with light, absorption plays a major role.
Building Blocks: Ancient Fossils, Modern Technology
As scientists work to answer vexing questions about the origins of life, they examine the fossilized remains of the primitive life forms which at one time populated early Earth. The challenge in doing this is not only a ..
Building Blocks: Mass Extinctions
The ultimate example of an environmental change leading to the termination of a species is what's known as a mass extinction.