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OUR OCEAN. OUR PLANET. OUR FUTURE.®

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.

🌈 We found the gold at the end of the rainbow!!⁠
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The proverbial leprechaun led us to these yellow "hard hat” flotation balls aboard a research vessel in the North Atlantic. The buoyant gems contain glass spheres, which keep instrumented cables attached to oceanographic moorings afloat. It turns out that there's a whole network of these treasures in remote ocean locations around the world, enabling scientists to track oceanic processes and air-sea interactions that influence Earth's climate.⁠
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☘️ #HappyStPatrick's Day! Follow your rainbow! ⁠
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📸 by Sean Whelan © #WHOI⁠
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🥶 It might seem counter-intuitive, but a new study by @utrechtuniversity says global warming could make some areas colder. We haven’t quite reached that tipping point, but scientists are keeping a close watch on changes in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, or AMOC. ⁠
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📲 Check out #WHOI oceanographer Nick Foukal's explanation of AMOC in the @voxdotcom story at the link in our profile! ⁠
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📸: Visualization of ocean currents and sea surface temperatures in the North Atlantic. Orange and yellow indicate warmer water, green and blue are colder water. Credit: @nasagoddard

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.

KNOW YOUR OCEAN

The ocean covers more than 2/3 of Earth's surface and is a fundamental reason why life exists on Earth-but yet many know so little about it. Dive in to learn more about our ocean planet.

EXPLORE WITH US

For nearly a century, WHOI has been one of the best known and most trusted names in ocean science and exploration. Become a part of the research that shapes our understanding of the ocean, our planet, and life on Earth.