Mar 24, 2026 · Incredible diversity exists in the ocean, from microscopic organisms to the largest animals on Earth.

The ocean covers more than 70% of Earth’s surface and contains 97% of the planet’s water. This vast, critical reservoir supports a abundance of life and helps regulate Earth’s climate.

Discover the Ocean Learning Hub—your gateway to trusted ocean science content. Easily explore by topic, media type, grade level, and educational standards.

Explore how the ocean shapes life on Earth. It sustains us, surprises us, and holds mysteries we're only beginning to understand. Dive into key topics here.

Dec 19, 2024 · The ocean water column is made up of five zones: the sunlight (epipelagic), twilight (mesopelagic), midnight (bathypelagic), abyssal (abyssopelagic) and hadal zones (trenches).

1 day ago · NASA's ocean circulation data provide accurate measurements to track and understanding the large-scale movement of waters in the ocean basins.

5 days ago · Oceans Evolution didn’t wait long after the dinosaurs died New plankton arrived just a few millennia — maybe even decades — after the Chicxulub asteroid, forcing a rethink of evolution's ...

Apr 14, 2026 · Understanding how the ocean works is foundational to understanding life on this planet and to the discipline of oceanography. Get to know the big systems of the ocean: its cycles, …

Dive in and find answers to your deepest ocean questions. Why is the ocean blue? What causes ocean waves? Get the facts and increase your ocean knowledge.

What causes ocean waves? Surf crashing off Katama's South Beach. Photo by Jayne Doucette ©Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution A trip to the ocean means sun, wind, and waves. These …