Our Toxic Oceans

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch,
also described as the Eastern Garbage Patch or the Pacific Trash Vortex, is a gyre of marine litter [toxic materials] in the central North Pacific Ocean

For Kids

From the Forests to the Sea

The Grandeur of Ancient Forests—Though only four percent of old growth redwood forests is left, it's still nowhere near fully explored. Richard Preston speaks in tones of wonder and joy about discoveries of the biggest trees in the world. The images are stunning.





Elegance and Beauty of the Deep Sea—Sit back, relax, and enjoy this stunning video of deep sea life never before seen. David Gallo's narration evinces a sense of wonder.

Spinner Dolphin

Navy Sonar & Whales

more info

As oceans fall ill, Washington bureaucrats squabble

By Les Blumenthal McClatchy Newspapers Les Blumenthal, Mcclatchy Newspapers – Sun Nov 8, 12:01 pm ET

WASHINGTON — Off the coast of Washington state, mysterious algae mixed with sea foam have killed more than 8,000 seabirds, puzzling scientists. A thousand miles off California, researchers have discovered the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a swirling vortex roughly twice the size of Texas filled with tiny bits of plastic and other debris. Continue

photo by NOAA

An oceanic gyre is any large-scale system of rotating ocean currents, particularly those involved with large wind movements. Gyres are caused by the Coriolis effect; planetary vorticity along with horizontal and vertical friction, which determine the circulation patterns from the wind curl (torque).^[1]
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