Monsoons are winds that change directions with the season and are most often associated with Africa and South Asia. Winter monsoons are dry while summer monsoons bring rain. Very weak monsoons develop on the Gulf of Mexico.
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Action Project Ideas: Around the Community (5 of 5)
One idea I had when I started this website almost ten years ago was that I wanted to make science simple and accessible. I hope I have created a place where questions on anything from barnacles to whales can be answered in a knowledgeable no-nonsense or overly jargon tone. My secondary goal has also been […]
Saltwater vs. Freshwater: Why droughts are a real problem
Earth’s surface is about 70% water. But, only 1% of that is accessible freshwater (i.e., found in lakes, rivers, streams, and ponds). McGraw Hill pulled together this beautiful infographic illustrating the amount of water on the surface of the Earth that humans can actually use (‘Just a drop in the bucket’, so to speak). Consider […]
Why the ocean?
12% of land is protected, while only 2% of the sea is protected. That’s not proportional when you think that the ocean takes up over 70% of our planet. Please watch this incredibly creative, punchy, entertaining, and most importantly, inspiring video from One World One Ocean. I was inspired enough to want to share it […]
5 fun facts about seahorses
The female lays her eggs in the male’s tummy pouch, he then incubates them for about 30 days, then they hatch. Seahorses do not have a stomach; they eat constantly to help get enough food to digest. Seahorses do not have teeth; they have a fused jaws, so they kind of suck up their food […]
What is your favorite ocean-themed children’s book?
Summer is unofficially here and with that comes trips to the beach! To keep the theme going at home I am on a mission to discover new ocean-themed books to share with my little one. I compiled this list after some research and from your feedback on Facebook and Twitter. Please share by commenting below […]
From sea to shining sea, a flag for you and me!
I hope everyone enjoys a happy and safe Independence Day this 4th of July! (Please be careful using fireworks. According to Mother Earth News, “Fireworks can unleash a shower of toxins into soil and water, and scientists are only beginning to figure out what that means for human health”. Also, don’t forget your boat safety […]
Maryland moves closer to banning microbeads
Reported on the Baltimore Sun’s B’More Green blog, “Consumer products such as toothpaste and cosmetic scrubs containing tiny plastic “microbeads” could be banned from store shelves in Maryland after 2018 under a bill unanimously approved Thursday by the state Senate”. These means that if the bill passes the House, “Maryland will be the second state […]
How do female terrapins navigate to a nesting site?
The answer is “very carefully”. Female terrapins need to look for a spot above the high tide line to lay a nest for their eggs (They lay on average 2 clutches of approximately a dozen eggs each summer). The challenge is getting to a spot on the beach above the high tide line (dunes are […]
15 facts about the Portuguese man-of-war that’ll have you saying “Didya know…?”
I won’t say it has anything to do with us … oh, wait … yes, I will. The ocean is getting warmer because of climate change. One effect of this would be that many animals that pretty much only preferred the luxurious tropical waters of the south Atlantic now find the Mid-Atlantic waters great! Oh, […]
Why are mussels always found on pilings?
Well, it is important to mention that not all mussels are found on pilings. Mussels attach themselves to any type of hard substrate in the intertidal regions, including pilings. On pilings the top most mussels indicate the high tide line. To go off on a random tangent, here is a yummy mussel recipe: http://allrecipes.com/HowTo/Cooking-Mussels/Detail.aspx Do […]
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