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Currents: the conveyor belts of the ocean

Currents: the conveyor belts of the ocean

What are currents made of and how do they form? An ocean current is a portion of ocean water moving in one direction. Currents are driven by two main factors: the coriolis effect and differential heating. The coriolis effect is a phenomena that occurs when differences in speed at which the equator and the poles of the Earth rotate cause objects not attached to the ground to travel in a non- straight line. An example of this would be ocean currents: currents in the northern he

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The Mini Pea Crab

The Mini Pea Crab

Introduction The Pea Crab is an unusual little parasite which you may just meet face-to-face. Pea Crabs live inside clams, mussels, and oysters, and people sitting down to a seafood meal occasionally find them. Those in the know consider them delicacies. Pea Crabs fit their name. The largest females measure under an inch across. Full-grown males are much smaller. These tiny crabs live in the part of clams and similar creatures called the mantle, which, among other things, sif

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Whale fall; the process of decomposition in the ocean

Whale fall; the process of decomposition in the ocean

It’s tragic to see any creature die of natural causes. The ocean is a vast collection of water that holds many different animals. It’s interesting to see how each of those creatures die and decompose. Small creatures like crabs don’t decompose as slowly as whales because of the size difference. For example, the whale is a giant creature that can take months to years to decompose. Many creatures thrive off of the decomposing corpse of a large creature to survive like different

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You are my Sunshine, Ocean Sunfish

You are my Sunshine, Ocean Sunfish

The ocean sunfish is a species of fish, which is pretty obvious from its' name. The ocean sunfish is one of the heaviest/boniest fish. The ocean sunfish lives in tropical waters all over the globe. Here are some facts about the ocean sunfish. The scientific name for the ocean sunfish is mola mola. The length of an adult ocean sunfish is 5.9 ft. The average speed of an adult ocean sunfish is 2mph. The average lifespan of an ocean sunfish is 10 years. Females can lay up to 300

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Killer Whales: Creatures of the Open Waters

Killer Whales: Creatures of the Open Waters

Support the Guardian “Killer whales explain the mystery of the menopause” - https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/jan/15/killer-whales-explain-meaning-of-the-menopause What are Killer Whales? Killer Whales are toothed mammals belonging to the oceanic dolphin family. They are known by various names; Orcas, Orcinus Orca, and even Shamu. These creatures often perform at aquariums and amusement parks such as Sea World. Diet Killer whales are carnivores. Killer whales eat anim

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Dead Zones

Dead Zones

What are Dead Zones and How do They Form? Dead zones are low oxygen regions in water, also called hypoxic regions. They are called “dead zones” because of the lack of life in those areas. Dead zones form through a process called eutrophication, when a region of water has too many nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus. These nutrients can come from animal manure, fertilizers, or sewage. As a result, cyanobacteria, algae, phytoplankton, and seaweed grow out of control on t

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Largest Waves In The World!

Largest Waves In The World!

1. Praia do Norte // Nazaré, Portugal This spot is the home to several Guinness World Records, including the largest wave ever ridden, and the biggest wave ever surfed by a woman. Some even call the powerful waves, "the surfboard breaking machine". These can reach up to 100 ft and are a result of swell refraction, rapid depth reduction, converging waves produced by an underwater canyon, and a local water channel. 2. Jaws/Peahi // Maui, Hawaii Jaws is considered to have the f

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The Waddling Gentoo Penguins

The Waddling Gentoo Penguins

Introduction With flamboyant red-orange beaks, white-feather caps, and peach-colored feet, gentoo penguins stand out against their drab, rock-strewn Antarctic habitat. These charismatic waddlers, who populate the Antarctic Peninsula and numerous islands around the frozen continent, are the penguin world’s third largest members, reaching a height of 30 inches and a weight of 12 pounds. Gentoos are partial to ice-free areas, including coastal plains, sheltered valleys, and clif

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Seals- the angelic creature of the sea

Seals- the angelic creature of the sea

The seal is a curious and intelligent creature of the sea. These creatures are semi aquatic creatures found throughout the world, 33 species to be exact. Seals are a part of the pinnipeds branch, the three main groups of the pinnipeds branch is Odobenidae, Otariidae and the Phocidae sub branch. Most species can be found in the colder weather, the seal has a thick layer of fat and condensed fur that keeps them from freezing. Various types of seals can hold their breath for dif

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The Natural Wonder of Bioluminescence

The Natural Wonder of Bioluminescence

The Natural Wonder of Bioluminescence What is Bioluminescence? This amazing phenomenon is caused by the production and emission of light by marine vertebrates, marine invertebrates, fungi, microorganisms, and bioluminescent bacteria. A well-known example of this process is fireflies! Causes Bioluminescence occurs through a chemical reaction that produces light energy within an organism's body. For a reaction to occur, a species must contain luciferin or host a bacteria that d

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The octopus- the master escape artist.

The octopus- the master escape artist.

The octopus is an otherworldly creature that deserves more praise than it gets. Octopuses are a part of the mollusk family; other members of the mollusk family are the cuttlefish. These strange creatures live across the world and are extremely smart for a sea creature but they have 9 brains after all. Octopus are known for escaping and stealing from their caretakers when in captivity. In the wild the octopus is known for its ability to squish into a small area, they can compr

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Tsunami? What’s that?

Tsunami? What’s that?

Introduction Chances are you’ve heard the term “tsunami” (su-nah-me), whether it was from a Science fiction movie or off the news, but if not this article will teach you all about tsunamis. From how tsunamis form, the causes and the aftermath of tsunamis and past events involving them and so much more. You’ll be an expert on tsunamis by the end of this article! What is a Tsunami? According to https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/tsunami.html, “A tsunami is a series of waves ca

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Jumping Contest with Sharks

Jumping Contest with Sharks

Have you ever wondered what type of shark can jump the highest? No worries, your question will be answered. The ability to jump higher is based mostly on the shape of the sharks' tails. A few sharks are able to use their tails to propel themselves outside of the water, leading to a fantastic jumping competition. The Shortfin Mako shark is the gold metal winner in this jumping competition. It can propel itself 30 feet out of the water, which is equivalent to 9 meters. The Thre

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15 Delightful Dolphin Facts!

15 Delightful Dolphin Facts!

Dolphins can be found all over the world and in different environments The Amazon River is home to four species of freshwater dolphin, found nowhere else on Earth Noise pollution from the oil and gas industry and underwater construction is a serious threat to dolphins and their way of life They're extremely fast in short bursts, up to 30 mph! They love to blow bubbles 6. Dolphins are very chatty and social 7. They are very intelligent 8. They can turn off half of their brain

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Plastic Pollution in the Ocean

Plastic Pollution in the Ocean

Many have heard of the Great Pacific garbage patch. It's trash has accumulated in an area in between Hawaii and California. The patch is two times the size of Texas or three times the size of France. As you can imagine, this is a big area just full of trash. What trash you may ask? Fishing nets, lost equipment, water bottles, and especially microplastics. Microplastics are tiny particles of plastic-like materials that are too small to see with the human eye, but make the oce

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Crabs- the armored amphibians

Crabs- the armored amphibians

Like salamanders, frogs and toads these creatures are amphibious. If you didn’t know amphibious means that they are comfortable in and outside of the ocean. They can be found anywhere in the world and can be found at every part of the ocean. You can find them on the rocky shore to the deepest darkest parts of the sea. Crabs are a part of the decapod group deca means 10 legs other members of this group are lobsters,shrimp , and prawns. They all have 2 sets of claws that they u

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Electric Eels; *Shocking*

Electric Eels; Shocking

Despite their name and appearance, electric eels are not even a part of the eel family. They are actually more closely related to the catfish and carp family. These famous creatures get their name from the electrical shock they produce when stinging predators and prey. Physical Appearance The electric eel has a long slender body with a flattened head, much like a snake! Electric eels have thick skin usually a dark grey, brownish, or yellow-orange color. Electric eels have thr

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