Science9 min read
Bioluminescence: Why the Sea Lights Up at Night
Glowing waves, sparkling wakes and milky seas: the chemistry and ecology of bioluminescence, and how to see the ocean light up yourself.
Dr. Mara Ellison ·
#science-101
6 articles
Science9 min read
King Tides Explained: Perigee, Syzygy and the Highest Water of the Year
King tides are the year's highest tides — astronomy, not weather. How perigee, syzygy and the solstices stack up, and why they preview our coastal future.
Dr. Lena Fischer ·
Science9 min read
Rip Currents Explained: The Physics of the Beach's Hidden Rivers
Rip currents are the surf zone's return plumbing — narrow, fast rivers of seawater leaving the beach. The physics behind them, and how to get out of one.
Dr. Lena Fischer ·
Science8 min read
How Tides Work: Springs, Neaps and the Shape of the Shore
Tides move more water than all the world's rivers. A clear guide to why the sea rises and falls — moon, sun, spring and neap tides, and what it all means for kelp.
Dr. Lena Fischer ·
Science8 min read
Ocean Salinity, Explained: Why the Sea Is Salty and Layered
Why is the sea salty, why is some sea fresher than the rest, and why does salt settle into layers? The ocean's salt budget and haloclines, explained.
Dr. Lena Fischer ·
Science9 min read
How Tides Work: The Moon, the Sun and the Twice-Daily Pulse of the Coast
The Moon and Sun raise the sea twice daily, and every coast turns that rise and fall into currents, mixing and zonation. The mechanics, plainly.
Dr. Lena Fischer ·