New Study Provides First Field Observations of Rare Omura’s Whales
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Published: 22 October 2015
Researchers have made the first confirmed field observations of rare Omura’s whales off Madagascar. Long misidentified as Bryde’s whales, these elusive marine mammals show unique markings and vocal behavior. DNA confirmed the species' identity.
Keywords: Baleen whales, vocalizations, marine mammal research, genetic identification, Bryde’s whale, whale sightings, cetacean biodiversity
Gulf Stream Ring Water Intrudes onto Continental Shelf Like “Pinocchio’s Nose”
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Published: 30 September 2015
WHOI scientists discovered a new process—Pinocchio’s Nose Intrusions—where warm Gulf Stream water penetrates the colder continental shelf near Massachusetts. Data from ocean gliders revealed deep intrusions that could impact marine ecosystems and fisheries.
Keywords: water density, fisheries, American eel, shelf circulation, ocean warming, marine ecosystems, OOI, WHOI.
The Sound of a Healthy Reef
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Published: 26 August 2016
WHOI scientists found that reef sounds likely don’t travel far enough for marine larvae to detect from open ocean. Measuring particle motion, not just pressure waves, revealed low sound levels beyond a few meters—shifting ideas on how larvae find reefs.
Keywords: reef acoustics, particle motion, sound propagation, oceanography, Max Kaplan, Aran Mooney, reef conservation
