Tsunamis can be generated by underwater volcanic explosions thousands of miles away. The Jan. 15 explosion in Tonga resulted in tsunami advisories for British Columbia and all along the U.S. west coast.
Academic rigour, journalistic flair
Articles on Pacific Ocean
Displaying 1 - 20 of 46 articles
Tsunamis aren’t just bigger-than-average waves. Triggered by undersea earthquakes or volcanic eruptions like the one in Tonga, they are fast, massive and potentially destructive. Here’s why.
Offshore oil drilling has a long history in California, but is highly unpopular today. The latest major spill is likely to fuel efforts to wind down oil and gas production statewide.
Making biofuels from crops grown on land poses trade-offs between food and fuel. A new study looks offshore.
By measuring how and when elephant seals sleep, researchers were able to figure out how elephant seals change their risk-taking behavior as they gain weight.
With research that offers new insights, there is increased hope for improved climate predictions and better preparation for severe weather conditions.
Aotearoa New Zealand is falling behind in world heritage sites. Is it time we lobbied for recognition of our unique cultural history?
Climate change is a true existential threat for small island nations, but the US has done little to help the Marshall Islands, which it administered for decades.
Oceans 21 is a Conversation international series examining the history and future of the world’s ocean.
The Pacific Ocean produces oxygen, helps regulates the weather, provides food and livelihoods. It’s a place of fun, solace and spiritual connection. But its delicate ecology is under threat.
Scientists had been uncertain about why killer whales are dying in the northeastern Pacific Ocean. A new study takes an in-depth look and provides the tools to help prevent additional deaths in the future.
New research confirms that massive plumes of buoyant hot rock once rose from near the Earth’s core to the surface and triggered vast volcanic eruptions - and that New Zealand sits on top of one.
The absence of climate drivers – specifically, the Indian Ocean Dipole and La Niña – explains why Australia has gone so long without heavy rains.
Almost a decade before the moon landings, humans reached the lowest point on Earth’s surface.
As well as a stark warning about climate change, the disaster underlines the importance of wildlife monitoring.
New South Wales boasts many wonderful ocean pools, thanks to a combination of climate, geology, culture and prosperity. Despite concerns about costs, economic and health benefits far outweigh these.
Fishers who hunt wild tuna use fish’s natural attraction to floating objects to lure them to known positions near GPS-equipped rafts. However, these rafts are attracting increasing concern.
The day and a half it takes to get from New York to Singapore and back offers plenty of time to ponder the economics of ultra-long-haul flights – and wonder why we’d want to make it any longer.
If you’ve ever wondered where the ocean currents flow around Australia’s coastline then we have a great map for you.
Noisy waters may be making it harder for southern resident killer whales to communicate with each other and find their food.
Top contributors
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Senior Lecturer in Climate Science, The University of Melbourne
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Lecturer, Monash University
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Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO
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Professor of Coastal Oceanography, The University of Western Australia
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Professor of Geography, School of Law and Society, University of the Sunshine Coast
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Laureate Professor, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
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Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes, UNSW Sydney
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honorary Professor, The University of Melbourne
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University of Technology Sydney
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Professor, The University of Queensland
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Head of Operational Climate Services, Australian Bureau of Meteorology
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A/Prof., School of Earth Sciences, The University of Melbourne
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Senior Lecturer, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle
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Distinguished Scholar, NCAR; Affiliated Faculty, University of Auckland
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Reader, School of Earth Sciences, The University of Melbourne
