Marine geology is the branch of Earth sciences that investigates the composition, structure, and evolution of the ocean basins and continental margins, integrating methods from sedimentology, geophysics, geochemistry, and tectonics. It examines processes such as seafloor spreading, subduction, sediment transport and deposition, volcanic and hydrothermal activity, and the formation of features like mid-ocean ridges, trenches, seamounts, and passive margins. Marine geological research relies heavily on seismic reflection profiling, coring, dredging, and remote sensing to reconstruct paleoenvironmental conditions, quantify sediment budgets, and constrain models of plate boundary dynamics and crust–mantle interactions beneath the oceans.
Towering walls of water traveling at the speed of a jetliner, with coastal communities from Japan and Hawaii to South America and the U.S. West Coast in their path.
Earth Sciences
Aug 8, 2025
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57
A 1,000-tonne ship is exploring the far-flung South Pacific for riches buried beneath the waves, spearheading efforts to dredge the tropical waters for industrial deep-sea mining.
Environment
Jul 23, 2025
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61
Submarine canyons are among the most spectacular and fascinating geological formations to be found on our ocean floors, but at an international level, scientists have yet to uncover many of their secrets, especially those ...
Earth Sciences
Jul 21, 2025
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181
Scientists present at the latest effort to hash out international rules for deep-sea mining say it's unclear if it's possible to restore damaged seafloor ecosystems—or how long it would take.
Earth Sciences
Jul 20, 2025
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196
For John B. Anderson, the Gulf Coast is personal. The W. Maurice Ewing Professor Emeritus of Oceanography at Rice University spent his early years on Alabama's Fort Morgan Peninsula, where his father was a party boat fisherman. ...
Environment
Jul 10, 2025
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42
A new autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) imaged a previously unexplored portion of the seafloor in ultra-deep waters near the Mariana Trench. Operationalizing this technology for the first time was part of a mission led ...
Earth Sciences
Jul 7, 2025
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68
The Earth is rapidly warming, and similar climate upheavals over 300 million years ago once triggered massive fluctuations in marine life.
Earth Sciences
Jun 20, 2025
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139
Geoscientists Professor Anne Bernhardt of Freie Universität Berlin and PD Dr. Wolfgang Schwanghart of the University of Potsdam have uncovered a surprising insight using a global statistical model: The primary factor influencing ...
Earth Sciences
Jun 12, 2025
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25
Mud is messy. For some, it's a plaything. To many, it can mean real hardship. Mud, though, is often overlooked, particularly when it lies out of sight. Deep down at the bottom of the sea, it is one of the most important natural ...
Earth Sciences
Jun 9, 2025
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23
Deep sea sediments contain treasure troves of information about marine ecosystems and past climate scenarios, yet remain understudied clues into Earth's environmental future, according to researchers.
Earth Sciences
Jun 6, 2025
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