Marine geophysics is the branch of geophysical sciences that investigates the structure, composition, and physical processes of the seafloor, sub-seafloor, and overlying water column using quantitative physical methods. It employs techniques such as seismic reflection and refraction, gravity and magnetic surveys, electromagnetic methods, and sonar-based bathymetry to image crustal architecture, map tectonic features, characterize sedimentary basins, and quantify magmatic and hydrothermal systems. Marine geophysics provides essential constraints on plate tectonics, oceanic crust formation, subduction processes, and fluid flow in marine environments, and it underpins resource assessment, geohazard evaluation, and models of lithosphere–asthenosphere dynamics beneath the oceans.
If there is a magnitude 8 or 9 megathrust earthquake off the coast of the Pacific Northwest, data from ocean bottom seismometers (OBS) could improve earthquake detection times calculated by the ShakeAlert system.
Earth Sciences
Apr 17, 2026
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When we dream of landscapes, we might imagine rolling valleys or rugged mountains. But there is a whole landscape hidden from human view: the secret world of the seafloor.
Earth Sciences
Feb 22, 2026
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Geologic reservoirs that trapped petroleum for millions of years are now being repurposed to store the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. New research is improving how we monitor this storage and verify how much CO2 these reservoirs ...
Earth Sciences
Feb 11, 2026
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Commercial shipping not only affects the Baltic Sea on the surface, but also has a significant impact on the water column and the seabed. A study by the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW) and Kiel ...
Earth Sciences
Feb 10, 2026
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A multinational scientific team led by UiT has uncovered the deepest known gas hydrate cold seep on the planet. The discovery was made during the Ocean Census Arctic Deep–EXTREME24 expedition and reveals a previously unknown ...
Earth Sciences
Dec 22, 2025
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52
Some ancient marine organisms produced mysterious magnetic particles of unusually large size, which can now be found as fossils in marine sediments.
Astrobiology
Oct 20, 2025
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147
Along the coast, waves break with a familiar sound. The gentle swash of the surf on the seashore can lull us to sleep, while the pounding of storm surge warns us to seek shelter.
Earth Sciences
Sep 2, 2025
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How did freshened water end up beneath the New England Shelf miles offshore, how long has it been there, and how much of it exists?
Earth Sciences
Aug 25, 2025
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171
A new study published in Science Advances has revealed the first detailed images of a newly developing subduction zone off the coast of British Columbia's Haida Gwaii archipelago.
Earth Sciences
Jul 21, 2025
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198
June 8 was UN World Oceans Day, and this year's theme is "Wonder: Sustaining What Sustains Us." One researcher who has spent years exploring these wonders is Vicki Ferrini, a marine geophysicist and a senior research scientist ...
Environment
Jun 9, 2025
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