Two items of interest at The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution or WHOI. Not just a place to pass on the way to the Vineyard.
Work on oil spills here reveals long-term damage, via The Globe
At the time of the 1969 spill, lobsters, clams, and fish died by the thousands, but most people thought the harm would be temporary, reflecting what was then the conventional wisdom.
Now, as the first tendrils of heavy oil from the leaking BP well begin to suffocate Louisiana marshes, Wild Harbor’s muck shows that damage can persist for decades in fragile marshes.
More on WHOI and the oil spill here.
Also, WHOI h is going to run a huge Navy research boat :
The “Ocean Class” replaces “the currently aging ships with vessels of global endurance, current technological capability, and optimized number of science berths.”
The new ship will serve a pressing need for a general-purpose ship based on the East coast of the United States. The pivotal role that the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans play in Earth’s climate system has resulted in an increase in observatory efforts in these areas, as well new efforts to study North Atlantic ecosystems and their sustainability.
WHOI currently operates three ocean-going research vessels, a coastal vessel, and several small craft. In addition, WHOI operates the National Deep Submergence Facility (NDSF) that currently includes the human occupied (HOV) submersible Alvin and the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Jason. WHOI is also a leader in autonomous underwater vehicles, including the latest generation research AUVSentry. Experience gained from the operation of these assets has given the Institution unique expertise in operating and maintaining seagoing research facilities.
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