The Library

elephant seal
Elephant Seal
Species
Elephant seals are the largest seals on earth. Males grow to over 13 feet long and weigh up to 4,500 pounds. Females are slightly smaller, measuring up to 10 feet in length and...
Laysan Albatross
Laysan Albatross
Species
Laysan albatross are seabirds, meaning they spend most of their lives at sea. Albatross are the largest of the sea birds and one of the worlds most accomplished fliers....
Bluefin Tuna
Northern Bluefin Tuna
Species
Bluefin tuna are some of the fastest fish in the sea. They have streamlined bodies and can even retract their dorsal and pectoral fins to reduce drag in the...
White Shark
White Shark
Species
White sharks are the largest predatory sharks, and the occasional encounter with humans has made them the most famous. Although they can reach almost 7 m in length, the average shark...
bathymetry
Bathymetry
Oceanographic Factors
Bathymetry is the measurement of depth of water in oceans, seas, or lakes. How is bathymetry represented in the Ocean Tracks map? The bathymetry data layer...
chlorophyll
Chlorophyll
Oceanographic Factors
Chlorophyll is a green pigment, present in all green plants and in cyanobacteria, responsible for the absorption of light to provide energy for...
currents
Ocean Currents
Oceanographic Factors
Wind is the primary force driving surface currents in the ocean. The sun heats the surface of the earth unevenly because of the shape and tilt...
SST
Sea Surface Temperature
Oceanographic Factors
Sea surface temperature (SST) is the water temperature close to the ocean's surface. The exact meaning of surface varies...
Archival Tag
Archival Tag
Tags
Data storage or archival tags have been used extensively to study large-scale movement and behavioral patterns of marine fish, reptiles, birds and mammals. In the past 5 years, rapid...
Satellite Telemetry Tags
Satellite Telemetry Tags
Tags
The term “satellite telemetry tag” is used broadly to describe electronic tags which use Earth-orbiting satellite systems, like GPS or Argos, to determine their...
satellite tag
Pop-up satellite archival tags (PSATs)
Tags
Pop-up satellite archival tags (PSATs) are satellite tags and archival tags combined in the same package. Their major advantage is that...
SPOT tag
Smart Position and Temperature (SPOT) Transmitting Tags
Tags
Smart Position and Temperature (SPOT) Transmitting tags are perfect for studying species that spend...
Video
From Tags to Tracks
Tags
This video explains how tags are used for tracking animals.

Pacific Current
Major Currents
The North Pacific Ocean
Gyres are large rotating current systems in the ocean. The motion of gyres is determined by the direction of the prevailing winds and the...
The North Pacific Transition Zone and Transition Zone Chlorophyll Front
The North Pacific Ocean
The region of the ocean where...
Upwelling
Upwelling and the California Current
The North Pacific Ocean
The California current is the eastern boundary current of the North Pacific Gyre, running southward...
Pacific Basin
General Ecology Introduction
General Ecology
The oceans of our planet cover approximately 70% of the Earth’s surface. The Pacific Ocean is the largest of all ocean basins, covering...
community image
Levels of Organization in Ecology
General Ecology
Stretching from 8 kilometers above the Earth’s surface and diving deep as far as 11 kilometers below the surface of the...
trophic level
Energy and Food Webs
General Ecology
All living things require energy in order to survive and carry out their life processes, such as growth, reproduction and for their metabolism. For...
curviness tool
The Curviness Tool
The Curviness Tool
The curviness number is calculated by dividing the distance along the path from point A to point B (solid line) by the straight-line distance between point A and...
Biological Hotspots in Ocean Tracks
Hotspots
Biodiversity hotspots are areas that are used by many different species. In other words, these areas have high biological diversity.

Hotspot Image
Biodiversity Hotspots in Conservation
Hotspots
Biodiversity is the variety of life on earth. Biodiversity is most simply thought of as the number of species found on earth,...
Hotspot Tool
The Hotspot Tool
Hotspots
The hotspot tool we use in Ocean Tracks measures the density of points in a particular area. The higher the density of points, the more red the area appears. The lower the density...
climate change
Climate Change
Human Impacts
The term climate is used to describe weather conditions (including average and extreme conditions) over a long time period. The sun is the primary source of energy...
coastal development
Coastal Development
Human Impacts
The number of people living on the coasts has rapidly increased in recent decades, causing significant development of coastal areas. Coastal development...
Fishing
Fishing
Human Impacts
Humans have relied on resources from the ocean since the beginnings of human existence on the planet. Population growth has increased demand for fishery species, which in...
Human Impact
Human Impacts Map
Human Impacts
Scientists have recently generated a map that shows the intensity of human impacts in the ocean (http://www.nceas.ucsb.edu/globalmarine). The colors on this...
Lion fish
Invasive Species
Human Impacts
Invasive species are non-native to a particular region, and negatively impact native species through interactions such as predation and competition.
...
Corals
Ocean Acidification
Human Impacts
The ocean plays an important role in regulating the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The ocean absorbs about a quarter of the carbon dioxide...
Oil extraction
Oil Extraction
Human Impacts
Oil extraction activities can negatively effect marine organisms by destroying ocean habitat and by releasing oil and other pollutants into the marine environment...
pollution
Pollution
Human Impacts
Human activities along the coast and in open ocean areas can result in the addition of chemicals, particles, and other waste materials into the marine environment.
...
cargo shipping
Shipping
Human Impacts
Cargo ships negatively impact the marine environment in a number of ways, including through the release of pollutants, animal strikes, carbon emissions, and the distribution of...
MPAs
Marine Protected Areas Introduction
Marine Protected Areas
If you have ever been to Acadia, Yellowstone or some other national park, then you have been to a geographic area that has been...
whale
Purpose and Benefits of Marine Protected Areas
Marine Protected Areas
Marine Protected Areas are established with one of three objectives in mind. To conserve natural heritage...
whales
Establishing Marine Protected Areas
Marine Protected Areas
When determining the location of a MPA, there are some characteristics of the site to consider: areas that are...
dolphin
The Social Dimensions of MPAs
Marine Protected Areas
Human interactions with the ocean are important economically, socially, culturally, and spiritually. Marine policy makers,...
Marine Sanctuary
Types and Design of Marine Protected Areas
Marine Protected Areas
Examples of Marine Protected areas include, marine reserves, marine sanctuaries, national parks and...
drifters
Drifters
Drifters
“Drifters” are freely-floating drifting buoys that are deployed in the ocean to measure currents. The drifter is composed of a surface float, a tether and a drogue. There are some variations on...
Overview Video
Overview Video
Video Tutorials
An overview video of the Ocean Tracks interface.

The Tracks Video
The Tracks Video Tutorial
Video Tutorials
This video explains how to use the Tracks overlay.

The Tools Video
The Tools Video Tutorial
Video Tutorials
This video explains how to use the tools in the Ocean Tracks interface.

The Overlays Video
The Overlays Video Tutorial
Video Tutorials
This video explains how to use the overlays in the Ocean Tracks interface.

The Library Video
The Library Video Tutorial
Video Tutorials
Learn how to access the Library, which has resources related to Ocean Tracks, in the video tutorial.

Interacting with Tracks Video
Interacting with Tracks on the Map Video Tutorial
Video Tutorials
Learn how the tools and overlays interact with the animals tracks in this video tutorial.
...
Meet Taylor Chapple
Scientist Video: Taylor Chapple – Background
Scientist Videos
Meet scientist Taylor Chapple and learn how he became a marine biologist studying white sharks.
...
Tagging Sharks Video
Scientist Video: Taylor Chapple – Tagging White Sharks
Scientist Videos
How do scientists tag sharks for research? Learn more in this video.
...
Conservation Video
Scientist Video: Taylor Chapple – Conservation
Scientist Videos
In this video, scientist Taylor Chapple explains why the conservation and protection of sharks is...
Sara Maxwell
Scientist Video: Sara Maxwell – Career
Scientist Videos
Meet scientist Sara Maxwell. Hear how she found her career path.

Predators Video
Scientist Video: Sara Maxwell – Predators
Scientist Videos
Scientist Sara Maxwell describes why predators are so important to ecosystems.

Conservation Video
Scientist Video: Sara Maxwell – Conservation
Scientist Videos
How can we protect animals? Scientist Sara Maxwell discusses a few conservation methods.
...
Elliott Hazen
Scientist Video: Meet Elliott Hazen
Scientist Videos
Meet Elliott Hazen and hear how he became involved with animal tracking research and what we know from this research.
...
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