Educational Resources

The temperature of the ocean right at the surface is usually a few tenths of a degree Celsius (0.2 to 0.5 °C) cooler than the bulk temperature just a millimeter below the surface. Even though the difference is small, on a global scale the effect is important for estimating the uptake of CO2 by the ocean. This so-called “cool skin effect” is due to the typical conditions of cooling at the surface that results in a net flow of heat from the ocean to the atmosphere. Dr. Andy Jessup will explain and analyze what the crew from sailing vessel One Ocean has collected to date.

The Around the Americas Expedition is a 14-month voyage, that just launched in May. They will circumnavigate North and South America aboard the 48-foot sailboat, One Ocean. The mission focuses on scientific research, education, and community outreach to raise awareness about ocean health. Building on Captain Mark Schrader’s original 2009–2010 journey, the expedition will compare oceanic changes over the past 15 years.

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Dr. Thomson studies waves and turbulence at the ocean surface, including interactions with sea ice. His work emphasizes field measurements and physical processes and includes the development of instrumentation and autonomous platforms like the MicroSWIFT Buoy Tracker. This buoy provides real-time data on wave conditions, sea surface temperature, and buoy location. These small, GPS- equipped wave buoys are deployed as part of the 2025 Around the Americas expedition to help scientists monitor dynamic coastal and open ocean environments.

The Around the Americas Expedition is a 14-month voyage, that just launched in May. They will circumnavigate North and South America aboard the 48-foot sailboat, One Ocean. The mission focuses on scientific research, education, and community outreach to raise awareness about ocean health. Building on Captain Mark Schrader’s original 2009–2010 journey, the expedition will compare oceanic changes over the past 15 years.

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The more we understand about whales, the better we can advocate for positive measures of protection that are rooted in science. Hydrophones and drone technology to coastal marine and land based surveys. Around the Americas has partnered with BC Whales to conduct comprehensive research on nutritional, acoustic, and social needs of whales.

The Around the Americas Expedition is a 14-month voyage, that just launched in May. They will circumnavigate North and South America aboard the 48-foot sailboat, One Ocean. The mission focuses on scientific research, education, and community outreach to raise awareness about ocean health. Building on Captain Mark Schrader’s original 2009–2010 journey, the expedition will compare oceanic changes over the past 15 years.

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Kelp forests are among Earth’s most dynamic and productive marine ecosystems, created by giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) and bull kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana). They are also integral to the marine carbon cycle, boasting primary production rates comparable to those of tropical rainforests. Beyond their ecological importance, kelp forests hold cultural significance for Indigenous communities along the Pacific coast and contribute to commercial industries and scientific research.

The Around the Americas Expedition is a 14-month voyage, that just launched in May. They will circumnavigate North and South America aboard the 48-foot sailboat, One Ocean. The mission focuses on scientific research, education, and community outreach to raise awareness about ocean health. Building on Captain Mark Schrader’s original 2009–2010 journey, the expedition will compare oceanic changes over the past 15 years.

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Around the Americas Research and Education Sailing Expedition will explore the impacts of the rising tides and a warmer world with special guest, Cameron Lee, Associate Professor from Kent State University.

The crew from sailing vessel One Ocean will talk with Cameron Lee regarding climate change and the rising sea level. As people continue to flock to coastal cities, the lives and livelihoods of over 3 billion people are now threatened by rising seas. Today, we will discuss the physical and social science behind why sea-level rise is perhaps the single most impactful consequence of our changing climate.

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The Surface Wave Instrument Float with Tracking (SWIFT) is a free drifting system to measure waves, winds, turbulence, and ambient noise at the ocean surface. Students can track this buoy for up to a month’s worth of data.

Around The Americas SWIFT Buoy Deployment Program sponsored by Sailors for the Sea Powered by Oceana and partnered with the University of Washington’s Applied Physics Lab.

This sponsorship allows several schools to engage in the buoy drop, live classroom time with the crew from sailing vessel One Ocean and broadcasted through their live education platform - Exploring By the Seat of Your Pants education platform. 

Guest Speaker: Harry Stern

Harry Stern from APL’s Polar Ice Center, studies Arctic sea ice using satellite data. Current interests include the changing sea-ice habitat of polar bears and the history of Arctic exploration. He is a member of the IUCN Polar Bear Specialist Group. Plus, the crew from sailing vessel One Ocean will deploy another microSWIFT buoy out in the Davis Strait. The buoy data - wave height, ocean temperature and salinity, can be tracked for up to 5 weeks.

The Around the Americas Expedition is a 14-month voyage, that just launched in May. They will circumnavigate North and South America aboard the 48-foot sailboat, One Ocean. The mission focuses on scientific research, education, and community outreach to raise awareness about ocean health. Building on Captain Mark Schrader’s original 2009–2010 journey, the expedition will compare oceanic changes over the past 15 years.
 

Related Video Experiment

In this engaging episode of Skagit Storytellers, host Liz Duffy sits down with Jennifer Dalton as she prepares to embark on her science expedition sailing around North and South America. Jennifer shares her journey from Bellingham to the open ocean, the preparations involved, and the purpose behind her voyage. Together, they reflect on connection, exploration, and what it means to live a life guided by adventure.

KELP are free, downloadable marine science activities that encourage curiosity in kids and help them explore their surroundings. With simple materials and minimal preparation, these dynamic lesson plans address important ocean health issues including plastic pollution, overfishing and climate change.

A presence/absence comparison of Bull Kelp canopies over a decade in Samish Traditional Territory, San Juan Archipelago, Washington by the Samish Indian Nation. This story map includes the following components: 

1. Samish Tradition
2. Bull Kelp in San Juan Islands
3. The Project
4. Kayak Surveys
5. Moving Forward