Tagged: ocean

A waterspout in Florida

What’s happening over the water? Pictured above is one of the better images yet recorded of a waterspout, a type of tornado that occurs over water. Waterspouts are spinning columns of rising moist air that typically form over warm water. Waterspouts can be as dangerous as tornadoes and can feature wind speeds over 200 kilometers per hour. Some waterspouts form away from thunderstormsand even during relatively fair weather. Waterspouts may be relatively transparent and initially visible only by an unusual pattern they create on the water. The above image was taken earlier this month nearTampa Bay, Florida. The Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida is arguably the most active area in the world for waterspouts, with hundreds forming each year. Some people speculate that waterspouts are responsible for some of the losses recorded in the Bermuda Triangle.

Manatees – endangered gentle giants (16 pictures)

Massive yet gentle, manatees are endangered marine mammals. Sometimes called “sea cows,” they were once thought to be a bit dimwitted, but now are known to have a similar intelligence to dolphins. We fell in love with them while we were in Florida, so here’s look at these endearing, endangered gentle giants. 

Landscapes by Leo Caillard (15 pictures)

A series about the action of humans in diverse types of environments. Deserts and metropolises, the North to South, a contemplative view of the world, with no specific location globally.. A panoramic story of earth and man.

Acoustic Surveillance: Sensing trouble on the sea floor

Wireless communication is reaching new levels as scientists are testing autonomous devices that can detect and understand what is happening underwater. This technology should allow the creation of a functioning network for acoustic surveillance on a large scale, deep in the oceans.

Beached Whale Art in Greenwich, London (8 pictures)

A lifesize fiberglass sculpture of a beached whale on the bank of the River Thames at Greenwich, in London. It is so realistic that a number of people have believed it to be real. The artwork is not designed (necessarily) to frighten the kids: it is part of the Greenwich and Docklands International Festival.