The oceans cover more than 70 per cent of our planet. In this free course, The oceans, you will learn about the depths of the oceans and the properties of the water that fills them, what drives the ocean circulation and how the oceans influence our climate.

Take a journey into the Earth's oceans and discover whether you've got what it takes to become an oceanographer. Explore ocean depths, currents, temperatures and find out more about the future of our oceans. 

Test your knowledge about plastics in our oceans, and learn about how they impact the environment by clicking on the image below...

At over 3100 kilometres across, Europa is the fourth largest moon of Jupiter and the sixth largest moon in our Solar System, rivalling the size of Earth’s moon. Of interest to many scientists, space enthusiasts and science fiction authors is the potential for a vast, global ocean to exist below Europa’s outer icy shell; but why do we think there...

  In the coming years, Jupiter’s moon Europa will be a focus for planetary exploration because of the tantalising possibility that it might harbour life. This article introduces you to this enigmatic moon and why space scientists and astrobiologists are excited about exploring it further.

Every time you wash your clothes, microfibres escape into the environment. And that, explains Dr Natalie Welden, is a huge threat to our oceans.

What affects the atmospheric and ocean flows? This free course, Environment: understanding atmospheric and ocean flows, explores the mechanisms that are important; the most rapid carrier is the wind. The basic principle of global atmospheric circulation is simple: warm air rises and cold air sinks. How does this principle affect the ...

As the planet has ever-more mouths to feed, could increasing the consumption of seaweed and algae be the answer?

How can fossil fish teeth allow us to understand past deep ocean circulation? PhD student, Sophie Alexander, explains...

What do we know about Jupiter's and Saturn's icy moons? Could there be life on them? This article explores what previous missions can tell us and what future missions hope to find out.

Carbon isotopes found in deep water fossils offer an insight into deep ocean circulation says PhD student, Andrew McIntyre. 

The possibility of water on Mars has captured human imagination for over a century. In this free course, The Search for Water on Mars, find out more about how scientists have found evidence for water in the red planet’s past and present, and what this might mean for the possibility of life beyond Earth.