"Wisdom begins in wonder" – Socrates
Peat
10/25/26
“What happens when large layers of dead vegetation pile up in a wetland?”
Vegetation grows and dies. Dead plant material in a waterlogged environment may decay slowly due to a lack of available oxygen. More dead material will pile up over time, leading to the creation of Peat. Peat is an organic material that stores carbon from the original plant material, retains and filters water, and supports ecosystems.
Submerged Forests
10/24/26
“Why are there underwater forests?”
Forests form from a dense community of trees. Climate change and land subsidence can cause sea-level rise to submerge forests. Sediment and mud can cover the tree trunks, sealing them off from oxygen and preserving these spaces as Submerged Forests. Submerged forests are a relic of coastal geology and ecosystem status from previous eras. Many more submerged forests will form if humans do not stop climate change.
Coastal Deserts
10/23/26
“How can deserts form along the coast?”
When people discuss deserts, it’s easy to imagine an endless inland expanse of sand. But deserts can form over coasts too. Cold currents in the tropics will cause cold air to move along the western coastlines of continents. This cold air doesn’t rise upward to form clouds, and instead stays in a stable fog layer. This low cloud formation limits rainfall along the coasts, forming Coastal Deserts. Coastal deserts are cooler and more stable climates than other deserts, and the fog moisture creates fertile conditions for unique organism evolution. Famous coastal deserts include the Namib Desert (pictured) in southern Africa and the Atacama Desert in Chile.
Marine Transgression
10/22/26
“How can the sea advance over land?”
It’s easy to assume coastlines are permanently static. However, the sea can advance over land either through sea level rise, land subsidence, or both. This process is known as Marine Transgression. Jakarta, the largest city in Indonesia, is a prime example of this.
Plankton
10/21/26
“How do we classify tiny water organisms that drift instead of swim?”
We hear about plankton when discussing water environments. But what exactly are they? Well, Plankton are small organisms that drift with water currents instead of swimming against them. There are plankton in all of the major biological kingdoms, ranging in size from microscopic bacteria to massive jellyfish. Plankton are a vital part of the Earth’s water ecosystem.
Garage Flood Vents
10/20/26
“How can we place flood vents in garages?”
Flood vents protect building foundations during storms by channelling stormwater through a designated path. People can install flood vents in their garages to create Garage Flood Vents. Garage flood vents are typically installed low on exterior walls to let rising water in and receding water out.
Image credit: https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/
Phytoplankton
10/19/26
“What forms the base of ocean ecosystems?”
Creatures at the base of a food chain use primary production and photosynthesis to create new biomass. Phytoplankton, or plankton that use photosynthesis, are one of these creatures. Phytoplankton are responsible for around half of all oxygen production and photosynthetic activity despite composing only 1 percent of all biomass. Phytoplankton typically congregate in the photic zone since they require sunlight. Phytoplankton also require inorganic nutrients to survive, which is why they’re not commonly found in oceanic deserts.
Breakaway Walls
10/18/26
“Why do some buildings have walls that break away during floods to protect structural integrity?”
People usually build walls to keep floodwaters from entering an area. However, the water can cause the wall to collapse if too much piles up. This is especially dangerous for buildings people live, work, and play in. But what if we had a wall that breaks away when a certain load is met, letting water pass through without harming the rest of the structure instead of destroying its supports? Well, this is the idea behind Breakaway Walls. Breakaway walls are like an above-ground version of flood vents. Breakaway walls are often implemented in buildings inhabiting the 100-year flood zone or higher.
Ocean Upwelling
10/17/26
“How does nutrient-rich water move from the ocean floor to the surface?”
Wind can blow coastal water away from land as a consequence of the Coriolis effect. Cold, nutrient-dense water from the ocean floor will move to the surface to replace the displaced water. This Ocean Upwelling drastically changes ecosystems by providing rich nutrients to the surface and cooling the surrounding environment. Famous coastlines that experience upwelling include Northern California and Namibia.
