Welcome to the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton

The centre is the country’s focus for oceanography and represents an unparalleled investment in marine and earth sciences and technology in the UK. The centre opened in 1995 in a purpose-built, £50 million waterfront campus on the city’s Empress Dock. A collaboration between the Natural Environment Research Council and the University of Southampton, the centre houses around 500 staff and 750 undergraduate and postgraduate students.

News

Image: Acantharian cyst (Patrick Martin SOES/NOCS)

Deep sedimentation of acantharian cysts – a reproductive strategy?

Spore-like reproductive cysts of enigmatic organisms called acantharians rapidly sink from surface waters to the deep ocean in certain regions, according to new research. Scientists suspect that this is part of an extraordinary reproductive strategy, which allows juveniles to exploit a seasonal food bonanza.

The research shows that deep sedimentation of cysts during the spring delivers significant amounts of organic matter to the ocean depths, providing a potential source of nutrients for creatures of the deep.

“Although acantharians are known to contribute to organic matter transport at shallower depths, we were amazed to discover a high flux of their spore-like reproductive cysts in the deep ocean,” says PhD student Patrick Martin of the University of Southampton’s School of Ocean and Earth Science based at the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton.

Cysts ... Read More

Ocean & Earth Day at NOCS – Saturday 20 March 2010

The enormously exciting Ocean and Earth Day takes place at the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton (via Dock Gate 4) on 20 March 2010 between 10.30am and 4.00pm (last admission 3.30 pm).

The recent ... Full Article

Ocean & Earth Day at NOCS – Saturday 20 March 2010
Ocean geo-engineering with ocean pipes no easy fix for global warming

Pumping nutrient-rich water up from the deep ocean to boost algal growth in sunlit surface waters and draw carbon dioxide down from the atmosphere has been touted as a way of ameliorating global ... Full Article

Ocean geo-engineering with ocean pipes no easy fix for global warming
New national centre covers marine science from the coast to the deep ocean

A new, national research organisation that will work in partnership with the UK marine research community to deliver integrated marine science and technology from the coast to the deep ocean goes live from ... Full Article

New national centre covers marine science from the coast to the deep ocean
International Ocean Stewardship Forum 2010

3rd Ocean Forum focuses on Global Entitlements to Ocean Space and Biodiversity and the Marine Environment 26 - 28 May 2010

Designed to promote greater integration between the legal and technical aspects of ... Full Article

International Ocean Stewardship Forum 2010
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