How is it that we didn't know why the ocean was salty until 1979? Nat Geo Explorer at Large Bob Ballard explains why such a basic question remained a mystery for so long—and where his team finally found the answer. 🌊 | National Geographic Education

50 reactions | As things continue to ramp up for ocean exploration in 2023, we'd like to take a moment to reflect back on all of the activities, discoveries, partnerships, and outreach that made 2022 such a great year: https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/about/annual-reports/annual-report22/annual-report-2022.html. Onward and downward! | NOAA Ocean Exploration | Facebook

Exploration is key to increasing our understanding of the ocean, so we can more effectively manage, conserve, regulate, and use ocean resources that are vital to our economy and to all of our lives. . . For other reasons why we explore the ocean, check out our fact: https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/facts/why.html. . . [Video developed with Schmidt Ocean Institute and Nautilus Live.] | NOAA Ocean Exploration