Society of Oceanography and Marine Geology - SOMaG

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The Society of Oceanography and Marine Geology (SOMaG) aims to improve the knowledge and experience in marine sciences, in students and the community, and cater to ensure the development of a sustainable marine ecosystem for future generations.

Did you know the ocean has "hotspots"? 🌊🔥*What are they?* Spots where super-hot magma from 2,900 km deep punches throug...
09/08/2026

Did you know the ocean has "hotspots"? 🌊🔥

*What are they?*
Spots where super-hot magma from 2,900 km deep punches through the ocean floor. The hotspot stays still. The tectonic plates move over it.

*Why they’re wild:*

*1. Island Makers*
Hawaii. The Pacific Plate moves over the Hawaii hotspot, creating a 6,000 km chain. Kauai = 5.1 million years old. The Big Island = 30°C like the Western Pacific Warm Pool fuel monsoons, El Niño, and Cat 5 cyclones. +1°C = 15% more rainfall.

*4. Alien Life*
Hydrothermal vents hit 400°C. Tube worms, yeti crabs, and giant clams live there with zero sunlight using chemosynthesis. NASA studies them for clues about life on Europa and Enceladus.

71% of Earth is ocean. Most of our planet’s geology happens where we can’t see it.

Society Of Oceanography And Marine Geology🌊

🌊 Successfully Completed | SOMaG Distinguished Guest Lecture 🌊The Society of Oceanography and Marine Geology (SOMaG) suc...
06/08/2026

🌊 Successfully Completed | SOMaG Distinguished Guest Lecture 🌊

The Society of Oceanography and Marine Geology (SOMaG) successfully organized a distinguished guest lecture on 31st July 2026 featuring Prof. Camilo Ponton from the Department of Geology, Western Washington University, USA.

The lecture, titled “From Forest to Submarine Fan: Woody Debris Reshapes Organic Carbon Burial Estimates in Marine Sediments”, provided valuable insights into the role of woody debris in marine sediment processes and organic carbon burial estimates, highlighting the connections between terrestrial and marine environments.

We sincerely thank Prof. Camilo Ponton for sharing his valuable knowledge, research experiences, and inspiring perspectives with our community.

Our heartfelt gratitude goes to the Department of Oceanography and Marine Geology, academic staff, non-academic staff, SOMaG members, and all participants for their valuable support, dedication, and contributions toward the successful organization of this event.

We appreciate everyone who joined and supported this academic initiative, making this event a memorable and successful learning experience.

Captured by📸-Yasuri Herath

🌊 Society of Oceanography and Marine Geology (SOMaG)

🌍🟩 The Green Oceans of the Archean: Cradle of Life 🦠✨​Before our oceans turned blue, they were green! 🟢🌊​Following the f...
04/08/2026

🌍🟩 The Green Oceans of the Archean: Cradle of Life 🦠✨

​Before our oceans turned blue, they were green! 🟢🌊

​Following the formation of the early oceans in the Hadean Eon, Earth entered the Archean Eon 2.5 billion years. During this era, Earth’s vast waters transformed from a chaotic chemical soup into the birthplace of all terrestrial life. 🦠✨

​How did a planet devoid of oxygen and drenched in dissolved iron produce the earliest ecosystems? 🧪🌋

​Explore deep-sea alkaline hydrothermal vents the primordial reactors where chemical energy sparked early metabolism and discover how tiny microorganisms engineered the Great Oxidation Event through stromatolites and layered Banded Iron Formations (BIFs). 🪨🦪

​🌊 A deep dive into ancient marine biogeochemistry, revealing how micro-scale life reshaped global ocean chemistry forever. 🔬✨

​✍️ Scientific Content Edited by
Udathari Thilakaratne

​🌊 Society of Oceanography and Marine Geology (SOMaG)

03/08/2026

🪼 Jellyfish Alert! 🌊

Jellyfish may look beautiful, but some can deliver painful and dangerous stings. If you see jellyfish in the sea, keep your distance, never touch them, and follow local beach warnings. 🚫🪼

Stay alert. Stay safe. Respect the ocean. 💙🌊










Society of Oceanography And Marine Geology 🌊💫

🌊 World Marine Protected Areas Day 2026 🌍Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are vital for safeguarding the health of our ocea...
01/08/2026

🌊 World Marine Protected Areas Day 2026 🌍

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are vital for safeguarding the health of our oceans. They conserve marine biodiversity, protect critical habitats, restore fish populations, and strengthen the resilience of coastal ecosystems in the face of climate change.

By protecting these valuable marine environments, we help ensure sustainable fisheries, support coastal communities, and preserve the rich natural heritage of our blue planet for future generations.

On World Marine Protected Areas Day 2026, let us reaffirm our commitment to science-based conservation, responsible ocean stewardship, and collaborative action to protect the seas that sustain us all.

💙 Healthy Oceans. Protected Marine Areas. Sustainable Future.



Society of Oceanography And Marine Geology

🌍🌊 An Earth Without Oceans? The Hadean Earth 🔬✨Earth formed from planetesimals (relatively small celestial objects that ...
01/08/2026

🌍🌊 An Earth Without Oceans? The Hadean Earth 🔬✨

Earth formed from planetesimals (relatively small celestial objects that existed in the early Solar System) approximately 4.5 billion years ago. 🌎☄️ During this early period, Earth’s surface temperature was above 1200°C, sustaining a global silicate magma ocean. 🌋🔥

🌋 Outgassing: The Formation of Earth’s Water 💧

With time, the mantle began to crystallize. Hydrous minerals such as ringwoodite broke down, releasing H₂O and CO₂. This process, known as outgassing, mainly occurred through volcanic activity. 🌋

Once Earth’s surface temperature fell below the critical point of water, the basaltic crust (the current oceanic crust) began to thicken. Scientific models suggest that the released water v***r condensed into liquid water, and continuous rainfall over several thousand years gradually filled the ocean basins. 🌧️🌊

☄️ Water from Space? 🌌

Lunar samples suggest that a period of intense bombardment, known as the Late Heavy Bombardment, occurred around 4.1–3.8 billion years ago. During this period, icy planetesimals and carbonaceous chondrites impacted the inner planets (planets located between the asteroid belt and the Sun).

These water-rich objects may have contributed to Earth’s ocean water; however, this hypothesis remains an actively debated scientific topic. 🔭🌍

🧂 How Did the Ocean Become Salty? 🌊

Slightly acidic rainwater interacted with rocks on land, causing erosion and releasing dissolved ions. These ions were transported through streams and rivers (runoff) and eventually reached the ocean. 🌧️🏞️

At the same time, seawater circulated through geothermally active hydrothermal vents on the seafloor. As seawater was heated and interacted with oceanic crust, minerals and salts were released back into the ocean. Over geological time, these processes gradually created the salty oceans we know today. 🌋🧂

🌍 From a molten planet to a blue planet the origin of oceans represents one of Earth’s greatest transformations, shaping the environment that supports life today. 🌊✨

📚 References:
• Ocean’s Origin – EBSCO Research Starter
• Webb, P. (2019). Introduction to Oceanography. Rebus Community
• National Ocean Service (NOAA)

✍️ Scientific Content Edited by
Pahan Bandara

🌊 Society of Oceanography and Marine Geology (SOMaG)

🌊🔬

🌿 WORLD MANGROVE DAY 2026 🌿Uniting for the Future of Our Coastal & Marine Biosphere!🌊​Situated at the dynamic boundary w...
26/07/2026

🌿 WORLD MANGROVE DAY 2026 🌿

Uniting for the Future of Our Coastal & Marine Biosphere!🌊

​Situated at the dynamic boundary where terrestrial and ocean worlds meet, mangrove forests are among the most extraordinary intertidal ecosystems on Earth. 🍃 Today, on July 26th, we reaffirm our collective duty to safeguard, restore, and celebrate these invaluable coastal sanctuaries! 🌍🛡️

​🔬 SCIENTIFIC & ECOLOGICAL HIGHLIGHTS

​🌧️ Blue Carbon Dynamics & Climate Action
Mangrove species are global carbon powerhouses! 💥 They sequester atmospheric Carbon dioxide at rates 4 to 5 times faster than terrestrial tropical rainforests, locking carbon safely away in anaerobic soils as "Blue Carbon" for centuries. 📉🌡️

​🌿 Morphological Adaptations & Shoreline Protection
With specialized root architecture-like the prop roots of _Rhizophora_ sp. and pneumatophores of _Avicennia_ sp. mangroves dissipate high-energy waves, trap fine sediments, and build natural bio-shields against coastal erosion and storm surges. 🌊🛡️

​🦀 Nursery Sanctuaries & Trophic Support
Adapted to extreme salinity, these forests act as vital nursery grounds for juvenile fish, decapod crustaceans, and molluscs. 🐟🦐 The leaf litter breaks down into nutrient-rich detritus, driving complex marine food webs from the bottom up!

​🛡️ Ecological Resilience & Community Livelihoods
Beyond ecological beauty, mangroves buffer coastal communities against climate impacts while laying the biological foundation for sustainable fisheries and coastal livelihoods. 🎣⛵

​🌱 Protecting mangroves isn't just about saving trees—it's about securing our marine biodiversity and future climate equilibrium.

​Let’s join hands today to protect, conserve, and scientifically restore these marine treasures! 🌊🤝🌱

Society Of Oceanography and Marine Geology

20/07/2026

🐋 Did you know whales can hunt as a team?

Humpback whales use an incredible technique called bubble-net feeding. They dive beneath a school of fish and blow bubbles in a circle, creating a "net" that traps the fish together. Then, the whales swim upward with their mouths wide open to catch thousands of fish in one amazing movement!

This is one of the best examples of teamwork and intelligence in the marine world. 🌊💙

🎥 Watch this fascinating hunting strategy in action!

Society of Oceanography and Marine Geology(SOMaG)

🌊 New Committee Members (2026/2027) 🌊🤝 Introducing our newly appointed committee members of the Society of Oceanography ...
17/07/2026

🌊 New Committee Members (2026/2027) 🌊

🤝 Introducing our newly appointed committee members of the Society of Oceanography and Marine Geology (SOMaG). With enthusiasm, teamwork, and dedication, we look forward to your valuable contributions in strengthening our society and creating memorable experiences. 🌊✨

Society of Oceanography and Marine Geology (SOMaG)

🌊 New Office Bearers (2026/2027) 🌊✨ Introducing our newly appointed office bearers of the Society of Oceanography and Ma...
17/07/2026

🌊 New Office Bearers (2026/2027) 🌊

✨ Introducing our newly appointed office bearers of the Society of Oceanography and Marine Geology (SOMaG). With fresh leadership, dedication, and commitment, we look forward to an inspiring journey filled with new achievements and opportunities. 🌊🌟

Society of Oceanography and Marine Geology (SOMaG)

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