A new study reveals critical fine-scale spatial heterogeneity of mesozooplankton across three brackish bays of the Central and Eastern Baltic Sea. Salinity and temperature drive distinct zooplankton assemblages, with clear inter-bay community separation emerging.
Researchers found that as salinity increases in freshwater environments, microbial communities lose diversity due to faster-growing strains taking over, but maintain overall growth rates. This effect is also observed in natural ecosystems across different environments.
A new study reveals that temperature changes in the Indian Ocean can significantly influence winter weather thousands of kilometers away in the Eastern Mediterranean, offering new opportunities to predict damaging dry spells months before they occur. Positive phases of the Indian Ocean Dipole are linked to large-scale shifts in atmosph...
A new membrane-based approach for treating high-salinity brines has been developed, utilizing thermoresponsive ionic liquids as recoverable draw solutes. The system achieves stable operation under high-salinity conditions and can be regenerated using low-grade heat.
Researchers found that tiny, invisible swirls in the deep ocean shape significant climate forces like sea level rise and fisheries collapse. Climate models require significant improvements to accurately predict these effects.
Scientists have found that 15 million years ago, the Atlantic Ocean had large low-oxygen zones, while the Pacific Ocean's zones were much smaller. A new study suggests that ocean circulation and continental position played a crucial role in shaping these zones, indicating that warming alone cannot explain changes in oxygen levels.
A Chinese research team has developed a deep learning model that can predict the South Indian Ocean Dipole (SIOD) seven months in advance, outperforming traditional dynamical forecasting systems. The model uses sea surface temperature and ocean heat content anomalies as inputs and automatically learns key features of ocean temperature ...
Researchers found that phytoplankton in the eastern equatorial Pacific were fertilized by iron from the seafloor during ice-age transitions. This suggests a possible feedback loop connecting sea level, seafloor volcanism, and ocean biology, with potential implications for climate change.
A new framework developed by FSU researchers accurately models subsurface waves that interfere with satellite readings, increasing the accuracy of ocean circulation observations by 60%.
Researchers used the Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model to predict internal tide sea-surface height signatures and improve SWOT satellite observations of small-scale ocean eddies. The new approach accounts for 60% more internal tide signal, yielding a clearer picture of these important ocean patterns.
SwRI has introduced a new 30-inch diameter pressure vessel, enabling faster testing of larger equipment at extreme ocean depths. The vessel can test equipment up to 16,500 psig, simulating the pressures in the deepest parts of the ocean, and features a novel quick-acting closure system.
Over two decades, Biscayne Bay has become warmer, saltier, and more acidic due to climate change, threatening South Florida ecosystems. The study analyzed water quality observations collected between 2001 and 2021, finding significant increases in salinity and declining pH levels.
Researchers found that higher soil salinity can slow biochar's aging process, preserving its carbon content and reducing microbial activity. This study provides new insights for sustainable management of saline farmland and highlights the importance of microorganisms in shaping biochar's environmental functions.
Research suggests a symbiotic relationship between fish and their gut microbes produces minerals influencing ocean chemistry and the marine carbon cycle. The study found vibrio bacteria play a key role in ichthyocarbonate formation, which is linked to global nutrient cycles.
Research reveals tropical cyclones contribute to ocean carbon outgassing but its role is decreasing due to global warming. If emissions remain high, they may reverse to enhancing ocean carbon uptake, accelerating ocean acidification.
A new study reveals that the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) is more fragile than thought, with its dependence on data from various nations making it vulnerable to losses. The system's vulnerability is not just about data volume, but also geographic reach, emphasizing the need for a genuinely global, coordinated system.
A recent study reveals that Atlantic herring rewired its reproduction to survive in the Baltic Sea's low-salinity waters through four key genetic adaptations. These adaptations enabled the species to reproduce successfully despite the challenging environmental conditions, highlighting the importance of gene function and regulation in e...
A new study reveals that four specific genes are crucial for the Atlantic herring's adaptation to low salinity in the Baltic Sea. The genes, expressed in sperm, eggs, and early embryos, enable the fish to reproduce successfully in brackish water.
A new study by the U.S. National Science Foundation National Center for Atmospheric Research has found that the biological productivity of the Southern Ocean is substantially greater than previously estimated. This discovery has significant implications for our understanding of the global carbon cycle and the marine food web.
A decades-long study of oceanographic data shows that warm water has expanded and shifted towards the Antarctic continental shelf, posing a threat to ice shelves. The Southern Ocean's circulation has changed, allowing excess heat from global warming to reach Antarctica's vulnerable ice sheets.
Field experiments in China demonstrate that applying halotolerant plant growth-promoting bacteria via drip irrigation can alleviate soil salinity stress, enhance jujube productivity and fruit quality. Drip-applied PGPB treatments also modified bacterial metabolic functions and reshaped the rhizosphere bacterial community.
Intensifying ocean eddies are amplifying climate extremes in key coastal ecosystems by redistributing heat and nutrients. This process enhances productivity in some areas while trapping heat closer to the surface, leading to rapid warming and altered regional weather patterns.
Researchers used a cabled marine observatory to study plankton abundance and variety over a four-year period. They found that long-term changes in aggregate abundance and plankton diversity were not influenced by ocean turbulence.
A new method called GOFLOW uses deep learning to measure ocean surface currents over large areas with greater detail than ever before. The approach applies to thermal images from weather satellites, requiring no new hardware.
The BBVA Foundation awards Carl Wunsch for his groundbreaking work revealing the ocean's central role in regulating Earth's climate. His innovative methods allow scientists to quantify ocean state under a changing climate, highlighting the need for a global ocean observing system.
Researchers found that increasing soil salinity slows biochar aging and limits microbial colonization. Biochar retains more carbon and shows greater structural stability in saline environments compared to low-salinity conditions.
A 37-year study by the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center found that cannibalism is the primary killer of juvenile blue crabs in mid-salinity waters. However, young crabs can escape predation by migrating to shallow waters, where they are safer from adult crabs and other predators.
Researchers developed a method to use PFAS to extract lithium from high-salinity brine pools, reducing environmental damage and costs. The process, which uses electrothermal heating, recovers 82% of lithium fluoride at 99% purity, outperforming traditional methods in terms of energy efficiency and water usage.
A Rutgers researcher finds bacteria accelerate calcium carbonate dissolution in shallow seas, potentially slowing carbon sequestration and influencing climate change. The discovery sheds light on the ocean's biological carbon pump and its future implications.
Researchers found that certain salinity patterns can fuel El Niño development, increasing its intensity by 20%. This process makes extreme El Niño events more likely and causes catastrophic flooding and severe droughts. The study identified global patterns in salinity preceding major El Niño events over the past 65 years.
Researchers found that the Southern Indian Ocean has decreased in salinity by 30% over the past six decades, bringing fresh water into the region. This could disrupt major ocean circulation systems and affect marine ecosystems, including plankton and sea grass.
Researchers have developed high-density 1D ionic wire arrays that achieve simultaneous high selectivity and conductivity in ion-exchange membranes. The optimized membrane delivers ultrahigh power density of 40.5 W m-2 under a 500-fold salinity gradient.
Researchers developed the Ocean Equity Index to rate ocean initiatives on their recognition of stakeholders, inclusion in decision-making, and treatment. The index offers a practical way to prioritize coastal communities' rights and voices, leading to more equitable outcomes.
A study published in BMJ Global Health found that higher salinity in drinking water is associated with higher blood pressure and an increased risk of hypertension. Researchers analyzed data from 27 population-based studies involving over 74,000 participants across several countries.
A new study finds that soil salinization influences inorganic carbon storage, particularly in regions with elevated salinity. The research reveals a conditional relationship between salinity and inorganic carbon, highlighting the need to incorporate soil chemical processes into global carbon assessments.
Researchers propose that dense, nutrient-rich ice can separate from surrounding ice and descend into the ocean, addressing a longstanding habitability problem on Europa. The study suggests a novel idea inspired by crustal delamination, which could be a consistent means of recycling ice and providing nutrients to the ocean.
The Global Ocean Ship-Based Hydrographic Investigations Program (GO-SHIP) has been awarded the Ocean Observing Team Award for its groundbreaking contributions to ocean observing. The program's repeat hydrography measurements have documented decadal changes in ocean circulation, heat, carbon, oxygen, and nutrients.
Lisa Rom has been selected as a Fellow of The Oceanography Society for her profound impact on ocean science education, particularly through the Centers for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence (COSEE) network. Her efforts have strengthened connections between research and society, broadened participation in the ocean sciences, and suppo...
Zhongping Lee received the 2026 Nils Gunnar Jerlov Medal for his transformative contributions to understanding light interaction with the ocean. His work reshaped ocean color science, enabling robust global observations of ocean transparency and productivity from satellites.
The Earth's ocean stored more heat in 2025 than in any year since modern measurements began, with a record-high increase of 23 Zetta Joules. The findings indicate stronger ocean warming trends since the 1990s and highlight the importance of reducing emissions to mitigate climate change.
A study published in Nature Geoscience reveals that the end of the last ice age coincided with the emergence of salty water trapped in the deep ocean. This 'salty blob' played a crucial role in locking away carbon dioxide, which contributed to lower average temperatures.
Researchers have identified a delicate balance in Antarctic ocean processes that control the formation of dense water, which drives global ocean circulation and climate patterns. Melting ice shelves and changes to sea ice could lead to significant impacts on global climate.
A new study has found that the ocean's ability to absorb CO2 is stronger than previously assumed, with air bubbles playing a key role in this process. The research suggests that the ocean absorbed around 0.3-0.4 petagrams more carbon per year, about 15% more than previous estimates.
A new study reveals mangrove forests can buffer productivity against salinity stress through structural diversity, nutrient availability, and functional traits like leaf area index. This research has far-reaching implications for coastal forest conservation and adaptive management practices.
Researchers discovered that SAR11 marine bacteria are organized into stable, ecologically distinct groups, adapted to specific environments such as coastal and open ocean. These findings provide new insights into the global ocean's life-support system and climate reactions to threats like pollution and ocean warming.
Research shows that intense storms in the Southern Ocean enable it to absorb more heat from the atmosphere. This helps regulate Earth's climate by reducing global warming. The study found that stronger storm activity generates lower surface temperatures across the ocean.
A new global ocean data assimilation system has been developed to improve the accuracy of sea-surface temperature and sea-level anomaly forecasts. The YHGO platform integrates a fully nonlinear and non-Gaussian data assimilation method with a mass-conserving ocean model, leading to improved performance compared to existing systems.
Ocean is an international, peer-reviewed open-access journal dedicated to advancing research in ocean science, technology, and engineering. The journal aims to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and solve pressing challenges in ocean science and technology.
Researchers recorded lemon sharks preying on jaguar cichlids, an invasive species introduced to Fernando de Noronha, in Sueste Bay. The bay's saltwater environment allows for the interaction due to freshwater inflows after heavy rains. This observation suggests that sharks may play a role in controlling invasive species populations.
Researchers from UCSB have challenged the prevailing view of how carbon is fixed in the ocean's sunless depths. They found that microbes beyond autotrophic archaea and heterotrophs could be responsible for fixing carbon dioxide, providing a new understanding of deep-ocean food web dynamics.
A recent study reveals vast regions of the ocean are experiencing compound state change, with simultaneous warming, salinity changes, oxygen loss, and acidification. This framework enables scientists to identify areas most affected and monitor climate risks.
A modelling study suggests that heat stored in the Southern Ocean could be released, causing a rapid warming of the atmosphere. The ocean acts as a large heat reservoir, mitigating atmospheric warming since the Industrial Revolution.
Two Virginia high school students found that sea anemones experience stress due to hyposalinity caused by hurricane rainfall. They also discovered a threshold of 20 parts per thousand where protective mechanisms fail, highlighting the need for conservation strategies.
Researchers have unveiled an integrated Water/Electricity-Cogeneration–Cultivation (WEC) platform that couples solar-driven desalination with salinity-gradient power generation and zero-pollution crop irrigation. The work demonstrates a practical blueprint for advancing the water–energy–food nexus toward carbon-neutral sustainability.
New research reveals that oceanic upwelling systems amplify acidification, posing existential threats to fisheries and coastal economies. The study used historic coral samples and regional ocean models to predict future changes.
A new study reveals that 16% of the Arctic Ocean's dissolved organic carbon comes from land, primarily from thawing permafrost and coastal erosion. This finding has significant implications for understanding how terrestrial organic matter affects Arctic marine ecosystems and the ocean's ability to store CO2.
Researchers found that terrestrial-derived organic matter, primarily lignin, fuels microbial reactions leading to increased greenhouse gas emissions. However, as salinity increases upon approaching the sea, microbial activity slows down, reducing emissions and mitigating the effects of climate change.
Climate models oversimplify the role of calcifying plankton in capturing and cycling carbon, potentially underestimating the ocean's capacity to respond to climate change. Ignoring these organisms' diversity risks oversimplifying how the ocean responds to climate stressors.
A recent study by AWI suggests that the Southern Ocean's ability to absorb CO2 has remained unchanged despite climate change, due to increased density stratification between surface and deep water masses. This 'freshening' of surface water keeps carbon-rich deep water trapped in the lower layer.
A new study reveals that fluctuations in hydrothermal vent temperatures can indicate magmatic and tectonic processes deep beneath the seafloor. The research offers a powerful new tool for monitoring and predicting tectonic activity at mid-ocean ridges, one of the most active segments of the global ocean.