A new computer model developed by NOAA and research institutions will help inform scallop management decisions. The integrated assessment model evaluates the impacts of ocean acidification on Atlantic sea scallops, predicting potential declines in harvest levels and landings over the next several decades.
Researchers found two specific ocean hot spots responsible for the record-breaking heat of 1934/36, a decade marked by devastating dust storms. This study may help predict extreme summers over the central US with months-long forecasts.
Researchers found that ocean currents strongly affect methane-consuming bacterial populations in Arctic cold seeps, controlling their prevalence and methane consumption rates. Fluctuations in these communities were linked to changes in water temperature and salinity.
A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that ocean fronts increase total ecosystem biomass and fisheries production. By incorporating front dynamics into current climate models, researchers found that these regions can aggregate food and resources, leading to higher productivity in the ocean.
Researchers at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution discovered that stressed and dying phytoplankton release chemicals that stimulate marine bacteria to quickly convert organic carbon back into CO2. This process reduces the amount of sinking detritus, releasing more CO2 into the shallow ocean and atmosphere.
A study published in Nature Geoscience found that ocean currents can significantly impact the removal of methane from seawater. The researchers discovered that fluctuations in current strength and variability control the prevalence of methanotrophic bacteria, leading to reduced methane consumption.
A study published in Science reveals that swirling ocean currents, known as eddies, play a significant role in delivering carbon from phytoplankton blooms to the deep ocean. The research, led by Melissa Omand, found that these currents transport small, non-sinking phytoplankton cells to depths of up to 1,000 meters.
A massive spring plankton bloom in the North Atlantic Ocean is transported downward by ocean eddies, releasing oxygen and absorbing carbon dioxide. This 'biological pump' helps the oceans absorb CO2 from the atmosphere, mitigating climate change.
Researchers found a 24 percent decline in calcium carbonate production in large areas of the Southern Ocean over the past 17 years. This decline is linked to ocean acidification caused by climate change, which reduces calcification rates of coccolithophores.
The study found that the Atlantic Ocean's overturning has been weakening since 1970, mainly caused by freshwater from melting Greenland ice sheets. This could lead to major negative effects on ocean ecosystems, fisheries, and regional sea-level rise.
Researchers from the Malaspina Expedition found that dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the deep ocean is not degraded by bacteria due to low concentrations of degradable compounds. The study provides new insights into the regulation of the carbon cycle and global climate.
A new study suggests that ocean pipes would increase global warming due to decreased cloud cover and increased sea-ice melting, rather than cooling the Earth as predicted.
A team of scientists suggests that hydrothermal processes at the rock-water boundary could produce methane in Enceladus' ocean. Analyzing Cassini data, they propose two possible explanations for the moon's methane abundance: one involving hydrothermal activity and another based on ice formation/melting cycles.
Researchers develop 'dynamic ocean management' to integrate real-time data and crowd-sourced reports into ocean industry applications. This approach aims to protect vulnerable ecosystems while promoting sustainable resource use, in line with industries' profitability.
A study by Alfred Wegener Institute finds that ocean acidification negatively impacts diatom growth in the Southern Ocean, particularly under changing light conditions. Diatoms' biomass production could be drastically reduced in future scenarios with more acidic water.
Scientists from GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel reconstructed pH values of northern Pacific ocean over past 120 years with monthly resolution. The study found that the pH value has been declining since late 19th century, coinciding with rising carbon dioxide levels in atmosphere.
A $2.5 million NSF grant will support the five-year Agulhas System Climate Array project, which aims to monitor changes in the ocean's circulation due to climate change. The research will focus on the physical characteristics of the Agulhas Current and its role in global climate variability.
Innovative sequencing technologies are allowing scientists to study ocean microbes, revealing their critical role in the global carbon cycle and ecosystem health. The findings highlight the diversity of marine protists and their impact on ocean ecosystems.
A recent study published in Science estimates that between 4.8 and 12.7 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean every year, mainly from coastal regions. The researchers used a grand model to estimate the amount of plastic waste entering the ocean and found that it is significantly higher than previously estimated.
A study published in Nature shows that a release of carbon dioxide from the deep Southern Ocean helped bring an end to the last Ice Age. The finding provides insight into how oceanic carbon storage affects climate change.
Researchers found that a massive release of carbon dioxide from the ocean during the last ice age warmed the planet and ended the glacial period. The study, published in Nature, suggests that natural variations in atmospheric carbon dioxide are linked to carbon stored in oceans.
A recent study published in Nature found that carbon stored in an isolated reservoir deep in the Southern Ocean re-connected with the atmosphere, driving a rise in atmospheric CO2 and global temperatures. This process is crucial in understanding how the ocean affects the carbon cycle and climate change.
ORCA will study microscopic phytoplankton and their impact on the carbon cycle, measuring chlorophyll concentrations and distinguishing between types of phytoplankton. The instrument's hyperspectral capability offers a range of bands to refine ocean observations.
A new analysis finds that ocean acidification could significantly impact up to 21-32% of calcifying marine species, including coral, clams, and sea urchins. This widespread impact could have far-reaching consequences for ecosystems worldwide, as these species provide essential nursery habitats and food sources for other marine organisms.
A new study by scientists at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution reveals that the deep ocean is a major source of dissolved iron in the central Pacific Ocean. The research found that hydrothermal vents and sediments thousands of meters below the sea surface are the primary sources of iron, contradicting previous assumptions.
Tropical Cyclone Bansi reached a Category 4 status, stirring up ocean sediment around the Cargados Carajos Shoals. NASA's Aqua satellite captured images of the sediment on January 19, showcasing the storm's powerful winds.
Researchers have discovered new microbes beneath the ocean crust that breathe sulfate, breaking down organic material and producing carbon dioxide. These microbes play a vital role in the global carbon cycle, which is being disrupted by human-made carbon dioxide emissions.
As ocean acidification research expands its scope, experts highlight the need for integrated assessments, considering multiple stressors and evolutionary adaptation. Laboratory experiments show that adaptation is possible, but its ability to keep pace with fast-changing ecosystems remains uncertain.
Scientists found high variability in mid-depth Atlantic Ocean currents around 2,000 years before the last Ice Age ended. The team analyzed neodymium isotopes in coral fossils to gain insight into ocean circulation during the Ice Age.
A new study attributes the global 'warming hiatus' to increased oceanic heat drawdown, particularly in the equatorial Pacific, North Atlantic, and Southern Ocean basins. The research reveals distinct mechanisms for each region, improving climate models' projections of future temperature changes.
Scientists have found that the Arctic Ocean's sea ice cover began to form around 2.6 million years ago, with significant expansion occurring around this time. This new knowledge can be used to improve future climate models and predict potential ice-free periods, which could have major implications for the planet's climate system.
A recent study revealed a significant increase in anthropogenic nitrate levels in the North Pacific Ocean over the past 30 years, primarily due to enhanced atmospheric deposition. This shift in nutrient availability may favor certain marine organisms and alter the base of the marine food web.
A recent study by University of Southampton researchers found that ancient marine algae, such as coccolithophores, experienced reduced growth and skeletal structure changes in response to climate warming and ocean acidification during the Paleocene Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM). The research provides a long-term perspective on the impa...
The future ocean will be warmer, with reduced ice extent, higher sea levels, more acidic, and lower oxygen levels. Research must focus on understanding marine systems' responses to cumulative pressures.
Phytoplankton in the open ocean are responsible for half of global oxygen production, but how they assimilate limited nutrients was unclear. A new framework describes how microbial biodiversity affects phytoplankton's ability to take up phosphorus, a key nutrient.
Researchers find that climate change may affect the ratio of oxygen consumed to phosphorus released during organic matter respiration in the subsurface ocean. This shift could lead to more carbon being stored in the ocean, potentially offsetting the slowdown of the ocean's uptake of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
A new tool provides real-time ocean chemistry data along the West Coast, helping scientists understand changes in water chemistry and aid the shellfish industry. The IOOS Pacific Region Oean Acidification Data Portal offers valuable insights for adapting to ocean acidification.
Researchers found a long-term pattern in salinity-driven sea level changes globally, with increases in the Pacific Ocean and decreases in the Atlantic. This salinity effect accounts for approximately 25% of total sea level change, emphasizing its importance in assessments.
A new study using coral samples from a remote Pacific island in Kiribati reveals the ocean has warmed over the last sixty years, priming it for stronger El Niáo events. This warming trend could have a major impact on Australia's weather, particularly during El Niáo events when warm waters move eastward and bring droughts.
A new study reveals that iron fertilization in the Southern Ocean may reduce the biological carbon pump's ability to transport carbon dioxide into the deep ocean. This process, which draws carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into the sea, is crucial for mitigating climate change.
Researchers used robotic ocean gliders to study the transport of warm water near the Antarctic coast, discovering that swirling ocean eddies play a key role in this process. The findings will aid in determining how rapidly ice is melting and contributing to rising ocean levels.
A new Rutgers study published in Science found that ocean circulation plays a crucial role in regulating the Earth's climate. The researchers discovered that changes in the deep ocean conveyor system around 2.7 million years ago led to global climate change, including the expansion of ice sheets and a significant drop in sea levels.
A study using satellite observations and climate models found that long-term ocean warming in the upper 700 meters has likely been underestimated. The researchers used a large suite of climate model simulations to estimate temperature changes, which suggests global ocean warming has been underestimated by 24-58%.
Scientists have created a new map of the world's seafloor, offering a more vivid picture of deep ocean structures. The map reveals thousands of previously uncharted seamounts, along with new clues about continental formation and earthquake patterns.
Phytoplankton are crucial for fish populations and Earth's carbon cycle, with a perpetual dance between predators and prey affecting their growth cycles. Tiny imbalances in this relationship cause massive phytoplankton blooms, impacting ocean productivity, fisheries, and carbon cycling.
A team of researchers used a neutral evolution model to simulate the distribution of marine bacteria cells. They found that microbes evolve faster than the ocean can disperse them, resulting in dynamic biogeographic patterns. This study sheds light on how ocean microbes may respond to global climate change.
Researchers will deploy hundreds of robotic floats to study the Southern Ocean's carbon and heat uptake, as well as its importance in ocean ecosystems. The project aims to improve climate models and provide insights into the region's global significance.
The $21 million SOCCOM program will create a biogeochemical and physical portrait of the Southern Ocean using hundreds of robotic floats deployed around Antarctica. The project aims to improve our understanding of the ocean's carbon, nutrient, and oxygen content, and its importance to Earth's climate systems.
A new study on the Indian Ocean reveals that Sri Lanka and surrounding regions are susceptible to large tsunamis with varying time periods between events. Researchers analyzed sediment cores, finding a 1000-year period without a tsunami, nearly twice as long as the lull period prior to the 2004 earthquake.
The National Science Foundation has awarded new grants totaling $11.4 million to research the impact of ocean acidification on marine environments and organisms. Ocean acidification affects marine ecosystems, organisms' life histories, ocean food webs, and biogeochemical cycling.
The $21-million SOCCOM program will provide unprecedented year-round coverage of biogeochemistry in the Southern Ocean, enabling top scientists to work together on research that was not possible before. The initiative aims to improve our understanding of the Southern Ocean's importance to the Earth's carbon and climate systems.
Researchers have adapted a biomedical technique to study ocean organisms, identifying and measuring proteins to understand biochemical reactions. The study reveals how microbes respond to environmental cues and ecosystem changes over large regions.
Researchers have adapted a biomedical technique to study the ocean, revealing how single-celled marine organisms and ecosystems are operating. By measuring proteins, scientists can identify biochemical reactions happening within organisms and diagnose how the oceans respond to pollution and climate change.
Scientists from University of Miami's Rosenstiel School conducted a drifter experiment to study small-scale ocean currents, revealing their crucial role in pollutant dispersion. The findings provide new information for predicting oil and pollutant movements in the ocean, with immediate practical applications.
A survey of scientists from 94 countries reveals the top research priorities for sustaining ocean health, including climate change's impact on plankton growth and ocean biodiversity. Social scientists highlight the need to better communicate science to policy-makers and the public as a key priority.
A study found that juvenile loggerhead turtles in the South Pacific Ocean swim against prevailing currents at a rate of 30 cm/sec. The turtles use multiple sensory cues to detect current flow and orient themselves for swimming.
Ocean acidification is driving changes in vital Alaskan waters, threatening commercial fisheries and subsistence way of life. Communities in southeast and southwest Alaska face the highest risk, with lower incomes and fewer employment opportunities making them more vulnerable.
A new study found that turbulent mixing in the deep waters of the Southern Ocean varies with surface eddy strength and possibly wind speeds, impacting global ocean circulation and climate. This insight will enable scientists to build better computer models predicting future climate change.
Researchers tracked Chilean devil rays using satellite tags, finding they dive as deep as 2,000 meters in search of food. The study reveals a new link between the surface and deep ocean, shedding light on these majestic creatures' habits.
Researchers at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution found rapid changes in ocean temperature near glaciers, driven by fast ocean currents. The data suggests large and rapid fluctuations in submarine melt rates, contradicting the prevailing paradigm of freshwater input driving new water into the fjord.