A recent study reveals that ocean plankton networks play a crucial role in removing carbon from the atmosphere and depositing it deep in the ocean. The research, led by Matthew Sullivan of Ohio State University, used advanced genetic sequencing to identify clusters of organisms most linked to carbon deposition.
The study found that sediments from the deep Southern Ocean carried smaller amounts of oxygen, indicating phytoplankton took up large amounts of carbon dioxide. This led to a buildup of decaying organic matter that stored extra carbon in the deep sea.
The Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean has released a set of analytical data products that will improve the scientific basis for regional ocean decision-making. The data, which include information on marine animal distribution, human use patterns, and ocean features, will help stakeholders make informed management decisions.
A study found that ocean acidification can lead to genetic drift in populations, hindering adaptation to climate change. The researchers observed changes in shell length and sex ratio, as well as increased metabolic rates, in response to acidic waters.
Scientists have found that global ocean warming has doubled in recent decades, with significant increases in upper ocean temperatures since the 1970s. The study indicates that half of the accumulated heat during the industrial era has occurred in recent decades, with about a third residing in the deeper oceans.
A new study by NOAA researchers predicts that ocean temperatures in the Northeast U.S. may warm twice as fast and three times faster than previously estimated. This accelerated warming is driven by a higher resolution climate model that better reflects regional ocean circulation patterns.
A recent West Coast study emphasizes the impacts of ocean acidification and low-oxygen conditions on marine organisms, highlighting serious challenges for life in these areas. The results show that multiple stressors will only increase as ocean conditions worldwide resemble those off the West Coast.
A new study reveals that giant icebergs in the Southern Ocean contribute significantly to carbon sequestration, with enhanced phytoplankton productivity extending hundreds of kilometers beyond the iceberg's length. This process helps slow global warming by storing atmospheric carbon dioxide.
The ORCAS field campaign aims to understand the role of the Southern Ocean in absorbing excess carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere. By tracking oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, scientists will gain insights into the ocean's ability to act as a carbon sink.
Researchers find massive release of CO2 from Southern Ocean occurred when Antarctic sea ice melted, not due to changes in ocean density. The expansion and retreat of sea ice acted as a 'lid' controlling CO2 exchange between ocean and atmosphere.
Phytoplankton play a crucial role in the ocean's food web and contribute to climate change by removing carbon from the atmosphere. Research reveals complex patterns of response to changing variables like nutrients, light, and ocean stratification, with predictions that global phytoplankton production will decrease.
A UK-led study found that seal tags can improve ocean forecasts by providing valuable temperature and salinity recordings in regions rarely sampled. This could lead to better weather predictions and improved marine conditions for industries such as shipping and offshore oil and gas operations.
The ocean microbiome is a vast biological network that regulates global systems, including energy consumption and respiration. Microbes are responsible for virtually all photosynthesis in the ocean and cycle essential nutrients and trace elements.
A study found that coccolithophore abundance has increased by an order of magnitude since the 1960s in the North Atlantic, contrary to predictions. This unexpected finding highlights the complex response of marine ecosystems to climate change.
A new study found a link between abrupt ocean warming at the end of the last ice age and low-oxygen conditions that led to vast marine dead zones. Warming surface temperatures triggered loss of oxygen in the North Pacific, raising concern that similar events will occur again as oceans warm.
A new study finds a link between abrupt ocean warming and low-oxygen conditions that led to vast marine dead zones in the North Pacific. The researchers discovered a clear connection between two prehistoric intervals of abrupt ocean warming that ended the last ice age, resulting in an increase in diatom production and subsequent hypoxia.
A University of Washington researcher argues that people should pay more attention to how climate change affects ocean and coastal environments globally. The review paper looks at scientific understanding of ocean changes and responses from people around the world, highlighting potential for local action and interdisciplinary research.
Researchers found that dissolved organic carbon is efficiently removed from ocean water when heated to mimic hydrothermal vent conditions. This process converts the organic molecules into carbon dioxide, reducing oceanic carbon storage.
The study found that pteropods, a tiny sea snail, will struggle to form their shells due to low carbonate ion concentration. The duration of undersaturation events will increase abruptly, posing an uncertain adaptation for vulnerable marine organisms.
A University of British Columbia study found that major swaths of the ocean must be protected to reach global biodiversity targets. Currently, only 16% of protected areas are designated as 'no-take' zones, which are crucial for conserving marine life.
A new method estimates fish movements using ocean heat content images, revealing detailed movements not apparent with surface temperature data. The analysis shows large migratory fishes have affinities for ocean fronts and eddies, similar to hurricanes.
Despite recent advancements, only 3.5% of the ocean has protection, compared to 15% of terrestrial areas, highlighting a need for accelerated action. Seven key findings from researchers suggest that full protection, networks, and smart planning can enhance biodiversity and economic benefits.
A new study has found that changes in the polar regions can significantly affect the ocean and climate on the opposite side of the world, far quicker than previously thought. The research linked ocean currents to climate conditions during the last ice age, revealing a tight connection between the two.
Ocean acidification is affecting global marine ecosystems, with the Arctic and Antarctic oceans being particularly vulnerable. The study reveals that waters with lower aragonite saturation state are more corrosive to shellfish and coral species.
The Ocean Conservancy's report outlines specific land-based solutions for reducing ocean plastic waste, including a four-point plan to cut leakage by 45% in 10 years. The report estimates a total cost of $5 billion and significant returns to the global economy.
Research found that changes in ocean circulation due to Antarctica's temperature had a profound impact on the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed from the atmosphere. When temperatures dropped, nutrient-rich waters rose closer to the Antarctic continent, allowing phytoplankton to thrive and absorb more CO2.
A new study from the University of Exeter solves a long-standing climate science mystery by explaining how changes in ocean circulation affect carbon storage. The researchers found that warmer water upwelling in the Southern Ocean helps store more CO2, contributing to glacial cycles.
Researchers analyzed deep sea coral samples to reveal that past carbon dioxide spikes occurred alongside high ocean circulation events. The findings suggest that excess carbon in the deep ocean was flushed out, releasing CO2 into the atmosphere.
Copepods, tiny crustaceans that form the base of marine food webs, rely on omega-3s to survive. The new study found that copepods are resilient to short-term climate change but their long-term survival is threatened by reduced food supply.
New studies reveal that the Southern Ocean has increasingly removed more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere since 2002. The research, compiled from millions of ship-based observations, suggests that the Southern Ocean's carbon sink is strengthening, contrary to previous findings.
The Southern Ocean's carbon sink has renewed its strength, absorbing more atmospheric carbon dioxide over the past decade. This improvement is attributed to changes in sea surface temperature and dissolved inorganic carbon levels.
A new MIT study finds that large seasonal changes in desert dust can dramatically affect surface phytoplankton, which rely on iron as a main nutrient for growth. The team determined that iron has a very short residence time in ocean waters, lasting only six months before sinking into the deep ocean.
Researchers found that sediment-entombed marine archaea's growth varies based on changes in ocean oxygen levels, affecting the accuracy of past ocean temperatures. This discovery highlights the need to consider oxygen levels when interpreting the TEX-86 index, a popular method for measuring ancient ocean temperatures.
The Ocean Health Initiative aims to protect and restore coastal and marine habitats, supporting the conservation of threatened marine and coastal species. The program, funded by a $1.5 million pledge from SeaWorld Entertainment, will focus on key estuaries along the Eastern Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.
A study by University College London found that warm, stagnant water from the deep Arctic Ocean and Nordic Seas contributed to the end of the last Ice Age. The researchers used proxy data to reconstruct past ocean circulation changes, which showed a warmer deep Arctic Mediterranean during glacial times.
A new study warns that continued carbon dioxide emission trends would leave a lasting impact on the deep ocean, with acidification and warming posing significant threats to marine life. Removing CO2 from the atmosphere through Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) strategies may not be effective in reversing these effects.
The University of Montana's Sunburst Sensors won a $1.5 million XPRIZE for developing an affordable and accurate pH sensor to measure ocean chemistry, recognizing efforts to combat ocean acidification. The company, founded by UM professor Mike DeGrandpre, employed 9 people at the time of the win.
Phytoplankton, the base of marine food chains, may experience significant changes due to ocean acidification, with some species dying out while others thrive. The study found that increased acidity could lead to altered competition among species, affecting entire ecosystems and potentially impacting predators like polar bears.
Ocean organisms produce aerosols that nearly double cloud droplet numbers in summer, boosting sunlight reflection. The study estimates the equivalent solar energy impact over the whole Southern Ocean.
The global seafood supply will be substantially altered by climate change, overfishing, and ocean acidification, leading to a decline in fisheries and marine biodiversity. Researchers recommend improving ocean governance and limiting carbon dioxide emissions to mitigate these effects.
Scientists developed a computer model that studies ocean mixing in vast eddies, clarifying the complex processes driving ocean storms. The model enables researchers to study heat and carbon fluxes into the deep ocean, increasing global climate simulation accuracy.
Researchers from UiT The Arctic University of Norway have imaged deep Arctic Ocean methane seeps for the first time using a custom-designed system. The images reveal over 1000 active seep sites at depths of over 1000 m, providing valuable insights into gas hydrate and climate change.
Research aims to understand how Antarctic fish will respond to rising ocean temperatures, which could impact the food web and ecosystem. The study will focus on embryo viability, development rate, and temperature stress response in two species, and provide data for informing climate change strategies.
The Mid-Atlantic Ocean Data Portal has launched new features to expand pathways for participation and collaboration. The platform now includes Ocean Stories, Map Groups, and enhanced organization tools, empowering stakeholders to share their perspectives and work together on ocean planning challenges.
A new study has found that coral reefs in Palau are showing few of the predicted responses to low pH caused by ocean acidification. Instead, these reefs exhibit increased bio-erosion, but also host more species and have greater coral cover than in other naturally low pH reef systems.
A new study found that coral reefs in Palau's naturally acidic waters are thriving, despite the expected negative impacts of ocean acidification. However, increased bioerosion was observed, threatening the long-term survival of these ecosystems. The research team hopes to better understand how corals adapt to low pH conditions.
Researchers have found a novel way to 'read the Earth's LIPS', revealing a previously missed connection between Large Igneous Provinces and mid-ocean ridges. This discovery changes our understanding of massive volcanism in ocean basins, suggesting that undersea eruptions are less catastrophic than thought.
A 55-million-year-old global warming event triggered a highly corrosive deep-water current in the North Atlantic Ocean. Researchers recreated the ocean basins and land masses of that time using a global climate model to understand how this event occurred.
Researchers discovered that a 55 million-year-old ocean current, formed by the North Atlantic's shape and changes in ocean currents, caused more severe acidification than other oceans during the Paleocene Eocene Thermal Maximum. This event may have implications for today's climate sensitivity to increasing carbon dioxide.
A new study led by University of Southampton researchers suggests that ocean acidification may not have caused the mass extinction of ammonites and other planktonic calcifiers. The research found that the asteroid impact was the primary cause of the extinctions, but not due to ocean acidification levels being too weak.
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 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 new study by UC Davis researchers finds that ocean ecosystems can take thousands of years to recover from rapid climate change, with the recovery period being on a millennial scale. The study analyzed fossilized ocean fauna and found that even minor changes in oxygen levels could result in dramatic changes for seafloor communities.
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.