A mass mortality event affected millions of purple sea urchins and tiny sea stars along a 62-mile stretch of Northern California coast. The study suggests that long-term population and ecosystem consequences are expected as these species play key roles in maintaining tide pool balance.
Operation IceBridge successfully collected data over sea and land ice regions, releasing two sea ice data products to aid in forecasting Arctic sea ice behavior. The mission also supported various international research collaborations and provided valuable data to inform models predicting summer sea ice melt.
A beached iceberg in Antarctica has provided a unique natural experiment to study the effects of sea-ice changes on marine ecosystems. The study found that seaweed on the sea floor had decomposed or become discolored due to lack of light, while darker-adapted animals started to colonize the area.
Researchers demonstrate that ocean microbes control the chemistry of sea spray ejected into the atmosphere, affecting cloud formation and sunlight scattering. The study reveals the importance of complex interactions between microbes in seawater, which influence the composition and cloud-forming ability of sea spray aerosol.
Fraser River sockeye salmon infected with sea lice are less successful at consuming food than their lightly infected counterparts, according to a recent study. The research suggests that sea lice may indirectly affect the survival of juvenile sockeye through reduced foraging success.
Researchers found that young sea turtles (6-18 months old) swim actively and disperse through ocean currents, reaching favorable habitats. This discovery has huge implications for understanding early sea turtle survival and behavior.
Scientists at the University of Southampton found that ocean tides have increased by 1-2 mm per year globally, with some sites experiencing changes comparable to global mean sea level rise. This has significant implications for energy extraction, coastal flooding and erosion, navigation and sediment movement.
A team of researchers found that sea levels rose by an average of four inches along the Northeast Coast from New York to Newfoundland, causing flooding independent of hurricanes or winter storms. The extreme increase was linked to changes in ocean circulation and the North Atlantic Oscillation.
Global sea ice has been decreasing at an average annual rate of 13,500 square miles since 1979, with the Arctic losing more than it gains in Antarctica. The Arctic ice decrease has accelerated over time, leading to increased absorption of solar radiation and further heating.
Researchers found that Arctic sea ice trend is influenced by internal variability, making long-term predictions challenging. There's a 34% chance of no change or growth in sea ice over a seven-year period, and a 5% chance of rapid loss.
Researchers found that green turtles tend not to bask when local winter sea surface temperatures stay above 23 degrees Celsius. The scientists project that global warming trends could lead to the end of beach basking globally by 2102, with Hawaii's green turtles possibly stopping by 2039.
A new study reveals that a small variation in sea level can stall coral reef growth and sediment production, contradicting the long-held notion of continuous reef formation. The research found that most lagoon infilling occurred over just four thousand years before being 'turned off' by a relatively small sea level fall.
A University of Central Florida study warns that climate change is eroding beach habitats critical to sea turtle survival, threatening a 30-year conservation success story. The study suggests that armoring beaches with hard structures could harm wildlife, including sea turtles.
A new study by Penn State geoscientists suggests that the Greenland Ice Sheet is melting at a faster rate due to rising temperatures, with potential global sea level rise of up to 24 feet. The study's findings highlight the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate this effect and protect vulnerable communities.
Researchers found that sea turtles imprint on the unique magnetic field of their natal beach as hatchlings and then use this information to return as adults. The study suggests that tiny magnetic particles in the turtles' brains respond to the Earth's field, providing a basis for their magnetic sense.
Researchers found a strong association between sea turtle nesting sites and subtle shifts in the Earth's magnetic field. Turtles pack themselves along shorter stretches of coastline when magnetic signatures diverge, and lay eggs fewer and farther between.
A Harvard University study reveals that global sea level has accelerated far more than initially thought, with a 30% increase in sea level rise from 1900-1990 compared to previous estimates. The researchers used a new approach to estimate sea level change by accounting for the limitations of existing tide gauge records.
Fossil corals on Seychelles islands suggest rapid Antarctic ice sheet retreat led to sea-level rise around 125,000 years ago. The study suggests the Antarctic ice sheet may partially collapse again due to warming temperatures.
A new NOAA study projects that most US coastal areas will face 30 or more days of flooding each year, up to 2 feet above high tides, by 2050. The study identifies 'tipping points' where local sea levels rise more than global projections, causing regions like Louisiana and the Gulf Coast to experience near-daily nuisance flooding.
Research reveals four billion microscopic plastic fibres littering each square kilometre of deep sea sediment worldwide. Microplastics have sunk to the ocean floor, with levels up to four times greater in deep seas than in shallow and coastal waters.
New research finds Antarctic seawater temperatures are rising, causing accelerated glacial melting and potential sea-level rise. The study also reveals that warmer waters could impact ocean biodiversity.
Climate change has buffered against measures to protect the Baltic Sea, despite efforts to reduce eutrophication. The Boknis Eck time series station data shows that nutrient concentrations have decreased since the 1980s, but oxygen levels remain low due to rising seawater temperatures.
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 new underwater robot has enabled scientists to create detailed, high-resolution 3D maps of Antarctic sea ice, providing accurate measurements of ice thickness and volume. The technology, known as SeaBED, fills a gap in data collection by allowing researchers to measure thicker areas of sea ice.
A new study reveals that Mediterranean sea levels have risen by over 1mm per year since 1989, with the trend being positive in winter and negative in summer. The researchers analyzed data from 1948 to 2009 and compared it with real-time measurements to validate their results.
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 genomic analysis of a newly discovered virus prevalent in symptomatic sea stars has linked Sea Star Associated Densovirus to the devastating wasting disease, potentially triggering an unprecedented ecological upheaval. The research lays the groundwork for understanding how the virus kills sea stars and what triggers outbreaks.
A new virus, Sea Star Associated Densovirus (SSaDV), has been identified as the cause of a widespread disease affecting sea stars along the Pacific Coast. The study found that the virus was present in museum specimens dating back to 1942 and had likely existed at low levels for over 72 years.
Researchers detected Giardia duodenalis in mussels near coastal areas where California Sea Lions lounge, suggesting a potential public health risk. The study highlights the importance of testing filter-feeding shellfish to detect waterborne pathogens.
A new study shows that jellyfish falls are rapidly consumed by deep-sea scavengers, revealing the importance of gelatinous material to food webs. The research challenges previous negative assessments and suggests that jellyfish blooms may provide essential nutrients to deep-sea ecosystems.
Researchers found evidence that Pacific sleeper sharks, a large and slow-moving species, may be preying on juvenile Steller sea lions. The study used archival tags implanted in the sea lions to track their movements and found that some of the tags recorded rapid temperature changes, indicating predation.
Researchers from the Niels Bohr Institute have calculated a worst-case scenario for sea level rise, predicting a maximum of 1.8 meters by the end of this century. The study combines IPCC estimates with expert community data, indicating a likelihood of less than 5% for sea levels exceeding 180cm.
Researchers have observed a significant increase in Antarctic sea ice extent, reaching a new record high. This upward trend is an exception to the overall decline of sea ice globally.
Researchers found that Antarctic ocean temperature layering, similar to conditions 14,000 years ago, may lead to rapid collapse of glaciers and ice shelves, causing a steep rise in global sea levels. This stratification is caused by global warming adding freshwater to the ocean surface.
A long-term laboratory experiment showed that young sea stars grow more slowly and eat less in acidic conditions, even after a prolonged acclimation period. The study suggests that young sea stars may not adapt to the effects of ocean acidification, potentially affecting entire ecosystems.
A new study found that global sea levels rose at rates of up to 5.5 meters per century at the end of each of the last five ice-age cycles. The research provides a detailed record of sea-level variability over 500,000 years.
Researchers found that Arctic sea ice helps remove large amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere through chemical processes. The discovery suggests that every winter, newly formed sea ice forms flower-like structures called frost flowers, which hold high concentrations of calcium carbonate and can impact the potential CO2 uptake in the Arctic.
Arctic sea ice coverage reached its annual minimum of 1.94 million square miles in September 2014, the sixth lowest recorded since 1978. The summer started cool and lacked intense storms or persistent winds, contributing to the low extent.
A growing 'dead zone' in the Arabian Sea allows green Noctiluca scintillans to dominate the base of the food chain, potentially devastating fish populations that support 120 million people. The shift is linked to massive sewage flows and nutrient-rich waters.
A new study reveals that the sea-level around Antarctica's coast has risen by 2cm more than the global average of 6cm due to fresh water from melting glaciers. This excess freshwater reduces ocean salinity and is corroborated by ship-based studies.
Arctic sea ice covered about 2.31 million square miles on Aug. 19, falling short of the record low in 2012 but continuing a trend of decline over the past 30 years. NASA scientists are flying three airborne research campaigns to study climate-driven changes in the Arctic.
The Arctic Radiation IceBridge Sea and Ice Experiment (ARISE) aims to study the effect of sea ice retreat on Arctic climate. ARISE will conduct research flights over the Arctic from Aug. 28 to Oct. 1, collecting data on ice, clouds, and radiation balance.
A new study suggests Antarctica's ice sheet could become the largest contributor to global sea level rise earlier than thought. The analysis indicates a range of potential increases of 1-37 centimeters in this century, significantly higher than previous IPCC projections. This could have devastating impacts on coastal cities and communi...
The deep sea provides essential services to humans, including nutrient-rich fish stocks, waste management, and reserves of oil, gas, precious metals, and rare minerals. Its unique ecosystems also host life forms with potential for new antibiotics and anti-cancer chemicals.
A new NOAA study finds nuisance flooding is increasing on all three US coasts, with major increases in cities like Annapolis and Baltimore. Rising sea levels, land subsidence, and lost natural barriers are causing more frequent and severe flooding, especially during high tides.
New research suggests that Antarctic sea ice expansion may have been incorrectly measured due to a processing error in satellite data. This finding could affect climate change reports, particularly those from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
A new study led by Old Dominion University and the University of Colorado Boulder found sea levels are rising in the tropical Pacific off the coasts of the Philippines and northeastern Australia. The research team estimated that areas near these regions are being raised by about 1 centimeter per year due to anthropogenic warming.
Researchers found that the daily energy demands of a female sea otter increase by 17% after giving birth to a pup and can be nearly twice what they are when she doesn't have a pup. The study reveals why female sea otters often appear in poor condition at the end of lactation period.
A recent study found that sea otter females must provide 930 MJ of energy to raise a pup to independence, equivalent to 96% increase in daily metabolic rate. This extreme exertion may contribute to poor condition and high mortality rates among sea otter mothers.
The public has its first view of a live vampire squid and other deep-sea cephalopods in the ongoing Tentacles special exhibition at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. A collaborative effort with the aquarium's partner institution, MBARI, this exhibit provides new scientific insights into these mysterious animals.
A historic epidemic of sea star wasting syndrome has exploded along Oregon's coast, with 30-50% of ochre sea stars affected and potentially leading to local extinctions. The outbreak could disrupt the marine intertidal ecosystem, causing widespread damage.
NASA's Operation IceBridge concludes its 11-week Arctic field campaign, collecting data on rapidly changing areas of sea and land ice. The mission released two new sea ice data products and provided a professional development opportunity for science teachers.
Scientists at Chalmers University of Technology have developed a new tide gauge that measures sea level using GPS signals. This innovation allows for the monitoring of sea level changes with high precision, enabling researchers to study the effects of climate change on coastal societies.
A new study by University of Otago researchers has discovered that the modern New Zealand sea lion is a relative newcomer to the mainland, replacing an extinct prehistoric species. The team found evidence of a previously unknown lineage that dominated South Island shores until around 600 years ago.
Research found that adult sea turtles' migration patterns and feeding site selections are based on their past experiences drifting with ocean currents as juveniles. This suggests that turtles imprint on suitable locations during their juvenile development phase, influencing their adult migrations.
A UCI-NASA study reveals six massive glaciers in the Amundsen Sea sector are in irreversible decline, contributing significantly to sea level rise. The glaciers contain enough ice to boost global sea levels by 4 feet and are melting faster than expected.
Researchers have developed a new method to analyze sea level records, revealing substantial evidence for global and regional sea level acceleration. By 2020-2030, there will be statistical certainty of what the sea level rise situation will look like for the end of the century.
Researchers have identified a new order of marine creatures among sea anemones, revealing a giant species that is actually an imposter. The study, published in PLOS ONE, presents the first tree of life for sea anemones and reshapes scientists' understanding of these poorly understood animals.
Researchers have developed a new way to determine sea-level changes and deep-sea temperature variability over the past 5.3 million years. The findings provide crucial new information on how ice ages came about, and could help determine the relationship between carbon dioxide levels, global temperatures, and sea levels.
Researchers predict that Miami sea levels will rise by .3 meters to 1 meter by 2100, with areas experiencing constant flooding and mangrove loss. Long-term predictions could be available as early as 2020, providing 70 years of planning for coastal regions.