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.
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.
A collaborative research project has identified a specific gene in soybean that improves its tolerance to soil salinity. The researchers found that this gene can be used to breed soybeans that can thrive in areas with high salt levels, which is essential for improving global food security.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 study found that 'Tete-a-Tete', 'Dutch Master', and 'Ice Follies' daffodils can tolerate high levels of salt without compromising their visual quality. The cultivars demonstrated ability to maintain K+:Na+ ratio above 1, helping them resist negative effects of Na+, making them suitable for cut flower production and landscapes.
Researchers identified canyon maple's salt tolerance as a result of its native semiarid woodland habitat. The tree showed better resistance to leaf damage and salinity than bigleaf maple, but was more affected at higher salt concentrations.
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.
Breeding salt-tolerant crops could be a game-changer in addressing soil salinity issues, threatening 3 hectares of usable land every minute. Researchers propose using 'salt bladders' to deposit excess salt, inspired by naturally salt-loving plants.
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.
Researchers at MIT and Saudi Arabia have developed a method to remove salt from produced water using electrodialysis, which can be economically viable for treating extremely high-salinity water. The technology could reduce the need for fresh water from other sources and minimize contaminated water disposal.
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%.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A new study of shark teeth from a coastal Arctic Ocean site provides insight into Eocene marine life and suggests that sharks may be able to cope with decreasing salinity. The findings also shed light on the potential impacts of Arctic warming on shark populations.
A new study reveals that ancient Arctic sand tiger sharks were able to tolerate brackish water conditions 50 million years ago, unlike modern sand tiger sharks which require much higher salinity levels. This finding has significant implications for how today's sharks might fare in a warming Arctic region.
Researchers evaluated 18 Earth-Kind rose varieties for salt tolerance in two locations, finding that 'Belinda's Dream', 'Climbing Pinkie', and 'Mrs. Dudley Cross' were the most tolerant. The study recommends these cultivars for landscapes with high soil salinity.
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.
Environmental scientists Drs Carol Turley and Phil Williamson and Professor Richard Thompson will discuss ocean acidification and plastic pollution at the US Department of State conference. They emphasize the urgent need for a coordinated, global approach to address these pressing issues.
The OCULLAR instrument can measure ocean color under low-light conditions, allowing scientists to monitor the health and chemistry of the oceans around the clock. This capability will enable researchers to study phytoplankton, microscopic ocean plants that form the base of the oceanic food web.
Researchers tracked drought dynamics in the US using a new Event-based Spatial-Temporal Data Model (ESTDM), which analyzed four years of European Space Agency's soil moisture and ocean salinity data. The study aims to predict future drought events by identifying patterns of spreading drought.
The Ocean Health Index assesses ocean health across 10 categories, with Brazil scoring lowest in Natural Products and Food Provision. The index provides a framework for strategic management of ocean resources, with opportunities for improvement identified in various states.
Researchers at the University of Missouri have developed new statistical models to increase the accuracy of ocean forecasting. The models improved predictability of sea surface temperature extremes, wind fields, and plankton distribution, ultimately benefiting fisheries and ecosystems.
A novel mechanistic model assesses the global ocean carbon export by incorporating the lifecycle of phytoplankton and zooplankton into a food-web-based approach. The researchers found that oceans are a central component in the global carbon cycle, with a mean global carbon export flux of 6 petagrams per year.
A study published in Nature Geoscience found that changes in the Sun's energy output may have led to marked natural climate change in Europe over the past 1000 years. The research suggests that regional climate variability associated with solar activity should be taken into account when making future climate projections.
A study by McGill University researchers shows that climate change has led to a decrease in ocean salinity, creating a freshwater lid that prevents mixing with warm waters underneath. This has resulted in the suppression of naturally rare events like the Antarctic polynya and contributed to the shrinking of Antarctic Bottom Water.
A new study suggests that Atlantic deep water formation may be much more fragile than previously realised, with sudden and large reductions in the influence of these North Atlantic waters in the deep ocean. This could have widespread impacts on regional sea level, droughts, and ocean acidification under future climate change scenarios.
The Baltic Sea's unique stratification affects the fate of fish stocks, with different species occupying distinct salinity layers. This research highlights the importance of considering regional conditions in fisheries management, as individual stocks do not necessarily benefit from each other.
Growing industrialization threatens deep ocean ecosystems, which provide vital functions such as carbon sequestration. Experts urge a new 'stewardship mentality' to balance human needs with ecological impact, highlighting the need for international cooperation, regulation, and research funding to protect the world's last frontier.
A study published in Nature Communications reveals that mesopelagic fish have a stock estimated at 10,000 million tons, surpassing previous estimates of 1,000 million tons. This discovery has significant implications for the understanding of carbon fluxes in the ocean and the operation of ocean deserts.
The Greenland Ice Sheet is experiencing rapid ice loss, driven by ocean warming and increased surface melting. This phenomenon can lead to fresh water input into the North Atlantic Ocean, potentially disrupting global climate circulation patterns.
Marine scientists in Palau found corals living in acidic waters to be diverse and healthy, contradicting previous observations. The unique environment in Palau's Rock Islands is believed to provide a 'perfect storm' of conditions that allow corals to thrive.
Giant underwater waves, invisible to the eye, are produced by temperature and salinity differences in ocean water. These internal waves, resembling surface waves in shape, play a key role in mixing ocean waters, driving warm surface waters downward and drawing heat from the atmosphere.
Researchers used a new ocean model to simulate the migration of eel larvae from the Sargasso Sea to Europe. The study found that small-scale ocean currents play a crucial role in determining eel population fluctuations and that eels return to specific locations within the Sargasso Sea where their mother spawned.
A University of Houston-led international expedition drilled into the lower crust of the Pacific Ocean, revealing new discoveries about the Earth's development. The team found substantial amounts of the mineral orthopyroxene in gabbros, challenging existing theories on the formation of the lower ocean crust.
A German-Peruvian science team found that ocean eddies play a crucial role in distributing oxygen and nutrients in the oxygen minimum zones. This discovery helps improve model computations to predict future expansions of low-oxygen areas in the ocean, addressing the threat of ocean de-oxygenation.
Experts warn of substantial economic losses from ocean acidification, with declines in shellfisheries and tropical coral reefs expected. Reducing carbon dioxide emissions can slow acidification and protect some ecosystems.
Young salmon scatter in all directions after entering the ocean, contrary to previous assumptions that most head north immediately. The study provides critical insights into salmon behavior and factors influencing survival, such as water temperature and predator presence.
Researchers quantify the extent of ancient oxygen-free and hydrogen sulfide-rich waters in the ocean during a major extinction event 93.9 million years ago. This discovery highlights the significant impact on ocean chemistry and biological activity, suggesting that even limited euxinia can have profound effects on marine life.
The OSNAP program will measure ocean's overturning circulation, a key component of global climate system. It aims to understand changes in this circulation and its impact on temperatures and precipitation.
A new study predicts that climate change will significantly impact the world's oceans by 2100, affecting marine habitats and organisms. The study reveals that no corner of the ocean will be untouched by changes in temperature, acidification, oxygen depletion, and productivity, with massive disruptions to food chains, fishing, and tourism.