A USGS and CDC study found that Northern sea otters off Washington state's coast were infected with the pandemic 2009 H1N1 flu virus. The presence of antibodies in 70% of the sea otters suggests they were previously exposed to influenza, highlighting their susceptibility to the virus.
A study analyzing 300 summer Arctic sea ice forecasts found that predictions are accurate when conditions follow the observed downward trend, but less so when they deviate from it. Improving forecasting by incorporating sea ice thickness and concentration data may enhance seasonal predictions.
New radar measurements suggest Ligeia Mare on Titan is eerily still, with surface waves smaller than one millimeter. The solid terrain surrounding the sea may be composed of solid organic materials instead of frozen water, similar to Earth's early evolution.
IceBridge began its 2014 Arctic campaign with two sea ice surveys north of Greenland, focusing on changes in sea ice elevation and thickness. The mission aims to collect more data, including cross-basin surveys over the Arctic Ocean and flights over the Beaufort and Chukchi seas.
A new study by North Carolina State University researchers found that approximately 90% of black sea bass with visible barotrauma survived, similar to those without injury. The findings inform stock assessments for sustainable fishing practices and may provide insights into mortality rates for other species.
New research reveals that the ocean's surface acts as a sink for nitrogen oxides at night, removing about 15% of these chemicals from polluted air. The study measured dinitrogen pentoxide and nitryl chloride in the air above the sea surface, finding no net exit of nitryl chloride into the air.
A new study projects that Antarctica's Ross Sea will lose over half its summer sea ice by 2050 and nearly three-quarters by 2100. This change will significantly impact the region's pristine food web, affecting species such as whales, penguins, and seals.
A new digital atlas details historical sea ice concentration data in Alaska's Beaufort, Chukchi, and Bering seas from 1850 to the present. The atlas provides a reliable tool for researchers to evaluate climate change impacts and offers users interactive features to explore historical trends.
A panel of experts from Duke University and Scripps Institution urges policy and stewardship measures for deep sea ecosystems. The extraction of deep-sea minerals and precious metals creates economic incentives but poses unknown ecological risks.
The UEA project aims to understand the chemical exchanges between ocean, sea ice, snow, and atmosphere in polar regions. It will use a unique sea ice chamber and computer models to predict the effect of global warming on Arctic ice melt.
A study published in PLOS ONE suggests that penguins' ability to respond to changes in sea ice concentrations is disrupted by extreme environmental events. Adélie penguins can cope with reduced summer sea ice, but extreme events like giant icebergs reduce their access to prey and overall efficiency.
Research reveals a significant increase in summer sea level rise and decrease in winter sea level drop along the eastern Gulf Coast, leading to a greater seasonal difference. This change threatens coastal ecosystems, increases flood risk from hurricanes, and may disrupt salt balance in sensitive wetlands.
A new study establishes a link between Arctic sea ice dynamics and the region's changing atmospheric chemistry, potentially leading to increased amounts of mercury deposited in sensitive ecosystems. The pumping effect created by opening and closing sea ice leads forces down additional mercury to restart chemical reactions.
Researchers used geological evidence to derive a natural background pattern of sea-level rise. Based on this, they found that modern sea-level rise is fast but within the 'natural range', with only half of observed changes expected by natural standards.
Scientists predict a 1.5-3.5 foot sea-level rise in New Jersey by 2050 and 2100, exceeding previous flood records, including Superstorm Sandy. This increase is attributed to global average sea-level rise, sediment compaction, and changes in ocean dynamics.
A new review finds that sea level rise and shoreline retreat are the two most certain factors expected to increase future flood risk from tropical cyclones. Accelerated sea level rise will significantly intensify flooding by these storms.
A team of 90 international experts expect a sea-level rise of 40-60 centimeters by 2100 and 60-100 centimeters by 2300 under strong emissions reductions. However, unmitigated emissions scenarios predict a high-end value of 1.5 meters or more by 2100 and 4.0 meters or higher by 2300.
Research predicts that climate change will lead to the immersion of large proportions of islands, wiping out self-contained ecosystems and their inhabitants. The study highlights the importance of prioritizing island conservation in light of sea level rise.
Researchers found that large pulses of organic material sink to the deep seafloor, providing enough food for years at a time. The study used multiple instruments to track marine snow and its impact on life in the deep.
NASA's Aqua satellite detected warm sea surface temperatures and low wind shear, allowing Tropical Depression 30W to intensify into a tropical storm. The storm's maximum sustained winds reached 35 knots/40 mph on November 5.
NASA's infrared imagery reveals signs of organization and strengthening in Tropical Depression 29W over the Philippine Sea. The system is expected to move west and cross over Luzon as a tropical storm on October 31, potentially intensifying into a typhoon in the South China Sea.
A new study suggests that melting Arctic sea ice causes a shift in the jet stream, leading to increased rain in northwest Europe during summers. The research also finds that Mediterranean regions will receive less rain, with potential effects on weather patterns as far as North America.
New research reveals that sea lampreys utilize bile salts as pheromones to entice mates, akin to humans' evolution of perfume. This scent has evolved to serve as the invasive species' primary sex signal, distinguishing it from native fauna.
A deep-sea core from Okinawa Trough has provided a 200,000-year record of Quaternary environmental changes, with high percentages of sedge and grass in glacial intervals indicating shortened offshore distance. The study highlights the impact of global ice volume, sea-level changes, and monsoon variability on sediment sources.
A long-term study has revealed that the deep Greenland Sea is warming at a rate ten times higher than the global ocean, with potential consequences for European climate. The warming is caused by changes in the interplay of two processes: cooling from above and warming from below.
The Arctic sea ice minimum extent for 2013 reached 1.97 million square miles, the sixth lowest on record, due to a late start of the melt season and cooler temperatures. The remaining sea ice cover is much thinner than it was in previous decades, with an average thickness of only 6.2 feet.
A new study reveals that stronger westerly winds around the South Pole can explain 80% of the increase in Antarctic sea ice volume over the past three decades. This is achieved through the creation of thicker, longer-lasting ice and exposure to blistering cold winds.
The Arctic sea ice cover is on track to reach its annual minimum, but it's unlikely to break records this year. The ice extent has been declining steadily over the last decade, with a sustained downward trend observed by NASA and other satellites. Antarctic sea ice, however, is expected to reach its largest extent on record.
A recent review of research reveals that declining Arctic sea ice is leading to the greening of coastal areas, altering marine and terrestrial food chains. The study finds that changes in sea-ice cover are affecting animal migration patterns and plant growth, with some areas showing cooling trends and declines in vegetation productivity.
The loss of Arctic sea ice will have far-reaching ecological consequences, impacting the marine food web and wildlife species that depend on it. Human activity in the region is expected to increase, leading to increased oil spills and other disturbances.
Computer modeling reveals that melt-water lubrication will contribute only 8mm to sea-level rise by 2200, less than 5% of total projected contribution from Greenland ice sheet. Melting water can actually lead to a lowering of sea-level in some cases.
Sea-ice loss has widespread effects on Arctic wildlife, including disruptions to food chains, population mixing, and disease dynamics. The loss of albedo and increased warming accelerate melting, affecting critical habitats for species such as caribou, arctic foxes, and walrus.
A new study finds that global sea levels could rise by more than 2 meters due to the melting of Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets. The research suggests that Antarctica will contribute half of this rise, while Greenland will add another quarter.
A new study estimates that global sea levels will rise 2.3 meters over the next several thousand years for every degree Celsius the planet warms. The four major contributors to sea-level rise on a global scale are melting of glaciers, Greenland ice sheet, Antarctic ice sheet, and ocean expansion as it warms.
Researchers modeled the influence of Arctic sea ice on temperatures during the Pliocene era, finding that ice-free conditions contributed to surface warming. The study suggests that 400 parts per million atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations may be sufficient to greatly reduce Arctic sea ice extent and seasonal persistence.
Scientists from the Zoological Society of London reveal that Galapagos sea lion exposure to humans and pets impairs their immunity, making them more prone to starvation. The research suggests a link between human activity and the emergence of diseases in the Galapagos sea lion population.
Researchers found that purple sea urchins can adapt to ocean acidification through natural variation and heritable traits. The study suggests that adaptation will play a significant role in the survival of this keystone species as carbon dioxide levels increase.
A Stanford-led study suggests that Hawaiian green sea turtles are still far from recovering to their historic levels, with 80% of major nesting sites having disappeared. The research analyzed historical and current data, revealing a significant decline in the population's geographic range and abundance.
Research explores Arctic sea ice impact on atmospheric circulation and surface temperatures, revealing significant effects beyond the Arctic region.
A new study led by the University of Pennsylvania reveals that the New Jersey coast has experienced a 10,000-year record of continuous sea-level rise, with varying rates of increase over time. The research suggests that climate change may trigger catastrophic melting of ice sheets, leading to higher rates of sea-level rise and increasi...
Two UAF scientists contributed to a global study on glacier mass losses and their impact on rising sea levels. Their findings suggest that Alaskan glaciers alone explain one-third of the current sea-level rise, making Alaska a top contributor to global sea level.
Researchers used ancient DNA to reconstruct past plankton communities in the Black Sea, shedding light on climate-driven changes and human impact. The study found that marine ecosystems are highly sensitive to climate change and human disturbances.
IceBridge team measures sea ice, maps sub-ice bedrock, and gathers data on Greenland's glaciers, improving computer models of sea and land ice. The campaign aims to collect as much data as possible to understand the changing state of Arctic sea ice.
A USGS study found that green sea turtles are using protected areas in Dry Tortugas National Park and the surrounding Florida Keys Marine National Sanctuary. The turtles primarily used shallow seagrass beds and degraded coral reefs for feeding.
New research indicates that reducing emissions of black carbon, methane, and other pollutants can significantly slow sea level rise. The study found that cuts in these four heat-trapping pollutants could temporarily forestall the rate of sea level rise by roughly 25 to 50 percent.
New research shows that reducing emissions of short-lived pollutants like methane, tropospheric ozone, and hydrofluorocarbons can temporarily forestall the rate of sea level rise. This could lower the threat to coastal cities by stabilizing carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere.
A new study finds that sea level rise will lead to significant habitat loss and threaten the survival of endemic species in Southeast Asian and Pacific islands. The researchers predict that even a one-meter sea level rise could result in the loss of up to 14.7% of all islands in the region.
Researchers discovered a new species of brown seaweed, Colpomenia peregrina, in the Gulf of Maine, which has rapidly expanded its range from Canada to Cape Cod. The sea potato, also known as oyster thief, is an epiphytic species that grows on other plants and is competing with native flora for space and nutrients.
The 2013 Arctic sea ice winter extent was the fifth lowest in the past 35 years, reaching 5.82 million square miles. This decline is part of a long-term trend and is associated with increasing greenhouse gases, which affect the radiation type during Arctic winter.
Polar bears in western Hudson Bay are forced to adapt to earlier summer sea ice break-up and later fall departure due to climate change. The timing of their migration can be predicted by sea ice melt and freeze patterns, affecting their health and cub production.
Researchers have found that sea snakes can rapidly evolve smaller heads to explore narrow burrows and avoid interbreeding with larger-headed ancestors. This process can lead to speciation and shape the population's size and appearance.
A study on polar bears in western Hudson Bay found that the timing of their migration can be predicted by sea ice melt and freeze patterns. The results suggest that as sea ice melts earlier and freezes later, polar bears arrive on shore earlier in the summer and leave later in the autumn.
Scientists at OU, Japan, Germany, US, Canada, and Great Britain collaborate to sequence the sea lamprey genome, providing insights into vertebrate evolution and character traits. The study reveals two whole-genome duplication rounds in vertebrates, shedding light on the origins of myelin and paired appendages.
Researchers discovered that ancient sea anemones use the same genes to form their heads as humans and other animals, providing insight into brain evolution. The study found that these 'head genes' control development of sensory centers in both sea anemones and higher animals.
A new study projects that global sea-level rise will not be uniform, with certain regions experiencing higher rates of rise. The team used sophisticated computer modeling to show how ice loss from glaciers and ice sheets will impact regional sea levels, particularly in the Equatorial Pacific Ocean.
Researchers studying ice sheet movement in Greenland and Antarctica have found that warming temperatures cause sea levels to rise. The speed of ice shelf movement has nearly doubled in recent years, leading to increased sea level rises and uncertainty about future projections.
In 2012, huge quantities of algae grew on sea ice in the Central Arctic, with Melosira arctica responsible for almost half primary production. This led to rapid sinkage of algae to deep-sea, where it was consumed by bacteria and animals.
Contact with captive sea turtles poses a risk of exposure to toxic contaminants and zoonotic pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. The study highlights the importance of awareness among health-care professionals and the public to prevent and control the spreading of sea turtle-related disease.
Researchers have found that melt ponds on young, thin Arctic sea ice absorb 50% more solar radiation, causing the ice to melt faster. This changes the light transmission beneath the ice, affecting photosynthesis and potentially impacting ecosystems.
The discovery of a new fossil in Tunisia reveals that African sea cow ancestors lived in freshwater environments, predating those found in Jamaica. This finding provides crucial insights into the evolutionary origins of these marine mammals.