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.
Two UK-funded projects will monitor crucial ocean currents in the North Atlantic, improving long-term climate predictions and weather forecasts. The first project, OSNAP, will run for five years, with funding of around £20m, while the second project, RAPID, will continue to monitor the strength of the global conveyor belt until 2018.
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.
Researchers collected water samples up to six kilometres below the surface of the Southern Ocean, finding that physical transport in the ocean on currents shapes microbial communities. The study shows that communities connected by ocean currents are more similar to each other, regardless of distance.
A new study reveals dramatic ocean mixing in Drake Passage, crucial for regulating Earth's climate and ocean currents. The research provides detailed information needed to accurately predict long-term climate projections.
The OceanCube Observatories are designed to understand changes in species, nutrients, and energy within a controlled cube-shaped volume of water. The system provides real-time data on temperature, salinity, and other chemical, biological, and physical data critical to understanding coral reef ecosystem health.
Scientists found that ocean currents carrying anammox bacteria produce vast amounts of nitrogen gas in the Pacific Ocean, weakening the ocean's ability to absorb CO2. This process also leads to fewer algae in the water, less food for marine microorganisms and ultimately, a decrease in fish populations.
Researchers have developed a new tool that can predict fish habitat conditions six months in advance. The JISAO Seasonal Coastal Ocean Prediction of the Ecosystem (J-SCOPE) uses global climate models and regional coastal ocean simulations to forecast ocean temperatures, oxygen levels, and phytoplankton blooms.
Researchers at GEOMAR found that about one third of oxygen supply in tropical oxygen minimum zones is provided by vertical turbulent mixing, surprising previous assumptions. High-precision measurements confirmed this finding, using a tracer and profiling current meters.
Marine scientists have decoded the mechanism for long-term climate fluctuations in the Atlantic, revealing that ocean currents significantly affect long-term climate variability. The study found that heat exchange between ocean and atmosphere influences decadal climate fluctuations, which are superimposed on the general warming trend.
Scientists from CSIRO and the University of NSW attribute rapid ocean warming to global greenhouse gas emissions and aerosol decline. Models show a 30-year delay in Indian Ocean warming due to aerosol levels, highlighting human-emitted aerosols' significant impact on remote ocean temperatures.
A new study suggests that increased atmospheric CO2 levels are altering the types of nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria in the ocean, with implications for ocean productivity and fisheries. The research found that certain strains of these bacteria thrive in high CO2 environments, while others may struggle to survive.
A new study finds that all existing coral reefs will be engulfed in inhospitable ocean chemistry conditions if civilization continues on its current emissions trajectory. Deep cuts in emissions are necessary to sustain even a fraction of existing reefs.
Research at Princeton University found that migrating ocean animals consume vast amounts of oxygen in the ocean's 'oxygen minimum zone'. This phenomenon, known as diel vertical migration (DVM), results in oxygen depletion and can be disrupted by climate change.
A global study of ocean nitrogen cycle changes at the end of the last ice age confirms the oceans' ability to balance on a global scale. However, the data suggests it is a slow process that may take centuries or millennia, highlighting concerns about current rapid changes.
A team of Spanish researchers has sequenced the global deep ocean genome using over 2,000 samples of microorganisms collected from the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. This groundbreaking study reveals a vast unknown species of microorganisms with intense biological activity.
Scientists have created global maps showing how shipping noise affects the ocean, with high levels appearing in northern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and along major shipping routes. The models take into account factors like water temperature, pressure, and sediment type to predict sound wave propagation.
Researchers reconstructed Arctic circulation through sediments and found that protactinium was being swept out of the Arctic before settling to the bottom. This suggests that the water couldn't have been stagnant, contradicting assumptions about the impact of the last ice age on global ocean currents. The study's findings indicate that...
Researchers used geological proxies and computer models to understand how sea level affected rainfall patterns in the Indo-Pacific warm pool during the last ice age. The study found that lowered sea levels led to reduced convection over a region of the warm pool, resulting in drier climates in some areas and wetter climates in others.
A team led by UCSB professors found that certain microscopic shelled plants, such as Emiliania huxleyi, can tolerate high levels of carbon dioxide and even increase shell production, but may grow slower. This discovery suggests variable responses in marine organisms to ocean acidification.
A study published in Nature Geoscience reveals that oceanographic reorganisations and biological processes linked to airborne dust in the Southern Ocean drove past rapid fluctuations in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. The research found large changes in chemical stratification of the Southern Ocean on millennial timescales, highligh...
Researchers found differences in core proteins from a microorganism that lives in a salty lake in Antarctica, enabling it to tolerate high salinity and desiccation. The study reveals potential adaptations for life on Mars, with scientists exploring the use of these protein modifications to engineer novel enzymes and catalysts.
The Aquarius instrument captures the first full year of surface salinity data, revealing rapid evolutions of salt patterns in the tropics. Salinity variations drive ocean circulation and provide valuable insights into global climate change.
A long-term mesocosm experiment off Sweden investigates the effects of ocean acidification on plankton communities, shedding light on their ability to adapt to new conditions. The study also explores the impact of ocean acidification on the development of fish at the base of the food web.
Researchers found that marine bacteria prefer specific temperatures, nutrients, light, and salinity levels, contradicting the 'everything is everywhere' hypothesis. The discovery suggests dispersal limitation plays a crucial role in shaping bacterial distributions.
The inclusion of intense but small-scale polar storms in climate models could lead to a different picture of climate change. Adding these storms results in significant changes in ocean circulation, including an increase in heat traveling north in the Atlantic Ocean.
A new study found severe dissolution of pteropod shells in Southern Ocean waters due to ocean acidification. The tiny snails are a valuable food source for fish and birds, and their shells dissolving may increase vulnerability to predation and infection.
Researchers describe a new method for invisibility cloaking using ocean floor topography to shield floating objects from waves. By manipulating internal waves, objects can be protected from surface waves, offering potential benefits for offshore structures and fishing.
A University of Houston geologist is leading an international team on a two-month, $10 million expedition to drill into the Pacific Ocean's lower crust. The voyage aims to distinguish between competing theories on magma intrusion, shedding light on volcanic seafloor spreading and oceanic processes.
Researchers, led by Dr. Emily Shuckburgh, apply mathematical ideas from dynamical systems to analyze circulation in the Southern Ocean. Mixing of water with different properties is a key determinant in heat uptake by oceans.
Scientists from University of Miami's Deep-C consortium studied ocean heat content, salinity, and currents during Hurricane Isaac. The research aims to determine if upwelling and deep sea responses led to oil spills on the Gulf Coast.
Researchers discovered Arctic crustaceans migrate below sea ice during winter nights, using deep-ocean currents to reach colder areas. This adaptation increases survival and enables them to remain in the Arctic Ocean, a key finding that challenges previous perceptions of ice fauna's vulnerability.
Researchers Kevin Speer and John Marshall suggest that the majority of ocean heat transport occurs in the Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica, driven by strong winds. This finding could significantly impact our understanding of global climate processes.
Researchers have discovered that subsurface temperatures in the western tropical Atlantic rapidly warmed during cold periods in Earth's past. This finding suggests that when the global conveyor belt slowed down, warm subsurface waters flowed southward and rapidly warmed the deep tropics, altering climate patterns globally.
The Ocean Health Index assesses the benefits to people of healthy oceans, combining ecological, social, economic, and political conditions. It scores countries globally, ranging from 36 to 86, with densely populated nations like Germany and uninhabited islands leading the way.
Researchers found that when hurricanes blow over ocean regions swamped by fresh water, the conditions can intensify the storm. This results in a 50 percent increase in intensity, which can lead to much larger destruction and death.
A new study in Nature confirms an improved method for measuring nitrogen fixation in the ocean, revealing rates that are between 62 and 600 percent higher than previously measured. The findings leave a gap in the nitrogen budget due to incomplete knowledge of microorganisms responsible for these processes.
A new study by Duke University scientists reveals that surface coal mining is severely impacting water quality in southern West Virginia. The research found that just five percent of upstream land conversion can lead to the degradation of up to 22% of streams, with salinity levels and insect biodiversity declining substantially.
A team of scientists has discovered a method of how carbon is drawn down from the surface of the Southern Ocean to deep waters, utilizing winds, currents, and eddies. This understanding improves knowledge of climate change effects on ocean carbon absorption.
Researchers found that localized pathways created by winds, currents, and eddies draw waters down into the deep ocean, locking away carbon from the atmosphere. This improved understanding helps predict effects of climate change on ocean carbon absorption.
Kendall L. Carder has been recognized with the Jerlov Award for his groundbreaking research on in situ optical measurements, underwater imaging systems, and ocean color remote sensing. His contributions have significantly advanced our understanding of light in the ocean.
A Duke University study suggests naturally occurring pathways allowed salts and gases from the Marcellus shale formation to migrate into shallow drinking water aquifers. The study found elevated levels of salinity with similar geochemistry to deep Marcellus brine in drinking water samples.
A new trigger for the North Atlantic plankton bloom has been discovered, revealing that swirling currents of seawater sustain phytoplankton in shallower waters. This phenomenon is crucial to the ocean's carbon cycle, absorbing vast amounts of carbon dioxide and emitting oxygen.
Researchers found that whirlpools, or eddies, in the North Atlantic Ocean sustain phytoplankton growth, allowing them to thrive in shallower waters with ample sunlight. This discovery helps explain the timing and patchy appearance of the massive spring blooms.
A new collaborative study between the University of Miami and Navy Postgraduate School will investigate critical oceanic processes involved in Large-Scale Eddy-Driven Patterns (LEDPs). The project aims to improve understanding of LEDPs, which can impact climate projections and transport heat, salinity, momentum, and carbon.
New research by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory scientists reveals that human activities are the primary cause of global ocean warming over the past 50 years. The study analyzed observational and modeling uncertainties to confirm this conclusion.
Scientists from WHOI conducted a new study measuring carbon levels at various depths in the Arctic Ocean. The data will help researchers understand how carbon cycles through the marine ecosystem and respond to rising global temperatures.
Australian scientists detected changes in ocean salinity, indicating an acceleration in the global rainfall and evaporation cycle. The water cycle has strengthened by four percent from 1950-2000, with high rainfall regions becoming wetter and arid areas drier due to global warming.
Scientists have measured a significant decline in Antarctic Bottom Water, a key driver of global ocean currents, with a 60% reduction estimated since 1970. The densest waters are becoming less saline, indicating rapid response to climate changes.
A new transatlantic graduate school in ocean system science and technology is launched by German and Canadian researchers. The Helmholtz Research School will improve understanding of the ocean's responses to natural and human influences, with a focus on sustainable use of marine resources.
Marine researchers have linked ocean acidification to the collapse of oyster seed production at an Oregon hatchery, where larval growth declined due to corrosive water conditions. The study's findings suggest that increased CO2 levels may push oyster larval growth past the break-even point in terms of production.
A new study links the end-Ordovician mass extinction to nutrient-driven anoxia in the global ocean. The research overthrows century-old knowledge on why marine animals faced their first major challenges, highlighting the tight coupling between life evolution and oxygen dynamics.
A new study reveals a global ocean warming trend spanning at least 100 years, with an average increase of .33-degree Celsius in upper ocean temperatures. The research uses historical temperature readings from HMS Challenger's 1872-1876 voyage and modern data from the Argo program.
A recent study led by a US scientist estimates that human impacts on the ocean could cost the global economy over $1 trillion per year by 2100. The research highlights the urgent need to reduce pollution, overfishing, and other threats to ocean health.
The Surface Ocean CO2 Atlas (SOCAT) provides a comprehensive dataset of 6.3 million global observations since 1968, documenting year-to-year and decadal changes in ocean carbon uptake. This will help assess the feedbacks between climate change and the ocean carbon cycle.
A team of Australian scientists has bred salt tolerance into a variety of durum wheat, showing improved grain yield by 25% on salty soils. The research uses non-GM crop breeding techniques and introduces a salt-tolerant gene that works by excluding sodium from the leaves.
Researchers found a link between large dust storms on southern Iceland and accelerated glacial melting, while also increasing nutrients in the North Atlantic Ocean. The iron-rich dust boosts ocean primary productivity and stimulates marine biota growth, drawing down CO2 from the atmosphere.
Scientists have tracked water from Bass Strait to the Indian Ocean using ocean gliders, revealing a 200-metre tall wall of water and discovering undiluted Bass Strait water hundreds of kilometres away. The study showcases the benefits of Australia's Integrated Marine Observing System.
The Tasman Sea has become a global warming hotspot, with ocean temperatures rising two degrees warmer than 60 years ago due to intensified east-west winds and greenhouse gas emissions. A long-term monitoring network is needed to track these changes.
A Duke University study found increased salinity and trace elements in the Upper Mud River due to multiple surface coal mines. The research provides evidence of the cumulative effects of mountaintop mining on a river network.