A University of Miami study reveals that the Southern Oscillation plays a bigger role in the climate system than previously thought. The research finds that atmospheric pressure, surface temperature, and precipitation are similar across two climate scenarios with static and dynamic oceans.
New research from the University of Missouri examines past greenhouse climate intervals to understand interactions among atmosphere, oceans, and climate. The study found changes in ocean circulation patterns 70 million years ago could help scientists understand modern increases in greenhouse gases.
A new three-year study aims to better understand the Arctic ocean and sea ice system, predicting its future changes and their implications for the UK and globally. The research will investigate how the seasonal removal of sea ice cover affects winds, currents, and ocean temperatures.
An international research project led by ONR aims to improve long-range weather forecasts and seasonal outlooks by studying the Madden-Julian Oscillation in the Indian Ocean. The study will provide valuable insights into climate modeling and refine global climate computer models.
Researchers have found numerous channels allowing methane to reach the seafloor, and discovered solid hydrate formations that can release gas as the ocean warms. This study aims to improve understanding of methane origins, escape routes, and potential impacts on global climate change.
Researchers from Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona and ETH Zürich studied dust and iron fluxes in Antarctic Ocean over 4 million years. Dust was found to increase during glacial periods, stimulating phytoplankton growth and increasing CO2 sink. The study suggests that dust played a crucial role in past climate change and could have imp...
Researchers discovered a specific type of bacteria capturing carbon dioxide in the 'twilight zone' of the ocean, a region thought to be inhospitable for photosynthesis. The study provides new insights into the dark ocean's carbon cycle and challenges previous assumptions about the role of Archaea.
Researchers investigate the cause of the Permian-Triassic extinction, finding that ocean acidification may have played a significant role. Additionally, studies suggest that reforestation on historically productive, snow-free land could contribute to climate change mitigation even in northern latitudes.
A new network of deep-ocean moorings is being deployed in the Indonesia Archipelago to measure changes in ocean currents between the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The moorings will help scientists understand the impact of these currents on Australia's climate, including tropical weather patterns and seasonal rainfall.
A USC researcher collected samples from floating sediment traps in the San Pedro Basin to study how much carbon is locked up in the ocean. Her findings suggest that the majority of particulate organic carbon falling to the basin floor is marine-derived, acting as a carbon sink taking carbon out of the atmosphere via phytoplankton and l...
The WHOI Ocean Science Journalism Fellowship program provides a one-week, residential experience for professional writers and producers to explore ocean research and its impact on climate change and human activities. Fellows gain access to new research findings and fundamental background information in various ocean disciplines.
The Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation has awarded a research grant to Dr. Neil Hammerschlag's RJ Dunlap Marine Conservation Program at the University of Miami to investigate the impact of declining marine apex predator populations on the ocean ecosystem.
New research reveals that climate change is negatively impacting the ocean's capacity to absorb human-produced carbon dioxide, with warmer water holding less carbon. This finding challenges previous studies and highlights the need for improved data sets and expanded analysis in other oceans.
Coastal communities can address localized ocean acidification hotspots by applying federal and state laws and policies at a local level, reducing the impact on marine environments.
Researchers found that freshwater from melting ice sheets can weaken climate-controlling ocean currents, leading to dramatic climate change. The study's results suggest a future ice sheet collapse would have significant climatic consequences.
Researchers have discovered that pyrite nanoparticles from hydrothermal vents are a significant source of iron for ocean life, with the ability to travel long distances and form a potentially important food source. These nanoparticles are dispersed into the ocean rather than falling to the bottom due to their small size.
Researchers have discovered that massive ocean eddies can reach the ocean bottom at mid-ocean ridges, transporting larvae, chemicals, and heat. This phenomenon helps explain how larvae travel huge distances from one vent area to another.
Researchers found beaked whales use specific ocean features like salinity and temperature to find their prey, which varies from 400-1000 meters. The study provides evidence of the distribution and feeding habitat of Blaineville's beaked whales relative to ocean features.
Researchers at University of Washington and Stanford University report turbulence at a front near Japan, 10-20 times more energetic than wind generated. This finding provides first direct observations of an ocean front's dynamics on scales from kilometers to millimeters.
The Arctic Ocean's freshwater content has risen significantly, with a 20% increase since the 1990s. This change affects global ocean circulation and heat exchange between the ocean and atmosphere. Researchers analyzed over 5,000 salt concentration profiles to determine this increase.
MIT researchers discovered that ocean currents cause elongated microbes to filter light, affecting photosynthesis and phytoplankton growth rates. This phenomenon was previously overlooked in models of light propagation, but fluid flow can change things, influencing carbon fixation and remote sensing estimates.
Two Brown University scientists, Heather Leslie and Leila Sievanen, will discuss the importance of marine spatial planning, ecosystem-based management, and social science inclusion in managing the nation's oceans. Leslie will focus on understanding ocean ecosystems' resilience to variability and climate change, while Sievanen will high...
The first summary for policymakers on ocean fertilization reveals the chances of success are low, with only modest amounts of carbon dioxide removed over 100 years. The proposal involves adding iron or nutrients to stimulate growth of microscopic marine plants, which use CO2 to grow.
New research suggests ocean circulation changes may have caused severe cold intervals in Europe, with the Atlantic ocean capable of radical changes on short timescales. The study found that deep water formation switched off and on repeatedly, leading to warming and cooling centuries at a time.
Marine scientists found that ocean acidification decreases nitrification rates globally, which could lead to reduced nitrous oxide emissions. This decrease may also shift the available form of dissolved nitrogen in surface oceans, favoring certain plant species.
A research expedition is studying the movement of water in the Southern Ocean to understand the rate of horizontal and vertical mixing between different water layers. The study aims to quantify the rate of climate change by measuring the effects of ocean mixing on heat exchange, nutrient cycling, and atmospheric CO2 concentrations.
A comprehensive ocean observation system is needed to track changes in acidification, water temperature, sea level, and polar ice cover. The system would provide critical information for human needs, including climate regulation and oxygen production.
The new IMOS ocean-observing array will use advanced technologies like autonomous floats, marine mammals with satellite tags, and underwater gliders to study the open ocean. This data will help scientists understand how the ocean's physical properties influence the marine ecosystem.
Researchers used corals as a proxy to study the shift in the ocean's thermocline, finding it has risen since the mid-1970s. The findings support climate model predictions and suggest a potential impact on global climate and oceanography.
Researchers installed two observatories in the ocean floor to run innovative experiments at the bottom of the sea. The CORKs will help scientists find answers about how ocean crust sections connect and interact with each other. The experiments will provide direct evidence of active flow pathways and rates in the ocean crust.
A recent study using radiocarbon dating found that a large CO2 release occurred at the end of the last ice age, speeding up its melting. The researchers suggest that this CO2 release may have implications for modern-day climate change.
Researchers used computer simulations to predict the impact of mitigation policies on ocean acidification. A peak year of emissions and post-peak reduction rates significantly influence ocean acidity increases by 2100. The study suggests that substantial emission reductions need to occur as soon as possible.
The deep open ocean is vastly under-explored due to the long-held belief that life in this area was confined primarily to the surface and near the sea bed. New research mapped marine species records and found most knowledge comes from shallow waters or ocean floor, revealing uncounted animals living without hard surfaces.
Mid-ocean algae thrive in areas with little to no nitrate, an essential nutrient. Researchers found that these algae obtain nitrate from deep waters, using it for growth and reproduction near the surface.
Researchers are rethinking the ocean conveyor belt model due to its limitations in accounting for eddies and wind field. The overturning of ocean waters may vary between ocean basins and be influenced by climate change, highlighting the need for a revised understanding of this critical process.
A comprehensive synthesis on climate change's effects on global ocean functions has revealed dramatic changes at an unprecedented rate. The report highlights the urgent need for world leaders to limit greenhouse gas growth and reduce the risk of ecological disasters.
A WHOI scientist's comprehensive report evaluates the impact of human activities on ocean chemistry, revealing widespread changes in seawater acidity, oxygen levels, and mercury pollution. The research highlights the need for deeper understanding and coordination to address these issues.
The National Oceanography Centre (NOC) has partnered with the Met Office to upgrade the Porcupine Abyssal Plain sustained observatory (PAP-SO), a key European ocean observatory. This collaboration aims to advance scientific knowledge of the ocean and improve climate prediction by integrating meteorological and ocean data.
Scientists have discovered a massive Southern Ocean current with a volume equivalent to 40 Amazon Rivers near the Kerguelen Plateau. The current carries dense, oxygen-rich water that sinks near Antarctica to the deep ocean basins further north.
Research shows surface ocean freshened in rainfall-dominated regions and saltier in evaporation-dominant areas. Ocean warming has changed deep-ocean salinity patterns, extending beyond the surface.
Researchers found that changes in wind patterns drive variations in the depth of the surface layer of seawater, affecting air-sea exchange and carbon storage. This impacts biological productivity by altering nutrient availability for phytoplankton growth.
Research found that spore-like acantharian cysts rapidly sink from surface waters to the deep ocean, delivering significant amounts of organic matter to the ocean depths. This phenomenon may be part of an extraordinary reproductive strategy allowing juveniles to exploit a seasonal food bonanza.
The old balkanized approach to ocean management has failed to protect ocean ecosystems; marine spatial planning provides a comprehensive map of human uses and natural resources. Effective ocean management requires considering all ecosystem elements, and the AAAS symposium will showcase innovative techniques for mapping spatial impacts.
A new model of ancient ocean chemistry suggests a stratified marine basin with oxygen-rich, sulfidic and ferruginous water layers. This discovery challenges traditional theories on early animal evolution and provides insights into the earliest life on Earth.
Researchers reconstruct past ocean chemistry using calcium carbonate veins that precipitate from seawater-derived fluids in rocks beneath the seafloor. The composition of past seawater can be determined from suites of calcium carbonate veins that formed millions of years ago, providing valuable insights into climate and ocean evolution.
The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution will receive a $8.1 million grant to construct the Laboratory for Ocean Sensors and Observing Systems, enabling fabrication and maintenance of new ocean observing systems. The facility will support various ongoing projects, including the Ocean Observatories Initiative.
Researchers have discovered that the deep ocean's temperature variability and circulation system are more complex than previously thought, leading to more accurate predictions of sea level rise and ice volume changes. The study uses a 3-D reconstruction of an ocean during a past warm period to gain insights into global climate dynamics.
High-resolution computer simulations reveal that North Atlantic water enters the Arctic Ocean through three main routes: Fram Strait, Barents Sea northern branch, and southern branch. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of ocean climate change mechanisms.
Scientists developed a new method to measure ocean CO2 uptake, mapping it for the entire North Atlantic. This improvement enables more accurate predictions of global climate change and potentially leads to an 'early warning system' for climate change signals.
Researchers estimate that swimming animals generate extensive 'biogenic' mixing in the ocean, which may impact climate models. The effect is primarily due to animal displacement, not turbulence, and affects even deep-sea creatures.
A new Stanford University study suggests the early ocean was much more temperate and life likely diversified and spread across the globe sooner. The researchers analyzed isotope ratios in ancient rocks, finding that the ocean temperature could not have been more than 40C, contradicting previous estimates of at least 55 degrees Celsius.
UC San Diego engineers develop algorithms for swarms of ocean robots to track ocean currents, predict oil spill movement, and improve models. The system will enable local agencies to deploy robots quickly to monitor spills and aid in the development of marine protected areas.
A UC Riverside-led study found oxygen production via photosynthesis occurred in Earth's oceans at least 100 million years before the GOE, affecting ocean chemistry and potentially stimulating eukaryote evolution. The research suggests that even low concentrations of oxygen can have profound effects on ocean chemistry.
The new ocean drilling program will explore the 'deep biosphere', investigating life beyond 1,600 meters below the seafloor and the impact of CO2 on climate. Scientists hope to gain insights into Earth's past, present, and future by analyzing core samples and developing new technologies.
The University of California, San Diego will receive $32 million to develop the Ocean Observatories Initiative's cyberinfrastructure. The system will enable near-real-time access to ocean data, transforming ocean science research and education.
Oceanographers at University of Hawaii at Manoa found that deeper pelagic fish have higher mercury concentrations due to their unique diets. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, highlights the importance of understanding the open ocean ecosystem to sustainably manage fish populations.
The NOAA Integrated Ocean Observing System has awarded grants to support ocean observing activities from Long Island Sound to the Canadian Maritimes. The funds also support projects to improve ocean and coastal data, fisheries management, and ecosystem conservation.
The NOAA Integrated Ocean Observing System has awarded grants to the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute to conduct long-term monitoring of environmental conditions in Central and Northern California. This funding will support protecting marine life and habitat, as well as provide easier access to regional real-time data.
NOAA's Integrated Ocean Observing System has awarded over $1.39 million to support ocean observing efforts in Alaska. The award will help develop a comprehensive ocean observing system using Prince William Sound as a test bed.
The NOAA Integrated Ocean Observing System has awarded a $1.9 million grant to the University of Washington's Applied Physics Laboratory to develop ocean observing systems in the Pacific Northwest. The project will enhance data access and inform decision-making on safety, economy, and environmental protection.