Tomato and watermelon crops show higher capacity for carbon fixation under saline conditions. In contrast, lettuce, melon, and pepper crops have lower photosynthetic rates and chlorophyll content, indicating reduced efficiency in CO2 accumulation.
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.
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.
Professor Lynn Shay has been elected a Fellow of the American Meteorological Society (AMS) for his outstanding contributions to atmospheric and oceanic sciences. His research focuses on upper ocean impacts on hurricane intensity changes, and he has published over 85 papers in peer-reviewed journals.
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 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.
CSIRO scientists rely on international cooperation to deploy Argo ocean and climate monitoring instruments, as Somali pirates operate in the region. The program offers crucial data for understanding Australian and south Asian weather patterns.
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.
A new study by Virginia Institute of Marine Science researchers suggests that disease-resistant oysters are thriving in the high-salinity areas of Chesapeake Bay, where MSX and Dermo parasites thrive. Restoration efforts should focus on these areas to increase resistance, rather than low-salinity refugia.
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 at Duke University have traced rising salinity levels in the Yorktown aquifer to ancient fossil seawater, providing a long-term solution for desalinated tap water. The study found that reverse osmosis membranes can still effectively remove most dissolved salts, but may require additional treatment for boron and arsenic.
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 suggest Agulhas Current compensates for North Atlantic salinity decrease, stabilizing Gulf Stream and European climate. Computational models simulate ocean dynamics and signal transmission.
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.
The new miniature sensors, developed by University of Southampton researchers, can measure ocean temperature and salinity with high precision. The sensors will be tested on an expedition from Australia to Mauritius, providing valuable information about climate change.
Researchers at Stanford University have developed a battery that can generate electricity by exploiting the difference in salinity between freshwater and seawater. The battery, which uses sodium and chlorine ions, has achieved 74% efficiency in converting potential energy to electrical current.
Research by the University of California - San Diego team discovered that icebergs cool and dilute ocean water, affecting phytoplankton distribution and carbon dioxide absorption. The findings suggest enhanced phytoplankton growth would increase carbon dioxide removal from the ocean.
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.
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.
Researchers investigated the salt tolerance of 10 common bedding plant species and cultivars irrigated with reclaimed water. The study found that some plants became more compact when grown in low to moderate salinity conditions, suggesting a potential use for recycled water in landscape irrigation.
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.
A study led by Dr. Stuart Painter identifies five distinct water masses controlling coccolithophore blooms off the southeast coast of South America, highlighting the region's complexity and productivity. The research cruise measured salinity, chemistry, and nutrient levels, confirming that specific conditions foster bloom formation.
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.
Scientists studied soil moisture, porewater salinity, and hydrological relationships in a historically freshwater floodplain forest to develop restoration plans. They found that conditions in the vadose zone are crucial for seedling survival in coastal floodplain ecosystems.
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 new study from the University of Gothenburg reveals that climate change could lead to a decrease in river runoff and an increase in salinity in the Baltic Sea. This change could have significant consequences for the region's sensitive ecosystem, which relies on a delicate balance between salt and fresh water.
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.
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.
Researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography are developing autonomous underwater explorers, or AUEs, to trace small-scale ocean processes vital to tiny marine inhabitants. The miniature robots will provide new information about marine protected areas, harmful algal blooms, and oil spills.
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 launch of SMOS will improve understanding of water transportation around the Earth, leading to more accurate weather forecasts and climate simulations. Global measurements of salinity and soil moisture will also inform predictions of floods, droughts, and future climate changes.
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.
NOAA has awarded $2.09 million to support ocean observing efforts in Hawaii and the Pacific Islands, enhancing coastal safety and predicting ocean conditions. The funding will be administered by the University of Hawaii at Manoa to develop products for enhanced ocean use.
NOAA has awarded over $2.7 million in competitive grant funding to the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association to develop a comprehensive ocean observing system for the Mid-Atlantic region. The funding will support efforts to improve data coordination, forecasting, and regional data management.