Ken Golden's research on percolation-based models of sea ice has revealed key features that control polar climate dynamics, including the 'rule of fives'. His work has also led to the development of mathematical approaches to predict changes in sea ice permeability.
A new study finds that the northeastern US coast will experience rapid sea-level rise due to global warming, posing significant threats to New York City and its surrounding areas. The expected rise of up to 8.3 inches could lead to flooding, submersion of low-lying land, and damage to ecosystems.
The Dead Sea's water levels are decreasing at an accelerated rate, primarily caused by increased human water consumption from the Jordan and Yarmouk Rivers. The study suggests that desalination of seawater or construction of new channels could help slow down the receding water levels.
A new study found that coastal erosion in Alaska more than doubled from historical rates, averaging over 14 meters per year. The authors attribute this increase to declining sea ice extent, rising sea temperatures, and storm power, which may signal a shift in ocean-land interactions.
The observed ocean warming has contributed significantly to global average sea level rise, with a 20mm increase over the past 53 years. The thermosteric component of sea level change is one of several factors affecting sea level, including glacier melting and freshwater transfer.
A new study published in Science suggests that a collapse of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet could lead to significantly higher sea level rise than currently projected, with devastating effects on coastal areas and global sea levels. The research takes into account various forces, including gravity, changes in the Earth's rotation, and la...
The study predicts a rise in sea levels around North America and southern Indian Ocean due to the collapse of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, exceeding current estimates by as much as 25%. The ice sheet's melting will cause significant changes in global sea levels, with some regions experiencing rises of up to six meters.
Researchers from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution found that the Black Sea level was approximately 30 meters below present levels at the time of the alleged flood, contradicting previous estimates. This suggests a smaller flood event than previously thought, with implications for the settlement and cultural history of the region.
Research reveals that California sea otters living in coastal areas with limited resources are more susceptible to diseases caused by parasites. The study found that diet diversity among individual otters can lead to higher infection rates, highlighting the importance of habitat quality for maintaining healthy populations.
Researchers used historical data and ice core analysis to calculate the relationship between global temperature and sea level over 2000 years. The new model predictions indicate a sea level rise of 0.9-1.3 meters, exceeding IPCC estimates due to faster-than-expected ice sheet melting.
Scientists analyzed East/Japan Sea CO2 uptake, finding a surprising drop in recent years. Simulations also suggest large raindrops favor tornado formation. Remotely sensed dune celerity revealed the world's fastest moving dunes, while Martian craters indicate hidden ice deposits.
The MARS Observatory is a deep-sea ocean observatory that allows researchers to continuously monitor the dark world of the deep sea. It enables real-time data and video transmission from instruments installed on the seafloor.
Research reveals sea snakes dehydrate in saltwater and prefer freshwater or diluted brackish water. The findings may help explain the patchy distribution of sea snakes and their vulnerability to climate change.
A recent study by American Museum of Natural History scientists clarifies the evolutionary relationships among seven sea turtle species. The researchers found that specialized diets arose independently in three distinct groups of sea turtles, with flatback and green turtles being closely related despite their differing diets.
A study has found nearly 3,000 sea turtles dead along a 27-mile stretch of coast in Baja California, highlighting the impact of bycatch on loggerhead sea turtle populations. Conservation efforts, including awareness-raising and sustainable fishing practices, are being implemented to mitigate this threat.
Bald eagles adjust their foraging tactics in response to the decline of Alaskan sea otters. Sea otters play a crucial role in maintaining kelp forest ecosystems, which provide food and habitat for many fish and invertebrates. As otter populations decrease, bald eagles shift their diet from kelp-forest fish to birds.
A new study reveals that the decline of sea otters in Alaska's Aleutian Islands has led to a shift in bald eagle diet, from fish to seabirds. This change highlights the extraordinary complexity of marine ecosystems and the far-reaching impacts of population shifts in keystone species.
Preliminary data indicate 2008 may represent the lowest volume of Arctic sea ice on record. The decline is due to rising greenhouse gases and strong natural variability.
For a four-week period in August 2008, Arctic sea ice melted faster than ever before, with an average daily decline of 32,700 square miles. The rate of decline contributes to concerns that all Arctic sea ice could be gone within the century.
A team of earth scientists found ocean floor geysers in the Pacific Ocean that warm flowing sea water. This discovery suggests possible marine life in a previously barren area.
The Arctic sea ice cover has reached its minimum extent for the year, marking the second-lowest on record. The current trend reinforces a strong negative impact of summertime sea ice extent over the past 30 years.
A new University of Colorado at Boulder study concludes that global sea rise of more than 6 feet is physically impossible by 2100. The team estimates a total sea level rise of roughly 3 to 6 feet, which is still potentially devastating for low-lying coastal areas.
Researchers analyzed the disappearance of the Laurentide Ice Sheet to shed light on how much the Greenland Ice Sheet will contribute to sea level rise. The study found that rapid melting can happen very quickly, with rates comparable to global sea level rise evidence for this interval derived from coral records.
A study by Swedish researchers found that acidification reduces sea urchin fertility by 25%, affecting larval development and population growth. The findings highlight the devastating impact of ocean acidification on marine animal life, with far-reaching consequences for commercially and ecologically important species.
A new study suggests that iceberg scouring in Antarctic waters is increasing, posing a significant threat to marine life. The duration of winter sea ice has dramatically declined over the past few decades, leading to more frequent iceberg disturbances on the seabed.
A new study shows that shallow water corals originated from deep-sea animals that invaded and diversified in shallow waters. The researchers found evidence of this transition in DNA and fossils, revealing an arms-race between corals and their predators as they built skeletal defenses.
A new study by NCAR researchers warns that rapid sea ice loss in the Arctic could lead to accelerated land warming and permafrost thaw, posing significant risks to sensitive ecosystems and human infrastructure. The study finds that a period of abrupt sea-ice loss could initiate significant emissions of greenhouse gases from Arctic soils.
Researchers have developed two new methods to better estimate the numbers of European Otters and their effects on fish farming industries. Genetic analyses of faeces can prove a promising approach in investigating otter populations. The information can be used to ensure effective nature conservation by calculating fish eaten per pond a...
A study by California Polytechnic State University researchers has linked Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite typically associated with cats, to marine mammal deaths worldwide. The team discovered that northern anchovies may be spreading the parasite through the ocean's filter-feeding mechanism, posing a potential transmission risk to mammals.
The OSTM/Jason 2 satellite will monitor global sea-level rise and study ocean circulation and its links to Earth's climate. The mission aims to improve weather and climate forecasts, providing better seasonal predictions and near-real-time data on ocean conditions.
Researchers find global sea level acceleration may have started in the 18th century, causing a 6 cm rise during the 19th century and 19 cm during the 20th century. The US east coast also subsided since the Eocene, with wind-launched ocean eddies triggering formation and propagation in the South China Sea.
Arctic sea ice is expected to decline further, with a 59% chance of breaking the annual minimum record for the third time in five years. This is due to the preponderance of younger, thinner ice and warming temperatures, which could have negative effects on wildlife and open up shipping lanes.
Despite a colder-than-average winter, Arctic sea ice remains vulnerable due to long-term warming climate trends. The area of perennial sea ice, which lasts for several years, has declined significantly from 50-60% in the mid-1980s to less than 30% this year.
Scientists developed a new model to estimate sea ice thickness, using historical observations and environmental data analysis. The study shows that average ice thickness and total ice volume fluctuated together during the early period, peaking in the late 1980s before declining until the mid-1990s.
The sea otter's reintroduction is expected to reduce commercially valuable shellfish populations, including sea urchins and geoducks. However, this loss could be mitigated by the creation of alternative fisheries for species such as lingcod, rockfish, and herring.
A 0.5°C increase in sea surface temperature is associated with a 40% increase in hurricane activity and frequency in the tropical North Atlantic region. The research, conducted by University College London scientists, quantifies the link between sea surface warming and hurricane activity for the first time.
Researchers reveal a climate-driven phenomenon that reverses overexploitation of deep-sea resources, enhancing recruitment and total landings of the shrimp Aristeus antennatus. This finding has significant socio-economic impact and highlights the importance of considering global cascading effects on biological processes.
Researchers found that individual sea otters specialize in particular prey types when food is limited, while populations with abundant resources share similar diets. This specialization can help understand disease mortality and inform wildlife management.
The Bering Sea's rich food web could fray as algae adapt to greenhouse conditions, affecting top predators like pollock and hake. A shift away from diatoms towards smaller phytoplankton could undermine the biological pump, making the ocean less able to soak up atmospheric carbon dioxide.
A new study indicates older Arctic sea ice is being replaced by younger, thinner ice, making the region more susceptible to rapid melt. The researchers used satellite data to reconstruct past Arctic sea ice conditions and found that 58% of remaining perennial ice is thin and only 2-3 years old.
A new report suggests that preserving deep-sea biodiversity is crucial for the health of oceans. Researchers found that sites with a higher diversity of nematode worms support exponentially higher rates of ecosystem processes and increased efficiency. This study highlights the importance of protecting the world's most critical ecosystem.
A study by researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz, found that certain marine mammals have evolved to protect their brains from conditions of low oxygen. The amounts and kinds of globins in the brain correlate with physical activity patterns of various wild mammals.
Scientists studying ancient fish bones in Scandinavia have discovered that warm-water species like anchovies and black sea bream are returning to Danish waters as temperatures rise. This finding suggests that sustainable cod populations can be maintained in the North Sea even during climate change, but with reduced fishing pressure.
A 7,000-year-old flood is believed to have triggered the expansion of farming across Europe. The study suggests that rising sea levels led to dramatic social change and displaced millions of people.
Researchers studying Holothuria glaberrima found that sea cucumbers can rapidly regenerate lost body parts by healing wounds with similar cellular mechanisms. This discovery may lead to new insights into repairing human tissues.
Human migration out of Africa and into Asia occurred in at least four pulses, driven by climate and sea level changes. The initial migration was thwarted, but subsequent pulses took advantage of stable climates and sea levels to expand into eastern Asia, Australia, and Melanesia.
The Arctic sea ice extent may have fallen by 50% since the 1950s, with September sea ice plummeting to the lowest levels on record. The researchers also noted that the date of the lowest sea ice extent has shifted to later in the year.
Research published in BMC Evolutionary Biology shows that a snake's intended prey affects the type and evolution of toxins in their venom. The study found that sea snakes have less diverse toxins due to their shared feeding behavior and diet.
The Arctic sea ice extent on Sept. 16 stood at 1.59 million square miles, lower than the long-term minimum average from 1979 to 2000 by about 1 million square miles. The minimum also breaks previous records set in 2005.
Rising sea-surface temperatures in the Barents Sea have led to a decline in winter ice cover over the past 26 years. The study found that warming ocean temperatures, driven by increasing greenhouse gases, are the primary cause of this trend. In contrast, Arctic pack ice is expected to continue its rapid decline due to atmospheric effects.
Researchers discovered that brine moving up or down through floating sea ice follows universal transport properties, similar to water flow through sedimentary rocks. This finding can help improve forecasts of global warming's impact on polar icepacks and understand how polar ecosystems respond to climate change.
Sea surface temperatures are crucial for tropical cyclone formation, and recent data shows warming in the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and eastern Atlantic. This warming contributed to Hurricane Dean and Tropical Storm Erin, with forecasters warning that the upcoming hurricane season will be a mixed bag.
A CU-Boulder team forecasts a 92% probability of the September 2007 Arctic sea ice minimum extent setting a new record low. The researchers attribute this to rapid disintegration and thinning of multi-year ice, replaced by thinner first-year ice.
A team of UTSA researchers, led by renowned sea ice expert Stephen Ackley, will join a crew of 22 researchers from several countries to explore the Amundsen Sea in Antarctica. The two-month expedition aims to investigate the processes of how sea ice forms and interacts with the environment.
Scientists found a new species of sea anemone, Anthosactis pearseae, living on the carcass of a dead whale 1.8 miles below sea level. The anemone is small and white, with roughly uniform tentacle length, and may provide clues about human impact on deep-sea ecosystems.
A new high-resolution computer model has been developed to better understand how air-sea interactions affect hurricane intensity. The model uses detailed data from the Coupled Boundary Layer Air-Sea Transfer (CBLAST) field program, which provided unprecedented information about ocean and sea surface conditions near hurricanes.
Researchers identified a regenerative process in the sea squirt that could be applied to humans, allowing damaged organs to repair themselves. This breakthrough has major implications for regenerative medicine, potentially treating conditions such as missing limbs and scarred hearts.
Researchers at CU-Boulder's Colorado Center for Astrodynamics Research predict a 57% chance of lower sea-ice minimum than 2006, with 70% chance within lowest five years on record. Declining Arctic sea ice is linked to higher winter temperatures due to greenhouse warming.
The Arctic sea-ice extent in March 2007 was the second lowest on satellite record, at 5.7 million square miles. Researchers attribute declining sea ice to rising greenhouse gases and strong natural variability.
A team of researchers led by Jennifer Hutchings will spend two weeks studying the relationship between ice movement, stress, and sea ice mass in the Beaufort Sea. The goal is to validate current sea ice models and reduce uncertainty in predicting arctic climate change.