A URI biologist will monitor salt marshes in national parks for long-term ecosystem changes, enabling resource managers to anticipate detrimental changes and design management strategies. The study sites were selected based on aerial photography, field visits, and interviews with park staff.
Paul Dayton, a renowned marine ecologist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, has received the Diving Lifetime Achievement Award for his groundbreaking research on coastal and estuarine habitats. His work, including over 500 dives in Antarctica, has significantly advanced our understanding of Antarctic undersea ecology.
Dr. Jennifer Specker's three-year grant researches how cortisol and thyroid hormones regulate stomach development in summer flounder, a process influenced by environmental changes. The study aims to understand the relationship between fish, environment, and climate change.
A recent study by Texas A&M University researchers suggests that natural climate variability may contribute up to half of the observed global surface warming since the 1970s. The analysis of ocean surface temperature records in the tropical Pacific indicates that long-term changes in ocean temperatures precede global air temperature ch...
A new study by Scripps researchers reveals that phytoplankton capture and absorb solar radiation, contributing to a global warming of 0.1-0.6 degrees Fahrenheit. The findings challenge iron fertilization efforts aimed at reducing global warming, suggesting this approach may actually contribute to warming the ocean.
Nancy Bowers, a Scripps Institution of Oceanography doctoral student, has been awarded the 2002 Chrysalis Scholarship from the Association for Women Geoscientists. Her research focuses on analyzing high-frequency fluctuations in Earth's magnetic field as observed in oceanic crust data.
A recent Asian dust storm triggered a massive bloom of phytoplankton in the North Pacific, suggesting that wind-blown iron from terrestrial dust can stimulate plankton growth. This observation challenges the long-held 'iron hypothesis,' which proposed that adding iron to ocean waters could offset global warming.
Researchers found that less than two feet of water can noticeably reduce landfall decay in hurricanes. However, surface roughness significantly reduces wind speed and evaporation, which fuels a hurricane's intensity.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded UCSD a total of $22 million over five years to support research in information technology. The OptIPuter project, funded at $13.5 million, aims to develop a powerful distributed cyberinfrastructure for data-intensive scientific research and collaboration.
The UCI-based center will utilize mass spectrometry to measure radiocarbon in plants, soils and ocean coral, providing insights into the global carbon cycle. This technology enhances Earth system science research and strengthens UCI's interdisciplinary scientific study capabilities.
Researchers uncovered characteristics of faults that move backwards, contrary to conventional observations, and found the material within faults is significantly different than its surroundings. The study provides a new way to identify potentially active faults and better understand the earthquake process.
Researchers Deane and Stokes developed a new depiction of bubble sizes and creation processes using acoustical and optical observations. They found that bubble size distribution follows two distinct mechanisms, one for small and large bubbles.
Researchers will analyze data to predict and control harmful algal blooms and red tides in Narragansett Bay, affecting marine life and local aquaculture. The study aims to enhance understanding of bay ecology needed for effective management and use of resources.
Researchers at URI Graduate School of Oceanography have been awarded a $35,000 grant from the Vetlesen Foundation to investigate pathways for transport of copepod Calanus finmarchicus and its relation to climatic variations.
Researchers will investigate how wetland landscape, circulation features, and restoration strategies affect fecal pollution levels. The study aims to resolve the controversy over whether coastal wetlands generate or filter out fecal pollution, with potential implications for beach water quality and habitat preservation.
Researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography used satellite and radar technologies to monitor the height and thickness of Antarctica's ice shelves. They successfully measured the effect of tides on ice shelf height, allowing for more accurate tracking of climate-related changes.
Researchers believe that lunar debris may hold fossils from Earth's early microbial life, with potential insights into the evolution of life on our planet. By studying this ancient material, scientists can gain a better understanding of the moon's role as a window into Earth's history.
A new molecular study challenges the long-held idea that Pfiesteria piscicida, a toxic algae, causes coastal fish kills and health problems. The study found no evidence of complex life cycle stages or neurotoxin associated with fish kills.
Keeling's 45-year curve of atmospheric carbon dioxide, known as the 'Keeling curve,' has been a crucial dataset in understanding global climate change. His work has also shown that the oceans play a significant role in modulating atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations.
A Scripps research study uses remote imaging techniques to accurately measure breaking waves, providing insights into ocean currents, heat transfer, and aerosol production. The findings will inform two new projects aiming to understand hurricane dynamics and thermodynamics.
Researchers have recalculated the amount of carbon dioxide released from tropical forests into global waterways, finding that it is triple the current estimate. The new total is comparable to a fifth of human activities' carbon dioxide emissions, challenging the notion that forests are carbon sponges.
The American Chemical Society is examining scientific connections between the US and Cuba, with a focus on fostering Cuban-American research partnerships. Cubans and scientists with Cuban connections will discuss topics such as chemical education and nanotechnology.
A team of scientists from the University of Rhode Island and several institutions will develop new models to predict the impact of climate change on ocean ecosystems. The Partnership for Advancing Interdisciplinary Global Modeling (PARADIGM) aims to create global ocean models that can predict future states of the ocean.
A study published in Estuarine, Coastal, and Shelf Science found that restored salt marshes provide similar energy resources to undisturbed sites. The research team compared the diets of mummichog fish in both habitats and found no significant differences.
The Terra satellite provides daily global measurements of sea surface temperature accurate to within half a degree, surpassing previous satellites' accuracy. This high-resolution data enables scientists to better understand climate change and its effects on the ocean's temperature.
A Scripps Institution of Oceanography study reveals a significant warming trend in the Southern Ocean over the last 50 years, with temperatures rising nearly double the global average. The research suggests that this region may be responding more rapidly to climate change than previously thought.
Research teams have discovered oxygen decreases of 10-15% in the upper thermocline, a layer 100-600 meters deep. Slower ocean circulation and increased plant productivity may be contributing factors, potentially linked to climate shifts and global warming.
Researchers found diverse bacterial photosynthetic genes in ocean plankton, actively harnessing energy from light, revealing new types of phototrophs. This discovery has significant implications for oceanic food web models and global carbon budget management.
Professor Ramanathan recognized for his groundbreaking studies on clouds, aerosols, and greenhouse gases in the earth's climate system. His work has significantly advanced our understanding of radiative feedbacks in climate change and ocean temperature regulation.
Researchers studied right whales' feeding grounds, finding they use prior experience, environmental cues, and tactile clues to locate dense zooplankton patches. This understanding may help address the decline of North Atlantic right whale populations by revealing key mechanisms for their survival.
Giant icebergs, unprecedented ice conditions, are posing a significant threat to Antarctic penguin colonies. The Adelie colony at Cape Crozier is expected to fail this year due to the destruction of their breeding area, while Emperor Penguin colonies are also struggling to raise chicks.
Scientists discover rare squid with thin tentacles, stretching up to ten times its body length. The finding suggests the creature is widespread and highlights scientists' depth of ignorance about deep oceans.
Researchers studied the 1883 Krakatau eruption's tsunamis, identifying distinctive pumice deposits that provide clues to the source of volcanic material. The analysis helps scientists interpret coastal deposits in areas of active explosive volcanism and assess volcanic hazards.
Researchers will track subsurface floats to measure temperature, pressure, and oxygen in a region extending thousands of miles west of Africa. By studying these dynamics, they aim to better understand ocean mixing processes and improve climate models.
The University of Rhode Island Oceanographers have been awarded a grant to develop a new RAFOS float, which will improve the measurement of ocean currents. The new float will be constructed at GSO's Narragansett Bay Campus and will meet the needs of other RAFOS float users while keeping production costs low.
Researchers have developed a new technology-driven approach to improving sea-going investigations using high-speed wireless networking. The system will enable scientists on land to analyze data immediately and provide feedback to ships at sea, reducing costs and increasing data quality.
A new study suggests that tiny aerosols from human-produced pollution can weaken the global hydrological cycle, affecting water availability and quality. The research, published in Science, reveals that these particles can limit sunlight reaching the ocean, leading to reduced rainfall over polluted regions.
A recent study by Tsou and Collie found that predation is a dominant source of mortality in the Georges Bank fish community. The most important predators are cod, silver hake, sharks, and rays, which have replaced groundfish as the dominant fish eaters in more recent years.
Chemical oceanographers at the University of Rhode Island used naturally occurring radium to estimate ground water input to coastal systems. The study found that ground water was a significant source of radium in Rhode Island salt ponds.
Researchers found that small island rivers in Taiwan and New Zealand produce high amounts of sediment, potentially impacting global climate change. The amount of sediment varies greatly between rivers, with the Cropp River in New Zealand producing 32,000 tons per square kilometer.
Researchers have identified Candidatus Endobugula sertula bacteria in Bugula neritina as the likely source of the anti-cancer compound Bryostatin 1. The study provides a new experimental system to unlock the potential of bryostatin drugs.
Research shows waves in southern California and the North Pacific have increased in size and intensity over the past half century due to stronger wind and storm activity. The approach direction of winter ocean swells has rotated from northwesterly to westerly, reducing natural sheltering effects and increasing direct impacts on the coast.
The study found that both fisheries harvest squid at the same stage of life, with two main spawning periods. The data suggest that conservation efforts need to be jointly pursued for both fisheries to maintain the spawning cycle.
The Vetlesen Foundation has awarded a grant to the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography for the acquisition of equipment for studying sediment cores in global change research. This funding will enable researchers to further understand climate history and processes that may influence future changes.
Researchers will investigate the cause of substantial increases in Mnemiopsis leidyi population and determine the effects on coastal ecosystems. The study aims to understand the impacts of climate change on zooplankton populations and the local fishing industry.
Researchers found that light reacts with iron-bound siderophores, making iron more available to marine bacteria. This process has significant implications for the ocean's iron cycle and carbon sequestration.
Researchers found that bacteria in desert soil migrate towards water, not just light, and return to subsurface after drying out. This discovery has significant implications for understanding underground microbial ecology and potentially locating life on Mars.
Chris Kincaid of the University of Rhode Island's Graduate School of Oceanography has received a $143,000 NSF grant to study subduction zones and their impact on volcanic arcs and seismicity. The project aims to develop 3D models of subduction using laboratory apparatus, enhancing our understanding of mantle dynamics.
A new study found that Saharan dust clouds traveling thousands of miles can lead to massive toxic algae blooms in the Gulf of Mexico. The research used satellite and ground-based measurements to track dust clouds, which increased iron concentrations by 300% and triggered a huge bloom of toxic red algae.
Walter Munk, a leading figure in physical oceanography, is being honored with the inaugural Prince Albert I Medal for his decades-long research on ocean currents, tides, and climate change. His work has significantly improved our understanding of the oceans and their impact on global warming.
The new global network of listening posts will track atmospheric signals from diverse events like secret nuclear tests, volcanic eruptions, and hurricanes. Infrasound energy is generated by meteors, chemical explosions, supersonic aircraft, tornadoes, landslides, earthquakes, and volcanoes.
A new NASA satellite sensor and field experiment reveals that aerosols can both cool the surface and warm the atmosphere. By analyzing data from the Indian Ocean Experiment (INDOEX) campaign, scientists found a regional cooling effect of up to three times greater than the warming effect of greenhouse gases.
Scientists have found a new source of nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii, which could contribute significantly to ocean nitrogen fixation. The newly discovered bacteria are active at greater depths and longer time periods than known marine cyanobacteria, with potential implications for global warming.
A new study by Scripps researchers reveals that tiny marine crustaceans called copepods use cannibalism as a mechanism to limit their population. The study found that egg mortality in copepod species Calanus finmarchicus is directly related to the abundance of females in the population, suggesting a self-regulating mechanism.
The Deep Gulf of Mexico Benthos project aims to study the structure and functions of deepsea life forms, with a focus on the ecological impact of offshore oil production. The research team will collect data on ocean floor ecology, including biodiversity, species abundance, and environmental contamination.
Historical records show that humans exploited coastal resources thousands of years ago, leading to the decline of top predators and smaller species. Wise management strategies, such as restoring native oysters and promoting aquaculture, can help conserve water quality and create habitats for fish and shellfish.
The study highlights the loss of large predatory fish as a key factor in altering marine food webs, leading to changes in ecosystem composition. Historical records suggest that fishing impacts may have begun thousands of years ago, contributing to current ecosystem level changes.
A two-year study of human impacts on oceans over time reveals that overfishing was the primary driver of ecosystem collapse in each case examined. Historical overkill of marine life triggered changes in ecosystem structure and function, leading to toxic algal blooms, dead zones, and outbreaks of diseases.
The Scripps Institution of Oceanography has developed a groundbreaking wildfire forecast for the western United States, using statistical methods to predict fire seasons and fuel availability. The 2001 forecast suggests a much milder wildfire season compared to 2000, which burned over 7 million acres and caused $1.6 billion in damage.
Researchers find unique vent systems on seafloor mountain Atlantis Massif, formed by heat generated when seawater reacts with mantle rocks. The Lost City Field may be common, potentially upending previous estimates of hydrothermal venting and life on the seafloor.