Phytoplankton's shift to red pigments occurred due to a global ocean oxygen depletion, which paved the way for their evolution. This discovery reveals how the ocean's chemistry has been dominated by red phytoplankton ever since.
Scientists using NASA's Global Climate Model found that oceans are storing more heat due to rising atmospheric temperatures. The study predicts significant ocean warming in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and increased precipitation over the North Atlantic, with potential biological consequences for ocean life.
Scientists have developed a new adaptation of seismic reflection profiling to create detailed pictures of oceanic features, including eddies and internal waves. This technique has the potential to improve our understanding of ocean mixing and its role in climate modeling.
Researchers track freshwater discharge from Arctic Ocean to North Atlantic, measuring ocean currents, temperature, and salinity. The study, funded by $2 million NSF grant, aims to understand the crucial role of Arctic freshwater in controlling Earth's climate.
The HOME scientists used various instruments and equipment to track ocean energy and turbulence, finding that the Hawaiian Ridge is a site with vastly increased ocean mixing. They documented undersea internal wave energy enhanced 10 times at the ridge compared to normal open ocean areas.
The Defying Ocean's End conference aims to reverse the ocean's decline through a science-based international effort. The plan includes promoting a World Ocean Public Trust, expanding global marine parks, assessing conservation priorities, creating an ocean ethic, and implementing bold action steps.
Dr. Thomas Rossby is recognized for his groundbreaking acoustically tracked floats and innovative methods to measure ocean currents, offering new insights into the North Atlantic circulation. His work has revolutionized our understanding of physical ocean processes using sound in the sea.
Scientists have successfully measured wind's interaction with the ocean, revealing a pattern consistent with a 1957 theory. The findings could improve climate modeling and prediction of weather and wave activity.
Scientists studying the western Pacific Ocean find regional changes in saltiness correspond to changes in upper ocean heat content before an El Nino event. Observing salinity improves predictions, suggesting a lag time of six to 12 months for modifications in ocean layers.
Climate change affects ocean's sequestration capacity, with the Atlantic Ocean proving more effective at storing carbon dioxide. The impact is most pronounced in the Atlantic, where rising sea surface temperatures slow down thermohaline circulation and reduce mixing, exacerbating the problem.
The COSEE network promotes better understanding of ocean's role in global environmental cycles and processes. Ocean science researchers will work with educators to develop high-quality educational materials, increasing access to ocean education for underrepresented groups.
Phytoplankton levels have dropped by over 30% in the North Pacific Ocean and 14% in the North Atlantic since the mid-80s, while summer plankton concentrations rose by 50% in the Northern Indian and Equatorial Atlantic Oceans. These changes are linked to regional climate shifts, including warmer sea surface temperatures and reduced winds.
The Aquarius mission will provide global maps of salt concentration on the ocean surface, allowing scientists to closely monitor ocean circulation and heat transport. The mission will help advance understanding of ocean-atmosphere interactions and potentially inform strategies to mitigate the impacts of natural events.
A new prediction index uses satellite-based data to identify signs of El Niño development in the winter, providing a 6-9 month lead-time. The study found high values that preceded five strongest El Niños, and predicts the next event to begin between July and October 2002.
A study using satellite ocean color data has shed light on the spring bloom of phytoplankton in the North Atlantic, a critical factor in the carbon cycle and global warming. The research found that simple models can accurately predict the timing of the bloom, with plankton animals and bacteria playing a key role in its duration.
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.
Scientists discover that internal waves generated by the moon's pull at the Hawaiian Ridge can mix ocean waters at rates up to 1,000 times more intense than in areas without such topography. The measurements provide new insights into the global ocean circulation and nutrient cycles.
Researchers found that the catch of key food species has decreased by over half, despite increased fishing effort. The impact has undermined the ocean's ability to sustain further catches, with invertebrates replacing large predatory fishes at the top of marine food webs.
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.
The 'Upwelled Iron Hypothesis' proposes that increased iron in the Southern Ocean during glacial periods came from deep ocean waters, which rose to the surface through upwelling. This input may have contributed to increased phytoplankton growth and subsequently altered the global carbon balance.
Researchers suggest deploying vibration-sensitive acoustic sensors on Europa's surface to probe the interior structure and search for signs of life. Massive ice fractures generate unusual cracking sounds that could penetrate the thick ice layer and propagate through the underlying ocean.
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.
Researchers find nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria in Pacific Ocean water samples near Hawaii, contributing significantly to ocean nitrogen fixation. The newly discovered bacteria are more abundant and active than previously thought, with potential implications for global warming.
Scientists have discovered a significant component of the ocean's carbon cycle, with photosynthetic bacteria found in virtually every surface water sample. These aerobic photoheterotrophic bacteria can produce organic matter and supply up to 40% of their energy from sunlight.
Antarctica's Weddell Polynya forms due to a horizontal cyclonic eddy spinning off Maud Rise, affecting global ocean circulation and carbon cycle. The study aims to improve understanding of natural mechanisms driving polar ice cap changes.
Texas A&M researchers Tom Whitworth and Alex Orsi are designing a customized cyber-atlas for the Southern Ocean, combining historical and recent data to generate tailored maps. The atlas will utilize WOCE data to establish a global ocean baseline for studying decadal variability.
A new study has successfully mapped the global extent of 'iron-limited' ocean regions, which are crucial for understanding how the ocean's biology controls the flow of carbon between the atmosphere and the ocean. These regions were identified by analyzing satellite data on dust deposition and phytoplankton productivity.
Researchers propose a multi-million dollar observing system to identify climate signals in the Indian Ocean, potentially predicting regional rainfall months in advance. The network could help sustain crop development and influence winter rainfall across southern Australia.
The Harvard Ocean Prediction System (HOPS) is a modular system that provides forecasts of ocean weather and information about ocean life. HOPS has been used to predict the location of crash debris from EgyptAir Flight 990 and identify promising waters for commercial fishing.
Researchers found that carbon dioxide from human activities primarily ends up in the subtropical ocean, rather than the cold Southern Ocean. This new understanding challenges previous models and highlights the complexity of global ocean carbon sequestration.
A new study using NASA's Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-View Sensor (SeaWiFS) reveals that El Niño dramatically reduced the amount of carbon dioxide normally released into the atmosphere by the equatorial Pacific Ocean. Chlorophyll levels also plummeted during this time, followed by a massive bloom of microscopic algae.
A new study reveals El Niño dramatically reduced carbon dioxide normally released by the equatorial Pacific Ocean, while also causing extreme biological effects. The research uses data from buoys, ships, and space instruments to monitor ocean productivity and CO2 levels.
Research indicates the Indian Ocean has its own El Niño-like phenomenon characterized by an east-to-west oscillation of warm waters affecting other parts of the world. The study found significant warming of the western portion of the Indian Ocean in 16 out of 48 years between 1950 and 1998, but only three were active El Niño years.
A dense brownish haze layer extended from the ocean surface to 1-3 km altitude, impacting climate processes over the northern Indian Ocean. The haze reduced solar radiation absorbed by the ocean surface by as much as 10%, altering weather and climate dynamics.
The Florida Regional Competition of the National Ocean Sciences Bowl will be held in Fort Pierce, with 25 teams competing for scholarships and awards. The competition aims to broaden awareness and understanding of ocean research among high school students.
A previously unknown contaminant similar to PCBs and dioxins has been found in the eggs of Atlantic and Pacific Ocean seabirds, with concentrations significantly higher in Pacific Ocean eggs. The study suggests that the contaminant exists primarily in the surface layer of the ocean.
The Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution is building a $1.5 million ocean sciences museum with a self-guided format, featuring interactive exhibits and displays on marine research, education, engineering, and ocean operations. The museum will open in late 1998.
A University of Cincinnati geologist presents evidence from ancient volcanic ash beds indicating a narrow Iapetus Ocean existed during the Ordovician period. The discovery contradicts previous theories that the ocean disappeared due to landmasses being locked together.
Researchers at the University of Illinois found a correlation between Pacific Ocean sea-surface temperatures and precipitation rates in the Great Plains. Warmer ocean temperatures lead to increased storm activity, resulting in wetter weather.
Marine geologists find detailed marine record of late Pleistocene era fires on land, shedding light on natural burning's impact on climate and ecosystems. The study reveals charcoal from fires on land was transported to ocean sediments via winds and rivers.