A recent study discovered microscopic mucus tails on marine snow particles, which significantly alter estimates of carbon sequestration in the deep sea. These 'tails' slow particle descent into the upper ocean layers, doubling their residence time and impacting carbon transfer and storage.
Climate change is releasing more contaminants into the ocean, affecting marine ecosystems. Human activities and natural sources are mobilizing and increasing contaminant flows due to rising sea levels and melting glaciers.
Researchers discovered high levels of siderophores in the ocean's twilight zone, where iron is deficient, affecting the biological carbon pump and nutrient cycles. This study contributes to understanding climate change impacts on the ocean's ability to absorb carbon.
A new set of 11 golden rules aims to minimize ocean destruction and preserve fish populations. The rules prioritize minimizing impacts on marine species, habitats, and human communities, while supporting sustainable fishing practices.
A recent study published in Science Advances found that the ocean's heat storage efficiency during the last deglaciation was substantially enhanced to ≥1 by strong warming in intermediate-depth waters. This significant increase resolves a long-standing paradox in the conventional view of climate system dynamics.
A new definition of marine identity has been agreed upon by an international group of researchers, which could help restore society's relationship with the ocean. The concept emphasizes how the ocean supports our sense of self and is rooted in traditions, customs, and dependency on the sea for recreation and livelihoods.
A new study reveals a deep-sea isopod that consumes Sargassum algae sinking from the ocean's surface, showing how closely connected the surface and deep oceans are. The isopod uses specialized adaptations to feed on this sunken source of nutrients.
The ocean's twilight zone plays a crucial role in regulating marine phytoplankton productivity, which is essential for the marine food chain. Researchers have found that warming temperatures can strengthen the recycling of nutrients between the ocean layers, with significant implications for climate change projections.
A team of scientists identified 30 new Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) in the Southern Ocean that are crucial for conserving native wildlife populations. These areas were found to be vital for foraging, breeding, and migration, and are under threat from human activities such as fishing and tourism.
Researchers have discovered that changes in the ocean's mixed layer are the primary force behind Atlantic Multidecadal Variability (AMV) in the tropics. This phenomenon influences weather patterns across North America, Europe, and Africa, affecting hurricane activity and rainfall in regions like the Sahel.
A recent study has found that tropical ocean waters exhibit significant variability in temperature over time and space, contradicting the long-held 'climate variability hypothesis'. This unexpected finding may help explain why some fish species can tolerate a wider range of temperatures than others.
Researchers have found that the Southern Ocean absorbs 25% more carbon dioxide than previously estimated. The new study used direct measurements to assess existing flux products in the Southern Ocean.
A team of scientists, including a UC Irvine researcher, discovered that bumpy ocean floor features contribute to upwelling rates 10,000 times higher than the global average. This finding provides direct evidence for earlier theoretical predictions about ocean circulation and mass balance.
Weaker ocean circulation may lead to increased carbon dioxide buildup in the atmosphere due to a previously uncharacterized feedback loop involving iron, upwelling nutrients, and ligands. The study challenges current thinking on the ocean's role in storing carbon.
Researchers at University of Cambridge discovered that underwater turbulence around seamounts significantly influences ocean mixing, contributing to a third of global ocean mixing. This finding has implications for climate models used in policymaking, potentially improving forecasts of the ocean's response to global warming.
Five global projects will advance understanding of ocean systems in a changing climate through improved data and modeling. The Ocean Biogeochemistry Virtual Institute will refine ocean carbon cycling and ecosystem resilience research.
A new study reveals that the shape and depth of ocean floors significantly influence carbon sequestration, with bathymetry accounting for up to 50% of changes over 80 million years. This understanding can inform marine-based carbon dioxide removal technologies and aid in searching for habitable planets.
Researchers at the University of Bonn improved 3D ocean circulation models using supercomputing resources to analyze ocean tide changes and their impact on coastal regions. The study found that a warming ocean surface enhances baroclinic tides, leading to significant energy transfer.
New research predicts that seven of eight modeled species will move further north in the Arctic Ocean due to climate change. This shift could have cascading effects on Arctic Ocean fish populations and overall ecosystem dynamics.
Researchers employed an advanced ocean data assimilation scheme to predict subsurface temperature anomalies, improving forecasting for marine heatwaves like the Blob. The new approach leveraged a broader range of oceanic observations, enhancing accuracy in the lower ocean layer.
The study analyzed the 100 biggest marine protected areas, finding that slow implementation of management strategies and lack of restriction on human activities hinder their effectiveness. The authors highlight the need for improved quality of marine protected areas to achieve the goal of protecting at least 30% of the ocean by 2030.
Researchers found that weaker ocean currents during the Younger Dryas period led to a decline in nutrient availability, resulting in decreased biological productivity in the North Atlantic. This study supports predictions about the impact of climate change on ocean circulation and life.
Research reveals that tiny plant-like organisms are transported to deeper depths by ocean currents, affecting carbon cycling and microbial dynamics. This process challenges conventional understanding of carbon transport in the ocean.
FathomVerse combines real underwater images, interactive gameplay, and AI training to improve ocean research. The game engages players in labeling images for machine learning models, contributing to a broader audience in ocean exploration.
A new study reveals that meandering ocean currents and the ocean floor induce upwelling velocity, transporting warm water to shallower depths, contributing to rapid melting of Antarctic ice shelves. This process poses a significant threat to coastal communities worldwide due to rising global sea levels.
A new study by CSIRO Australia and University of Toronto estimates that between 3-11 million metric tonnes of plastic pollution are sinking to the ocean floor. The research suggests that the ocean floor has become a reservoir for most plastic pollution, with plastic clusters around continents.
Researchers from Kyushu University found that ocean-atmosphere coupling enhances teleconnection patterns, leading to more meandering jet streams and extreme weather events. The study highlights the significance of extratropical ocean-atmosphere interactions in climate variability.
Researchers developed a new type of ocean model that can simulate the transport, storage, and turnover of carbon in the global coastal ocean. The model shows that intense plankton growth is key to enhanced CO2 uptake in coastal oceans, which could strengthen with ongoing CO2 emissions.
Hilary Palevsky's research focuses on marine biogeochemistry, and her NSF CAREER Award will support the creation of educational videos to guide students using remote ocean monitoring data. She aims to clarify the mechanisms behind the ocean's biological pump, which plays a crucial role in removing anthropogenic carbon from active cycling.
A recent study by researchers at the University of Southern Denmark found that the Arctic Ocean's declining sea ice cover has complex effects on marine ecosystems and ocean productivity. Despite increased sunlight availability, primary production on the seafloor has not seen a corresponding increase, suggesting water transparency may b...
The American Geophysical Union (AGU) has announced the Ocean Sciences Meeting 2024, featuring panel discussions on climate interventions and ocean-based carbon dioxide removal. Researchers will also explore using shipwrecks to study changing coastlines and oceans.
During the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), ocean oxygen levels in tropical waters rose, preserving habitability despite temperature stress. This increase helped mitigate mass extinctions in surface ocean ecosystems.
Researchers found that oxygen availability increased in shallow subsurface waters despite global warming during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum. This increase was consistent with predictions from ocean circulation models, which suggest a compensation effect may help explain moderate levels of extinction observed during this period.
A global ocean of liquid water has been found beneath Mimas' icy shell, with an estimated age of 5-15 million years, suggesting recent ocean formation and potential for life to emerge. This discovery adds Mimas to the list of moons with internal oceans, including Enceladus and Europa.
A new study reveals tiny plankton (0.02mm) make up majority of ocean plankton, playing critical role in ecosystem health and oxygen production. The research emphasizes the need to take these tiny organisms seriously and incorporate them into global ocean policy.
New research examines the causes of record-breaking ocean temperatures in 2023 and highlights the need to understand driving forces behind ocean warming. The study suggests that Earth's energy imbalance is a key driver of extreme ocean temperatures, with the Atlantic Ocean warming faster than other ocean basins.
The study found that different instrumental systems in the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) complement each other and are essential for accurately monitoring ocean warming. The GOOS, which includes platforms such as free drifting instrumented floats, mooring buoys, and autonomous pinniped data, provides a comprehensive view of ocea...
Researchers found that mid-latitude ocean fronts, not sea ice, are responsible for recent cold waves in East Asia and North America. This discovery has significant implications for predicting extreme weather events and mitigating climate disasters.
Scientists have found that deposits deep under the ocean floor reveal a way to measure ocean oxygen levels and their connections with carbon dioxide during the last ice age. This study could improve predictions of how oceans will respond to global warming.
A new study by the University of Miami Rosenstiel School and NOAA finds that South Florida's inshore reefs are less vulnerable to ocean acidification than previously thought. The research highlights the importance of preserving seagrass meadows to mitigate climate-related threats to coral reefs.
Ocean Networks Canada is establishing a new Antarctic Ocean observatory in partnership with the Spanish National Research Council. This initiative will provide year-round, near real-time data on ocean conditions, advancing scientific understanding of the Southern Ocean and Antarctic Ocean.
A new database of marine microbes has been created, revealing insights into the ocean's diversity and its impact on climate change. The catalog provides unprecedented information on which microbes live where and what they do.
The ocean's temperature increased by 15 zettajoules relative to 2022, with warmer surface waters contributing to extreme weather patterns. Stratification is also rising, reducing oxygen levels and affecting marine life.
Research details microbial associations in the marine microbiome, exploring ecological interactions among archaea, bacteria, and picoeukaryotes across different depths and regions. The study reveals regional and specific interactions that vary with depth and geographical location.
The biological carbon pump is crucial for regulating atmospheric CO2 levels, but focusing solely on export flux neglects ocean circulation's impact. Changes in ocean circulation under climate change lead to increased storage of biologically produced CO2 in the interior ocean.
Research in ACS' Environmental Science & Technology Letters suggests that PFAS are transported in a feedback loop between the Arctic and North Atlantic Oceans. The study found that around 123 tons of PFAS entered the Arctic Ocean, while approximately 110 tons moved into the Atlantic Ocean in one year.
The acidity of Antarctic coastal waters is projected to increase by over 100% by 2100, posing a significant threat to marine biodiversity. The Southern Ocean, surrounding Antarctica, is particularly susceptible to acidification, with the world's largest Marine Protected Area, Ross Sea region, expected to see a 104% increase in acidity.
The METEOR Expedition M197 is a research project studying the Eastern Mediterranean Sea's future changes in response to climate change and human activities. The project investigates nutrient supply, marine ecosystems, and carbon export from surface to deep waters.
A team of authors from the University of Hawaii at Manoa identifies gaps in programs aimed at increasing participation of Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in ocean sciences. They highlight successful programs like the SOEST Maile Mentoring Bridge and The MEGA Lab, which prioritize culturally centered spaces and community involvem...
Researchers developed a new solver algorithm for the MPAS-Ocean ocean circulation model, reducing run time by 45% and enabling semi-implicit stability. This allows for faster climate predictions and energy efficiency, as well as reduced computational power consumption.
The Atlantic Ocean near Bermuda has warmed by 1°C over the past 40 years, with surface temperatures increasing by 0.24°C per decade since the 1980s. The ocean's salinity and oxygen levels have also decreased, leading to increased acidity, which can affect marine life.
Researchers from Incheon National University found that climate change impacts prokaryotes in oceans, altering methane and nitrous oxide cycles. This study highlights the need for policies to reduce ocean acidification and warming to stabilize vital microbial communities and greenhouse gas cycles.
Researchers propose a conceptual framework for understanding the diversity and composition of sulfur-cycling microbes in river-wetland-ocean continuum. They recommend developing new cultivation methods and studying life strategies, communities, and adaptations to improve ecosystem functioning through microbiome engineering.
A study published in Science presents records from North Atlantic sediments that agree with recent surface and deep ocean warming and freshening. The research shows a connection between the surface and deep ocean throughout the last 1,200 years.
New research reveals Indian Ocean seabirds face no hotspots where predators feast on prey, highlighting the need for ocean-wide protection. The study's findings suggest that international action is necessary to safeguard these birds' survival due to human activities like overfishing and pollution.
Researchers found that sharks and other large predatory fish visit the mesopelagic zone, a critical habitat for these species. The study suggests these animals dive to this area for reasons beyond feeding, potentially involving navigation or avoidance of predators.
A new study reveals ocean warming rates nearly doubling since the 1990s, with some areas absorbing more heat than others. The Southern Ocean saw the largest increase in heat storage over the past two decades.
Researchers from the University of Plymouth discovered coral reef bleaching at depths previously thought to be resilient, highlighting the vulnerability of mesophotic coral ecosystems to thermal stress. The study suggests that climate change is causing a deepening of the thermocline, leading to increased bleaching in the deeper ocean.
The 2024 Ocean Sciences Meeting brings together 5,000 scientists to discuss breaking research and critical issues affecting ocean sustainability. The biennial event will feature an online-only scientific session on Wednesday 21 February.
Research investigates impact of storm fronts, tropical storms, and cyclones on ocean circulation, finding changes in atmospheric synoptic variability (ASV) slow down ocean circulation and decrease primary productivity. ASV variations also affect mixing of ocean's layers and strength of oceanic circulation systems.