On calm days, sunlight warms the ocean surface in tropical oceans, driving atmospheric turbulence and affecting weather patterns. Researchers from Oregon State University used Doppler lidar technology to collect unprecedented measurements of turbulence over the ocean, revealing that such events occur during about 5% of days.
A record-high amount of Arctic freshwater is expected to flow into the Labrador Sea, impacting local marine environments and global ocean currents. The freshwater, which has increased by 40% over the past two decades, will travel through the Canadian Archipelago rather than traditional marine passageways.
Researchers developed a machine learning-powered platform, OC-SMART, to process ocean color in satellite images, solving a 30-year-old problem in retrieving data from coastal regions and open ocean areas. The tool provides useful data on chlorophyll concentrations and phytoplankton presence, helping to understand the ocean's state.
Researchers from GEOMAR have found that manganese, not iron, is the limiting factor for phytoplankton growth in some areas of the Southern Ocean. This finding has significant implications for understanding past changes and future climate change.
Researchers found that extensive sea ice prevented oxygen from reaching the deep ocean during the last ice age, contradicting previous assumptions. The study suggests that disequilibrium between surface and atmospheric oxygen levels played a crucial role in the ocean's carbon cycle.
A group of scientists recommends four major improvements to enhance environmental observations in the Indian Ocean, a region warming faster than others. The enhancements aim to improve weather and climate forecasting for countries bordering its rim, vulnerable to climate change.
A study has identified the Ocean 100, a group of 100 transnational corporations extracting majority of revenues from economic use of world's ocean. The largest companies in industries like offshore oil and gas, shipping, and cruise tourism dominate the market, taking an estimated 60% of all revenues.
The Ocean 100, a group of 100 transnational corporations, dominated the ocean economy with $1.1 trillion in revenues in 2018. The top industries were offshore oil and gas, seafood production, and container shipping.
A new study reports the highest ocean temperatures since 1955, with the upper 2,000 meters absorbing 20 more Zettajoules than in 2019. The researchers warn of severe consequences for ocean ecosystems and human societies, including increased extreme weather events and wildfires.
Researchers at RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research use electric rays and sting rays to create maps of the seabed, collecting data on ocean wildlife and resources. The method is cost-effective and has been shown to be accurate, with positioning errors within 10cm of existing seabed maps.
A fleet of deep-diving ocean robots will investigate how marine life captures and stores carbon from the atmosphere. The research, called SOLACE, aims to improve our understanding of the 'carbon pump', a process responsible for pumping large volumes of carbon into the ocean.
Recent measurements reveal a surprise increase in dense water sinking near Antarctica, following 50 years of decline. Changes in bottom water formation can impact global climate and deep ocean ecosystems. The study documents an increase in supply of bottom water to the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Future emissions of greenhouse gases and aerosols will shift the North Atlantic's role in global ocean heat uptake, making it the main region of OHU by 2100. This is due to projected decline in anthropogenic aerosols, weakening the AMOC and diverging meridional ocean heat transport.
A new grant will enable scientists to deploy 500 robotic ocean-monitoring floats around the globe, collecting data on ocean chemistry and biology between the surface and 2,000 meters. The project aims to improve computer models of ocean fisheries and climate, and monitor the effects of ocean warming and acidification.
A new study reveals ocean acidification is a present-day reality on the Great Barrier Reef, with CO2 levels rising 6% over 10 years. This accelerated trend confirms atmospheric CO2's influence on seawater CO2 levels, posing significant threats to coral growth and health.
New study shows ocean acidification influences carbon content of sinking particles, affecting biological pump. The results, published in Nature Climate Change, indicate highly variable responses to CO2, with bacterial and animal plankton playing a key role.
A new study by a USC-led research team reveals that emissions from Chinese coal-fired power plants are fertilizing the North Pacific Ocean with iron and other metals, which could impact marine life. The researchers found peak iron concentrations in surface seawater corresponding to big wind events over east Asia.
A new study found that ocean carbon sequestration decreased as phytoplankton failed to devour macronutrients and trap carbon dioxide in the deep ocean. This process, called the biological pump, transfers carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and surface ocean into the dark, deep ocean.
New research suggests that ancient deep-sea corals provide a time machine to study changes in ocean circulation and carbon cycle during the last ice age. The study found that rapid changes in ocean circulation around Antarctica released CO2 to the atmosphere, ending the last ice age.
A recent study using long-term ocean data from the North Atlantic Ocean reveals a decadal variability and recent acceleration of surface warming, salinification, deoxygenation, and ocean acidification. The data shows a significant increase in surface temperatures, salinity, and carbon dioxide levels, leading to an acidification trend.
Researchers found a warming trend in the deep sea, with temperature fluctuations detectable at depths of up to 4,757 meters. The increase in temperatures is consistent with global climate change, but more research is needed to understand its causes.
A recent report by the Journal of Operational Oceanography reveals an unprecedented rise in sea temperatures worldwide, with the Arctic Ocean experiencing the largest increase. The report highlights the impact of climate change on ocean ecosystems and calls for improved monitoring to ensure sustainable use of seas and oceans.
A new study reveals that rapid ocean warming and acidification will exacerbate negative effects on planktonic communities, including reduced productivity and calcification. Researchers found that calcifying phytoplankton, such as coccolithophores, are particularly vulnerable to these changes.
A recent study has found that pteropods, or 'wing-footed' sea snails and slugs, are much older than previously thought and survived past environmental changes in the ocean. The research suggests that these creatures may be more adaptable to ocean acidification than expected.
The global ocean has become more stratified due to global warming, reducing nutrients and oxygen. This increase in stratification affects climate, ecosystems, and the ocean's ability to store carbon, exacerbating global warming.
As the atmosphere warms, ocean stability increases, leading to reduced carbon burial and decreased productivity. Cooler water layers not mixing due to stable conditions prevents oxygen and nutrient delivery.
Researchers use natural seafloor earthquakes to determine ocean temperature across vast distances and depths, overcoming previous limitations. The technique, called seismic ocean thermometry, reveals a decadal warming trend exceeding previous estimates in the East Indian Ocean.
A new study reconstructed sea ice transported from the Arctic Ocean through the Fram Strait and into the North Atlantic Ocean over the last 1400 years. The reconstruction suggests that the Little Ice Age was triggered by an exceptionally large outflow of sea ice from the Arctic Ocean in the 1300s.
A new study estimates that studying the ocean's biological carbon pump could lead to more accurate climate models, improving policies on carbon emissions. The research suggests a global economic benefit of $500 billion if science informs policy decisions.
A multinational study has overturned a 130-year old assumption about seawater chemistry, finding that the ratios of key elements like calcium, magnesium and strontium vary considerably across the ocean. This discovery challenges past hypotheses and models, requiring scientists to re-examine their understanding of ocean chemistry.
Researchers find significant decline in coral skeleton density due to ocean acidification on the Great Barrier Reef and South China Sea. This effect will likely accelerate as ocean acidity increases over the next several decades.
Researchers found Arctic winter ice grew less than half as much as normal due to increased ocean heat from the interior. This weakening of the halocline barrier allows for more efficient mixing between warmer and colder waters, limiting sea ice growth.
Sustainably managing the ocean could increase food production by an outsize proportion relative to land-based food, nourishing the growing human population. Researchers estimate a roughly 16% increase in wild-caught seafood by 2050 if fisheries are sustainably managed.
A recent study published in Nature Communications found that the mass of microplastics in the upper waters of the Atlantic Ocean is approximately 12-21 million tonnes. This figure surpasses previous estimates and suggests a substantial underestimation of plastic waste entering the ocean over the past 65 years.
Scientists used an 'ocean-in-a-lab' to show that air pollution can change the makeup of gases and aerosols released by sea spray, influencing atmospheric composition and weather. The study found that adding pollutants like hydroxyl radicals transformed microbe-produced gases into new compounds.
Researchers describe daily variability of key deep currents in the South Atlantic Ocean, with variations linked to climate and weather globally. The study found that upper and deeper layers behave independently, impacting sea level rise and hurricane intensification.
The Stanford-developed rotating microscope allows scientists to track and measure microscopic plankton's behaviors and molecular processes as they migrate between the ocean's depths and surface. This innovation provides a new window into the secret life of ocean organisms and ecosystems.
New research reveals that ocean warming patterns will increasingly be influenced by atmospheric warming, making them easier to predict. This suggests a significant shift from past climate models, which struggled to simulate ocean warming.
Researchers found that high CO2 concentrations in water make fish grow smaller, with a growth deficit of between five and ten percent. Fish living at less ideal temperatures and more CO2 experienced greater reductions in growth.
Research from the University of Colorado Boulder shows that climate change is driving an increase in Arctic freshwater over the past two decades. This freshwater will eventually move into the North Atlantic Ocean, potentially disrupting ocean currents and temperatures in northern Europe.
Researchers have developed a new method to detect algae and measure key properties in the ocean's depths using laser-based lidar. The technique allows for measurements up to three times deeper than satellites, shedding light on ocean biology and its role in climate.
A previously unrecognized ocean current was discovered transporting water to the Faroe Bank Channel Overflow in the North Atlantic Ocean. The research team identified a new path for cold and dense water flowing at depth, which led to this exciting finding.
Researchers have detected a newer PFAS compound, HFPO-DA, in Arctic seawater for the first time, posing similar health and persistence concerns as PFOA. Higher levels of PFAS were found in outgoing water compared to entering water from the North Atlantic.
Research finds that without immediate action, plastic flow will nearly triple by 2040, but solutions are available to reduce it by more than 80%. The study identifies measures such as reducing production and consumption, recycling, and expanding waste collection rates to achieve this goal.
A study by GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel predicts North Atlantic surface temperature variations several years into the future using wind field analysis. The researchers suggest a mechanism where winds cause changes in ocean circulation, resulting in anomalous heat accumulation and warming of the eastern North Atlantic.
A new relationship between humanity and the ocean is required to secure the continuity of the diverse life support roles provided by the sea. The paper proposes three key transition pathways to make complex ocean systems more resilient and ensure a more sustainable future.
Researchers tracked green sea turtles migrating long distances in the Indian Ocean to small oceanic islands, revealing that they can redirect in the open ocean at a crude level. The study provides evidence of a map sense with open ocean reorientation, allowing turtles to fine-tune their navigation.
Research reveals complex changes in the Arctic Ocean driven by anomalous influxes of oceanic water from lower-latitude oceans. This process, known as borealization, affects physical, chemical, and biological communities in distinct ways.
Researchers found a significant 57% increase in Arctic Ocean primary production between 1998 and 2018, with phytoplankton biomass driving the increase in recent years. This suggests an influx of new nutrients into some regions of the Arctic Ocean.
A University of Maryland researcher discovered that churning along the edge of the Gulf Stream can mix water across the current, influencing weather, climate, and fisheries. This finding has significant implications for understanding ocean circulation, biology, and potentially climate.
Using highly novel techniques, researchers observed upper ocean currents of approximately 0.1-10 km in size, critical for controlling heat and carbon movement between the ocean and atmosphere. These findings contribute to improving our understanding of small-scale ocean and climate processes with impacts globally.
Researchers found that Europa's ocean could have been formed by tidal forces or radioactive decay, leading to a potentially habitable environment. The team's models suggest that the ocean's composition became more Earth-like, with high concentrations of carbon dioxide and calcium, making it suitable for life.
The new FOCI system allows for high-resolution ocean and climate modelling over centuries to millennia, enabling researchers to study natural climate fluctuations and anthropogenic climate change. With its modular design, FOCI can be configured to investigate various research questions and improve the accuracy of model simulations.
The BlueSwell program provides a comprehensive early-stage incubator for bluetech innovations, offering $35,000 in grants and mentorship from industry experts. The initiative aims to foster sustainable use of the ocean through innovative solutions in offshore renewable energy, sustainable seafood, and more.
The Arctic Ocean is projected to absorb 20% more CO2 by the end of the 21st century, leading to stronger ocean acidification. This increase in CO2 will negatively impact calcifying organisms such as mussels and corals, having serious consequences for the entire food chain.
A new report by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory suggests that marine renewable energy devices are unlikely to cause harm to marine animals or environments. The study found that small numbers of operational devices may not significantly affect marine ecosystems, but further research is needed to confirm this.
A new study suggests that the ocean's ability to absorb carbon dioxide will slow down as global emissions decrease, due to the slowed growth rate of atmospheric CO2. This could lead to a decrease in ocean carbon uptake and an increase in atmospheric CO2, contributing to additional warming.
Intensifying tropical cyclones strengthen ocean eddies feeding the Kuroshio Current, accelerating it and transferring more heat energy to mid- and high-latitude ocean waters. This phenomenon highlights a positive feedback loop between TCs and climate warming, potentially impacting future climate predictions.
Researchers developed an algorithm to analyze ocean conditions and identify regions where objects are likely to converge. The technique uses data-driven ocean modeling and prediction systems to uncover hidden 'traps', providing first responders with a new perspective for search-and-rescue operations.
The study found that global mean climate velocities in the deepest ocean layers have been 2-4 times faster than at surface over the past 20th century. Climate velocities are projected to continue accelerating even under strong greenhouse gas emission mitigation scenarios, posing significant threats to deep sea biodiversity.