An international team of researchers has discovered a new type of basalt beneath the Pacific Ocean, which was formed during large and exceptionally hot volcanic eruptions. The discovery suggests that ocean floor eruptions sourced in the Earth's mantle were even hotter and more voluminous than previously thought.
Iron, a micronutrient crucial for phytoplankton, is being released from deep ocean sediments, providing a new source of nutrition for drifting marine organisms. This finding challenges previous expectations and has significant implications for studying the ocean carbon cycle and managing the marine environment.
A comprehensive study identifies specific ocean areas that must be protected to safeguard over 80% of endangered marine species' habitats and boost fishing catches. The research also finds that trawling is pumping hundreds of millions of tons of carbon dioxide into the ocean every year, highlighting the need for strict protection.
A new study published in Nature reveals that transform faults are actively involved in shaping the ocean floors, contradicting a previous assumption. The research found that these faults cause extension of the seafloor and magmatism at their outer corners.
A groundbreaking global study maps ocean areas that, if strongly protected, can help solve climate, food and biodiversity crises. The research identified specific regions that could provide multiple benefits, including safeguarding nearly 80% of marine species and preventing the release of one billion tons of CO2 into the ocean.
A study found that warming in the Indian Ocean led to extreme monsoon rainfall and Yangtze River flooding in 2020. The researchers used a global atmospheric model and observed data to predict the excessive rainfall, which was mainly caused by temperature anomalies in the Indian Ocean.
Researchers analyzed fossilized shells to reconstruct Earth's climate during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, a period of abrupt global warming and ocean acidification. The study found that foraminifera consumed less alkalinity from seawater to buffer increasing ocean acidity.
Sea butterflies are already experiencing difficulties building their shells due to ocean acidification, which will worsen in the future. They shift from growing thicker and larger shells to investing more in becoming larger, posing a major problem for local sea life that depend on them for food.
A new study uses a high-resolution ocean model to track the migration of baby sea turtles in their 'lost years'. The model shows that hatchlings are swept towards regions with favorable food availability, increasing their chances of survival. This research provides insights into the critical stages of sea turtle conservation efforts.
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.
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.
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.
Climate models predict an increase in extreme ENSO-related swings in rainfall due to future ocean warming, but temperature difference between El Niño and La Niña may change little. Researchers found that increased rainfall sensitivity is key to understanding this phenomenon.
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.
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.
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.
New study reveals that Antarctic icebergs trigger chain reactions leading to prolonged cold temperatures. The research suggests a 'missing link' in the process that leads to ice ages, with implications for understanding climate change and future ocean circulation patterns.
A new study provides the first-of-its-kind model for how massive icebergs from Antarctica decay and affect ocean currents. The research found that these icebergs deliver freshwater to the Southern Ocean, influencing climate patterns.
A new study by MIT researchers reveals that Arctic eddies are driven by ice friction and ocean stratification, leading to a seasonal shift in their activity. The findings suggest that as the Arctic loses summertime ice, waters will become more turbulent, with implications for climate change predictions.
A Rutgers-led study finds that planning ahead for climate change can help protect marine species and commercial fisheries by setting aside parts of the ocean for conservation and fishing. Effective ocean planning can lead to better safeguards with few tradeoffs.
Research suggests that changes in Antarctic Ocean surface waters stored more CO2 in the deep ocean during ice ages. Diatom fossils provided evidence of reduced wind-driven upwelling, linking it to climate cooling and atmospheric CO2 drawdown. This discovery brings scientists closer to understanding the origin of ice ages.
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 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.
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.
Research reveals that two groups of marine organisms, sea butterflies and sea angels, have survived dramatic global climate change and Earth's most recent mass extinction event. The study found that these pteropods evolved in the early Cretaceous period and likely survived previous episodes of ocean acidification.
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.
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 study suggests that deep-sea coral reefs are at risk of collapse due to increasing ocean acidity caused by rising levels of carbon dioxide. The underlying structures of the reefs become brittle and fragile, leading to early breakage and crumbling, ultimately shrinking the ecosystems.
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.
New research reveals that marine animals generally inhabit the maximum range of breathable ocean zones determined by their physiology and oxygen needs. The study warns that climate change will restrict these ranges as warmer waters harbor less oxygen, potentially leading to habitat shifts or oxygen shortages.
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 new study has found substantial amplification of the global water cycle, with increased evaporation and precipitation rates, due to changes in ocean salinity. This change is largely driven by human influence and has significant implications for future climate, including more extreme weather events and droughts.
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.
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.
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.
A new study estimates that 50% of the world's oceans are already being affected by climate change, with changes in temperature and salt levels detectable since the 1980s. The Southern Hemisphere oceans are being impacted more rapidly, highlighting the importance of this region for global heat storage.
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.
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.
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.