Researchers studied the decline of Arctic sea ice in 2018, finding it was three times higher than the initial loss during the satellite era. The study links this decline to global atmospheric processes and warns of catastrophic impacts on air temperatures and ocean circulation if the trend continues.
A study examines how sea-level rise and subsidence affect river avulsions on deltas, finding that frequent avulsions occur when rates of these processes match sediment supply. Engineered avulsions may help mitigate climate change effects, but thresholds exist where sediment supply cannot keep up with rising sea levels.
Researchers from UCL and ZSL have discovered a soft coral garden habitat in Greenlandic waters, characterized by cauliflower corals and diverse fauna. The discovery has direct implications for the management of deep-sea trawl fisheries and may lead to protection under UN guidelines.
Researchers found that Adélie penguins in Antarctica prefer less sea ice due to its impact on their foraging habits. With less sea ice, they can dive more easily, reducing competition for prey and increasing their krill catch.
The deep seafloor is a largely unexplored habitat that plays a critical role in the Earth's carbon cycle. Long-term studies at Station M have dramatically changed marine biologists' perceptions of life in the deep sea, revealing dynamic changes and connections between surface and seafloor conditions.
A new study finds that sea otter recovery brings significant ecological and economic benefits, including healthier kelp forests, higher fish catches, and carbon storage. The long-term benefits are estimated to be worth over $53 million per year, potentially offsetting commercial losses of $7 million.
A new study finds that sea otter recovery generates significant economic benefits, including increased tourism and carbon capture, which outweigh the losses to commercial fisheries by up to $46 million annually. However, the costs of recovery are not evenly distributed, with Indigenous communities experiencing disproportionate impacts.
Researchers evaluated 40 climate models focusing on Antarctic sea ice, finding improvements in projections compared to previous models. The study sheds light on dynamics in the Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica, essential for understanding global climate changes.
Ancient sediment analysis reveals mangrove ecosystems can survive up to a 7mm per year sea-level rise threshold. Mangroves provide essential ecosystem services but are threatened by rapid sea-level rise, with current rates expected to surpass the survival limit within 30 years.
According to the study, mangroves will not survive rising sea levels if global carbon emissions are not reduced. Mangroves can survive with rates of sea-level rise under 5mm per year but will stop growing at this pace if rates exceed 6mm/year.
A study by the University of the Basque Country reveals 12 former coastlines under the sea off the Basque coast, formed due to major climate changes and fluctuations in sea levels. The researchers used advanced technology to create 3D maps of the seabed, showing irregularly distributed rocky platforms that had not been predefined.
A study led by the University of Plymouth found that sea snakes' vision has been modifying genetically over millions of generations, enabling them to adapt to new environments. The research reveals that diving sea snakes share their adaptive properties with some fruit-eating primates.
A new Tulane University study finds that coastal marshes in the Mississippi Delta are experiencing tipping points, where a small increase in sea-level rise leads to widespread submergence. The researchers predict that most marshes will drown in a few centuries once the rate of sea-level rise exceeds a certain threshold.
A new study highlights the need for Indigenous collaboration in managing sea otter populations to improve coexistence between humans and this challenging predator. The study reveals that strengthening Indigenous governance authority and establishing locally designed co-management plans can enable human-otter coexistence.
Scientists have developed a new model for studying developmental biology by creating sea urchins with reduced breeding cycles. The breakthrough uses CRISPR technology to edit genes responsible for pigment production, resulting in albino sea urchins that can thrive in the lab.
The Gidget sea otter genome is now publicly available, revealing low genetic diversity and potentially harmful variation within genes. This provides valuable insights into the evolutionary history and conservation of this threatened species.
A study led by Nanyang Technological University warns that global sea-level rise could exceed 1 meter by 2100 and 5 meters by 2300 if emission targets are not met. The study, which surveyed over 100 climate experts, found stark differences in sea-level projections for low versus high emissions.
A study by researchers at the University of Exeter found that captive otters tend to play with stones more when they are hungry. The behavior is thought to be linked to excitement for food, rather than practice for foraging skills.
A new study reveals that plant materials from Arctic sea ice are incorporated into marine food webs, indicating the importance of sea ice ecosystems. The research shows a transition to more dependence on sea ice materials as coverage decreases, with long-term reserves of organic matter remaining accessible to seafloor animals.
A new study suggests that reducing CO2 emissions rapidly could lead to ice-free years in the Arctic, occurring only occasionally. The research indicates that humans can still determine how often the Arctic Ocean will be ice-free, depending on future emissions levels.
A new study suggests that the Arctic Ocean will likely be ice-free in summer due to high future CO2 emissions. However, rapid reductions in CO2 emissions could lead to occasional ice-free summers even before 2050. The study's findings highlight humanity's impact on the Arctic ecosystem and climate.
A recent study by Jennifer Welsh found that various sea creatures, such as sponges, crabs, and cockles, can remove a significant portion of virus particles from seawater. These findings suggest that non-host organisms play an important role in regulating virus populations in marine environments.
Researchers have documented seasonal migrations of deep-sea fish across the seafloor, linking surface-ocean productivity to observed behavioral patterns. This study provides evidence of cycles of movement in deep-sea fish and suggests reasons for their behaviors, potentially mirroring great migrations on land.
Researchers found a parasite from opossums infecting sea otters along the West Coast, with infected otters in British Columbia's northern Vancouver Island. The study suggests pathogens can travel long distances via water runoff and prey species like clams.
HKU researchers reconstruct water depth changes in Svalbard using fossil Ostracoda, revealing a sudden temperature rise and abrupt sea-level change due to warm Atlantic waters. The study provides the first solid evidence of MWP-1B's relative sea-level change in ice-proximal areas.
Researchers found that sea turtles respond to odors from biofouled plastics in the same way they respond to food odorants. This 'olfactory trap' explains why sea turtles ingest and become entangled in plastic debris. Biofouling, the accumulation of microbes on wet surfaces, is a major factor contributing to this attraction.
The Red Sea's coral reef, critical to the region's ecosystem, is resilient but vulnerable to climate change. The researchers call for UNESCO recognition and coordinated conservation efforts to protect the reef.
A new study by UCF predicts that Canaveral National Seashore will experience the greatest impact from sea level rise and hurricanes, with a loss of about 1% of its loggerhead habitat by 2100. The study used a new method to calculate current and future sea turtle nesting areas, which can help the National Park Service manage resources.
A study found enhanced pre-industrial sea-level rise of about two to three millimeters per year in Nova Scotia, Maine, and Connecticut. The rapid episodes were natural and related to the North Atlantic Oscillation and Arctic ice melt.
A proposed North Sea dam could protect over 25 million Europeans from the consequences of a predicted sea level rise. The estimated cost of building such a dam is between 250-500 billion euros, which is relatively small compared to the potential costs of inaction.
A study by Florida Atlantic University found that 75% of female loggerhead sea turtles on Sanibel Island mated singly and stored sufficient sperm for multiple clutches. This suggests that females may not benefit from mating with multiple males to increase opportunities for advantageous traits.
Polar bears in the Southern Beaufort Sea are abandoning their traditional summer habitats due to shrinking sea ice. As a result, they must expend more energy to find food and access whale carcasses, potentially contributing to population declines.
Research shows polar bears are spending more time on land, thinner and adult females have fewer cubs. Sea ice availability affects their body condition and reproductive success.
A survey of world's leading deep-sea scientists identified priorities for deep-sea monitoring, including large animals and habitats like deep-sea corals. The study highlights the need for a better standardized monitoring framework to prepare for future management.
Research reveals physical connectivity between southern Red Sea and Indian Ocean, highlighting need for regional marine conservation approach. Genetic patterns suggest clearer separation between northern and southern parts of sea.
Researchers found a connection between Arctic sea ice melting and altered Pacific El Niño activity. The study suggests that sea ice melt drives vertical convection in the Arctic Ocean, generating planetary waves that carry heat and momentum to the tropics.
A new study predicts 13 million US residents will be forced to relocate due to rising sea levels by 2100. Cities like Atlanta, Houston and Denver are expected to experience significant population growth, with effects on jobs, housing prices and infrastructure.
A study using quahog clam shells and climate models reveals Arctic sea ice can't 'bounce back' if climate change causes it to melt. Human activity is now massively forcing the system, exacerbating warming and sea ice loss.
Researchers at USC Viterbi School of Engineering discovered how sea stars synchronize their motion through a global directionality command and localized responses to stimuli. This decentralized nervous system can inspire more efficient robotics systems with hierarchical learning and communication.
Researchers analyzed 101 monthly stream and tide gauge records to estimate variations in relative water level in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna delta from 1968 to 2012. The study found RWL increased by approximately 3mm/year, similar to global mean sea-level increase, leading to estimated maximum land subsidence rates of 1-7mm/year.
A team of researchers created a computer model that predicts the migration patterns of sea turtle hatchlings after they leave Florida's shores. The model takes into account ocean circulation data and sea turtle nesting and stranding information to inform conservation efforts and guide policies.
A new study by Simon Fraser University reveals that sea levels in the central Indian Ocean have risen by nearly a meter over the last two centuries. The research provides new insights into historical sea level variability and its impact on coral reefs and islands.
Researchers uncover the oldest known coastal defence system built by ancient settlers to protect against rising oceans. The ancient Tel Hreiz seawall in Israel was a temporary reprieve from sea level rise, abandoned and inundated over time.
Researchers created an extreme sea level indicator using historical data from US coastlines to understand the causes of sea level changes. The study found that different factors play a role in extreme sea levels, varying by location and time.
A new study reveals that polar bears at sea, particularly pelagic bears, accumulate more pollutants due to their diet rich in marine life closer to pollutant sources. This is attributed to increased energy requirements and longer periods without ice, forcing them to feed on land-based prey or rely on fat reserves.
A new study suggests that California could more than triple its southern sea otter population by repopulating the largest estuary on the coast, the San Francisco Bay. This would be a huge boost to conservation efforts, potentially lifting the species out of endangered status.
A new study describes a 480-million-year-old fossil named Athenacrinus broweri, which helps rewrite the family tree of sea lilies. The fossil's arm structure reveals that modern sea lilies evolved from ancient ancestors with plates in their bodies similar to those found in earliest crinoid arms.
A new modeling approach can help researchers, policymakers and the public better understand how policy decisions will influence human migration as sea levels rise. The approach suggests that global policy decisions about greenhouse gas emissions and coastal policies will determine whether people need to migrate and where they may go.
A study published in Scientific Reports found that Arctic sea ice reduction facilitates the spread of disease among marine mammals, particularly through open water routes. Widespread exposure to Phocine distemper virus (PDV) was observed in sea mammals across the North Pacific Ocean, peaking in 2003-2004 and again in 2009.
A 15-year study links Arctic sea ice decline to the emergence of a deadly phocine distemper virus in northern sea otters and other marine mammals. The loss of sea ice facilitates disease transmission among species, highlighting the need for understanding PDV transmission in rapidly changing environments.
A new study finds that sea levels will rise by 20 centimeters by 2300 even if current carbon emissions pledges are met. The increase is attributed to global warming, which takes longer to respond than immediate temperature increases.
A new study warns that current Paris Agreement pledges would cause 20 cm of sea-level rise by 2300, with just five countries - China, USA, EU, India, and Russia - responsible for half the impact. To avoid this, governments must significantly scale up emission reduction efforts.
Researchers find that pyrite weathering played a significant role in ending glacial periods, releasing greenhouse gas CO2 into the atmosphere. The process helped to increase sea levels and warm the climate system, leading to rapid sea-level rise and the melting of glaciers.
Researchers found higher levels of stress hormone corticosterone in white-tailed sea eagles near paths or roads, but not on breeding success. Protection zone regulations may need adjustment to prevent negative effects on breeding performance.
The Antarctic ozone hole's decline has indirectly helped increase sea ice due to altered atmospheric and oceanic circulations. Ozone-induced changes impact sea surface temperatures and dynamics of sea ice.
A study confirms that surrogate-reared sea otters and their wild offspring account for over half of Elkhorn Slough's population growth, with similar survival rates to those reared by wild mothers. The program's success has implications for rebuilding sea otter populations in other California estuaries.
A team of UAF researchers will spend a year on board the Polarstern, studying the intersection of ocean, sea ice, and atmosphere in the Arctic. They aim to understand why the Arctic is warming faster than any other region on the planet.
Scientists have found that the blue-banded sea snake uses a vascular network in its head to absorb oxygen from the surrounding water, allowing it to stay submerged for longer periods. This unique adaptation enables the snake to thrive in tropical waters with minimal surface exposure.
A USF-led team studied geological formations in a coastal cave to understand past sea level rise. They found that 3-4 million years ago, global mean sea level was 16 meters higher than present, with potential implications for current-day sea level rise.
Researchers found evidence of earlier Arctic sea-ice decline starting at the beginning of the 20th century using a new proxy from coralline algae. The study provides insight into past sea-ice variability and may help reduce uncertainties in ocean model simulations.