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.
A study from the University of California, Davis, identifies the specific strains of Toxoplasma gondii killing southern sea otters as connected to a bobcat and domestic cats from nearby watersheds. The researchers found that infectious agents can spread from cat feces on land to the sea, harming marine wildlife.
New research reveals that reduced Arctic sea ice does not cause extreme cold winters, but rather is linked to changes in atmospheric circulation patterns. The correlation between reduced sea ice and cold winters occurs because both are driven by the same large-scale atmospheric circulation patterns.
Scientists have extended the record of Arctic sea ice thickness variability from 40 years to 110 years by using historic observations from ships' logs. This provides more context for understanding rapid changes in the Arctic Ocean and helps predict its future.
Researchers at USF have discovered a process that can control glacier calving in Greenland, which is crucial for modeling sea level rise. The team found that a 'mélange' wedge of sea ice and icebergs can 'hold the door' and prevent glaciers from calving.
Research reveals that stronger waves due to sea level rise can hamper plant re-establishment on neighboring tidal flats, slowing down or blocking recovery. Effective management of tidal flats is crucial for preserving salt marshes' resilience to wave attacks.
Researchers have documented a 22-year average sea level rise of 2.2 millimeters per year in the Arctic Ocean using radar measurements from space-based altimetry satellites. The findings reveal significant regional differences, with sea levels rising twice as fast in the Beaufort Gyre and falling along the west coast of Greenland.
A recent study has found a greater diversity of coralline algae species in kelp forests compared to sea urchin barrens, where they thrive despite the loss of sea otters. This discovery suggests that corallines may play a crucial role in maintaining these ecosystems.
Research on coralline algal diversity reveals fewer species and less diversity in urchin barrens compared to kelp forests with sea otters. The study suggests that cryptic species identification alters ecosystem dynamics perception.
A new study explains why salt crystals are piling up on the Dead Sea's floor by proposing a 'salt fingering' process where tiny disturbances create channels for salt to flow down. This finding helps understand the formation of massive salt deposits found in Earth's crust, including those beneath the Mediterranean Sea.
Over a 40-year period, Antarctic sea ice coverage increased gradually until 2014 before declining sharply between 2014 and 2017. This trend is more pronounced than observed in the Arctic over the same time frame, with implications for climate modeling and understanding.
A team of life scientists at UCLA discovered that sea otters have low genetic diversity, which could endanger their health. The researchers found evidence of potentially harmful genetic variation and mating between closely related ancestors in the sea otter genome, similar to other endangered species with small population sizes.
A new statistical analysis published in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America has found no correlation between deep-sea fish appearances and earthquakes in Japan. Despite long-held folklore suggesting otherwise, researchers have only identified one potentially correlated event out of 336 sightings and 221 earthquakes.
Researchers developed an algorithm using over 30 years of satellite data to isolate extreme warming events leading to documented coral bleaching in the Red Sea. The findings suggest that coral bleaching may have been greatly underestimated and indicate a emerging pattern of extreme warming events in the northern region.
A new study published by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution found that major currents in the North Atlantic do not directly cause changes in sea levels along the New England coast. Instead, both are controlled by variability in weather patterns over the North Atlantic, such as the North Atlantic Oscillation.
A mass die-off of puffins and Crested auklets was recorded in the Bering Sea due to climate-driven food shifts, with reduced prey resources potentially leading to starvation. The study suggests that future research should investigate seabird resilience in a changing environment.
A Japanese team analyzed sediment cores from Northwestern Australia to understand past climate variability and sea-level change. The results indicate that the global ice sheet changed on a shorter timescale than previously thought, revealing short-period ice-sheet dynamics during the last ice age.
Research in southern Italy found that otters eat 12% of their prey items, including 28 species, with increased predation in Alpine regions during winter and spring. This suggests a previously underestimated threat to small amphibian populations.
Researchers at KAUST found that eddy-induced transport is more active in the central and northern Red Sea, influencing surface heat flux and salt dispersion. This mechanism balances fluctuations in both heat and salt, highlighting its role in the Red Sea's circulation.
A new study reveals that 75% of the Atlantic Coast from North Carolina to Central Florida will be highly vulnerable to erosion and inundation from rising tides by 2030. The region has seen a 30% increase in highly vulnerable areas since 2000, with species like loggerhead and green sea turtles facing significant threats.
Researchers at Yale University have identified a 430 million-year-old fossil as a new species related to living sea cucumbers, named Sollasina cthulhu. The creature had 45 tentacle-like tube feet and was small, about the size of a large spider.
Researchers discovered sea snakes can dive as deep as 250 meters in the mesopelagic zone, challenging previous assumptions about their habitat. The ability to cope with diving sickness allows them to access previously unexplored ecosystems.
New study reveals extreme scale of sea-ice melting in Arctic, with only 20% of young ice reaching Transpolar Drift. This reduction affects nutrient and sediment transport, potentially impacting ecological processes and biogeochemical cycles.
Scientists decoded the genome of umi-budo, a popular Okinawan seaweed, to understand its unique shape and assist farmers in proper cultivation. The study revealed key genes controlling growth and development, potentially helping ease crop issues and address environmental concerns.
A new SDSU study reveals that California sheephead and spiny lobsters play a crucial role in controlling sea urchin populations in Southern California kelp forests. The research provides valuable insights into the complex predator-prey relationships in these ecosystems, which are essential for maintaining the health of kelp forests.
Researchers analyzed sea otter use of large rocks as 'anvils' to break open shells, leaving behind recognizable damage patterns and shell middens. The study suggests that sea otters may exhibit handedness, with a consistent pattern of striking the mussels against points and ridges on the rocks.
Research reveals that sea ice loss in the Arctic causes rapid warming, which will persist even after melting is complete. The study suggests that this phenomenon is more pronounced during certain periods, particularly during cloud season, due to seasonal sea-ice melting and its impact on atmospheric heat transfer.
The study found that Britain's native mammalian carnivores have largely recovered since the 1960s, with otters, badgers, and pine martens showing significant improvements. The species' recovery is attributed to legal protection, conservation, and restoration of habitats.
Researchers discovered that some Australian sea snakes can sense light on their tail skin, prompting them to withdraw their tails under shelter. This unique ability, found in only six species of sea snakes, helps protect their vulnerable paddle-shaped tails from predators.
A new study links sea ice loss in the Arctic to major climate events, including rapid warming of 16 degrees Celsius in Greenland. The research, published in PNAS, used ice cores and numerical model simulations to determine that sea ice changes played a critical role in past abrupt climate change events.
A new study reveals that sea snakes in dry regions rely on freshwater lenses formed on the ocean's surface to quench their thirst. Researchers found that only a portion of the captured snakes accepted the offered freshwater after rainfall began.
A recent study found that warmer sea-surface temperatures in the Gulf of Maine are a key predictor of cold-stunning events among juvenile Kemp's ridley sea turtles. The number of cold-stunned turtles is increasing at an alarming rate, with over 2,300 predicted by 2031.
A new study finds that a sea star wasting disease and warmer sea surface temperatures led to the dramatic decline of sunflower starfish in both nearshore and deep waters. This collapse has broader effects on kelp beds and other marine ecosystems.
The combination of ocean warming and an infectious wasting disease has devastated populations of large sunflower sea stars along the West Coast. The loss of these sea stars has caused a cascading effect on the ecosystem, with urchin populations expanding and threatening kelp forests and biodiversity.
A new Tulane University study questions the reliability of sea-level rise measurement in low-lying coastal areas, suggesting higher rates of relative sea-level rise due to subsidence. The research, published in Ocean Science, calls for a rethinking of how sea-level rise is measured in rapidly subsiding coastal lowlands.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that 78% of marine mammal populations and 75% of sea turtle populations increased significantly after being listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Conservation measures such as tailored species management and fishery regulations appear to have been successful in promoting species recovery.
A new study using Argo floats has gathered unprecedented data on the phytoplankton community beneath the Greenland Sea ice. The research found that half of ocean energy production occurs beneath the sea ice in late winter and early spring, with the other half occurring at the edge of the ice in spring.
A team of researchers found that vertical land motion is the primary factor behind variations in relative sea level rates along the US East Coast. The study, published in Nature, reveals that land motion explains 75% of the observed variation, with ongoing effects from the last ice age being the largest contributor.
A new study by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution reveals that sea levels are rising faster in some U.S. East Coast regions compared to others, primarily due to post-glacial rebound. The research team found that when post-glacial rebound was stripped away, sea level trends increased steadily from Maine to Florida, indicating the impa...
A new study reveals that human-caused climate change drives uneven sea level rise, with regions experiencing higher rates expected to continue trending. Climate models suggest that up to half of regional variation in sea level rise can be attributed to climate change.
NASA's Suomi NPP satellite captured Tropical Depression 33W moving through central Philippines and entering the Sulu Sea. The storm is expected to strengthen as it crosses the South China Sea and heads toward Vietnam.
Researchers estimate the Chukchi Sea subpopulation is relatively abundant, numbering around 3,000 polar bears, with good reproductive rates and cub survival. This contrasts with the declining southern Beaufort Sea subpopulation due to sea-ice loss.
New research suggests that rising global sea levels and high-energy wave events could actually build, rather than destroy, coral reef islands like the Maldives. This is possible if the coral reef remains healthy to provide building material, but threatens island infrastructure with devastating consequences.
A research study shows that the microbiomes of sea stars play a critical role in the progression of the disease. The study found that an imbalance of beneficial and disease-causing bacteria contributes to the severity of the illness, with healthy animals hosting more helpful microbes.
Researchers at Pohang University of Science and Technology have found a way to predict El Niño conditions up to 17 months in advance. Changes in Atlantic Ocean sea surface temperatures can trigger La Niña, which affects global weather patterns.
A study published in Annual Review of Environment and Resources projects that global sea levels will likely rise 6-10 inches from 2000 to 2050, but more sensitive projections beyond 2050 depend on greenhouse gas emissions and projection methods. Rising seas pose a significant threat to coastal populations and ecosystems worldwide.
A team of researchers found that land area in Hawai'i vulnerable to future sea level rise may be double previous estimates. The 'bathtub' model underestimates the full extent of potential damage due to sea level rise, particularly on Hawaii's high-energy coasts.
Researchers found a centuries-long delay in West Antarctic Ice Sheet contraction after the Ross Ice Shelf collapse, adding complexity to sea level rise computer simulations. This discovery was made by analyzing sediment cores and fossilized life forms from the seafloor.
Researchers discovered that sea otters rely on the sensitivity of their paws and whiskers to hunt for food, distinguishing between grooves as small as 2mm with remarkable accuracy. This unique ability enables them to quickly locate prey in cloudy Monterey Bay waters.
Researchers reconstruct relative sea level record from Mallorca island using phreatic overgrowths on speleothems, finding stability instead of fluctuations. This accurate record provides insight into future sea level rise due to global warming and challenges current estimates.
The study reveals that the Yellow Sea and East China Sea are net sinks for atmospheric CO2, absorbing around 8.5×10^6 t C annually. The ECS absorbs CO2 during winter, spring, and summer, while the YS releases CO2 in summer, autumn, and winter.
Researchers found that Arctic cyclones limit precise sea-ice prediction in the Northern Sea Route due to increased forecast error for large-scale weather features. The TOPAZ4 system, however, was reliable for early summer SIT prediction with a skill level up to 3 days.
Researchers have identified a pheromone, a fatty acid derivative, that guides larval and adult sea lampreys to spawning grounds. The discovery holds potential for disrupting adult sea lampreys' reproduction, offering a new approach to controlling the invasive species.
Researchers used reliable methods to recover Arctic Barents-Kara Sea ice extent time series and found significant decline in sea ice starting from the end of 18th century, with a short period of expansion during 1940s-1970s. The industrial revolution may be a dominant factor in this result.
A new study published in The Cryosphere estimates that the collapse of Larsen C and George VI Ice Shelves could contribute 4mm and 22mm to global sea levels, respectively. This research highlights the vulnerability of these ice shelves to rapid warming in the Antarctic Peninsula.
A new study by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution reveals a significant link between river outflow and coastal sea level change. The model predicts that variations in annual river flow can raise or lower coastal mean sea level by several centimeters.
A new study warns that failure to meet the 2°C warming limit will lead to sea level rise and dire global economic consequences. The researchers found that upper-middle income countries like China will see the largest increase in flood costs, while high-income countries will suffer the least.
Reduced sea ice coverage has triggered the catastrophic disintegration of Antarctic ice shelves, causing them to flex and break under storm-driven ocean swells. This leads to the formation of long thin 'sliver' icebergs that eventually calve from the shelf front, contributing to sea level rise.
New research suggests many coral reefs will be unable to keep growing fast enough to keep up with rising sea levels, leading to increased erosion and flooding risk. Coral reefs are struggling due to combinations of coral disease, water quality deterioration, fishing pressure, and severe impacts from climate change-induced coral bleaching.
Researchers at Lund University have found that sea urchins can perceive objects within a limited range of sizes, up to 30-70 degrees around them. This ability is sufficient for the animal's basic needs and behavior, despite having poor eyesight compared to humans.