Researchers analyzed ocean sediments to understand Atlantic Ocean circulation changes, finding two episodes of ice melting linked to slow-downs in ocean circulation. The findings have implications for future long-term changes in Earth systems with global climate change.
A new study of lake sediments reveals that increased westerly winds are likely to reduce the Southern Ocean's ability to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This could accelerate climate change as the Southern Ocean currently absorbs over 40% of human-produced carbon dioxide.
Researchers have found that ocean surface pH has fallen ten times faster than in the past 300 million years, impacting ecosystems, economies, and communities globally. The economic cost of Ocean Acidification is projected to reach over $300 billion annually, highlighting the need for international collaboration and adaptation.
A new study by Florida State University researchers has found that tiny phaeodarian organisms in the ocean's twilight zone are consuming up to 20% of sinking, carbon-rich particles before they reach the deep ocean. This discovery suggests a significant impact on Earth's carbon cycle and challenges current climate dynamics.
De Gruyter integrates Code Ocean's computational reproducibility platform across its journals, enabling authors to share working code and readers to reproduce results. This partnership advances transparency and decision-making in academia and industries.
Researchers examine thawing permafrost's effect on coastal waters, river-borne matter, and greenhouse gas emissions. The study aims to understand changes in the Arctic marine environment and its impact on global climate change.
Scientists have developed a new mapping technique to identify areas where ocean fronts and eddies bring together masses of fish, fishermen, and predators, increasing the risk of entangling non-target species. This insight can help inform dynamic ocean management and reduce bycatch of protected species.
Researchers reexamined ocean circulations and river carbon transport, finding the Southern Ocean is a smaller carbon sink than thought. Land in the northern hemisphere absorbs less carbon, but rivers send it to the ocean with increased strength, challenging current estimates.
A team of scientists has discovered that warm ocean water and surface meltwater are destabilizing Antarctic ice shelves, increasing the chances of catastrophic ice loss events. This finding is concerning as ice shelves slow down ice flow into the ocean and control sea level rise.
Previous ocean model calculations underestimated recent oxygen decline, with global warming as the main cause. The study identifies additional drivers, including changes in ocean circulation and biogeochemical processes, which were insufficiently represented in models.
A recent study has identified certain types of bacteria and viruses that are readily ejected into the atmosphere when waves break, while others are less likely to be transported. This discovery sheds new light on the potential health risks associated with breathing in ocean microbes and other biological material.
Researchers found that the Baltic Sea is experiencing extreme changes, such as warming and oxygen-free zones, which can be used to predict future global ocean changes. The region's unique characteristics make it an ideal model for studying coastal ocean management and sustainable development.
A team of researchers discovered that deep ocean aquifers can break down more refractory carbon than previously thought. Microbes in the aquifer consume carbon, changing the composition of the surrounding seawater. This finding has the potential to reshape our understanding of carbon cycling in the deep ocean.
Researchers found a direct link between ocean warming and trends in continental humidity and temperature. Analysis of data from 1979-2016 revealed land temperatures increasing faster than ocean temperatures, but specific humidity over oceans increased faster than over land.
Scientists discover small microbes removing nitrogen from seawater in microenvironments with low oxygen levels, expanding the nitrogen cycle beyond previously thought regions. This finding changes our understanding of ocean responses to climate change.
Researchers studying the Black Sea's oxygen-deprived waters found that chemical and biological processes similar to those in the deep ocean occur. This provides new insights into the ocean's role as a storage reservoir for carbon, helping to dampen the effects of human-driven climate change.
Researchers at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences have developed a statistical method to quantify important ocean measurements from satellite data. This breakthrough enables scientists to calculate concentrations of key particles in the water column, providing insights into ocean dynamics and biogeochemistry.
Researchers estimate early Earth's climate as temperate, with temperatures ranging from 0-50 °C. Ocean pH increased steadily from acidic to mildly basic over the past 4 billion years.
A new study published in Nature Ecology and Evolution suggests that herring larvae may survive better in a future acidified ocean due to an altered food supply. This unexpected result could have implications for the long-term survival of fish populations.
Researchers have found that ocean acidification impairs phytoplankton's access to iron, a crucial nutrient for growth. This discovery highlights the critical impact of rising CO2 levels on marine food webs and global carbon cycling.
Scientists found a correlation between sea surface temperatures in the Irminger Sea, surface freshwater, and atmospheric conditions in the Labrador Sea. The study suggests that freshwater can weaken deep convection, leading to delayed onset of winter convection and potentially weakening ocean circulation.
A new modeling study predicts that climate change will dramatically reduce global fishery yields, with declines of up to 20% globally and 60% in the North Atlantic by 2300. The study attributes these declines to a lack of ocean mixing, which would drive a decline in fish populations near the surface.
Ocean microbes produce at least fifty percent of the oxygen in our atmosphere while removing large amounts of carbon dioxide. The new LRAUVs can transit for over 600 miles and use their own 'eyes and ears' to detect important oceanographic events like phytoplankton blooms.
Brown University researchers discovered that mesoscale eddies in the global ocean tend to merge into larger ones, unlike smaller eddies which break up into smaller scales. This finding could help develop coarser-grained ocean simulations that better capture ocean dynamics.
Researchers found that the northern Galápagos Islands have been warming by almost 0.4 degrees F per decade, with temperatures increasing overall by about 1.1 degrees F since the 1970s. This finding is significant because it suggests that the region's reefs are more vulnerable to climate change than previously thought.
A team of scientists found that Emiliania huxleyi adapted rapidly to ocean acidification, with some lineages exhibiting extremely rapid changes in ecological fitness. However, the algae's ability to adapt did not translate to better survival in natural conditions.
Research by University of Delaware oceanographer Wei-Jun Cai and colleagues reveals that coastal water is taking up a larger portion of atmospheric carbon dioxide. The study's findings, published in Nature Communications, may have important implications for understanding the global carbon budget and predicting greenhouse gas emissions.
A study published in Nature Communications finds a correlation between Atlantic Ocean surface currents and rainfall patterns in the Western Hemisphere, both in the past and present. The research suggests that changes in ocean currents can influence global climate and may have far-reaching impacts on future climate change.
According to an updated analysis from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics/Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2017 was the warmest year on record for the global ocean. The oceans accumulated 1.51 × 10^22 J of heat, surpassing the previous second-warmest year of 2015.
A new study published in PNAS shows that ocean currents can concentrate marine debris, known as flotsam, into small areas. This phenomenon has implications for ocean cleanup projects and could help predict where concentrations will occur.
Researchers found that ancient methane from ocean sediments is being released into the ocean, but only a small amount survives to be emitted to the atmosphere. The study suggests that catastrophic emission of methane from degrading hydrates may not be an inherent outcome of climate change.
Dr. James N. Moum selected as a Fellow of The Oceanography Society for his outstanding contributions to widely used observational techniques and understanding of ocean mixing over a broad range of processes and scales. His work has elucidated the impact of turbulence on various spatial and temporal scales.
A new international study found that plankton's body size and ocean currents are crucial in determining their dispersal in the ocean. The larger the plankton, the smaller the connection between distant communities. Climate change is rapidly warming marine waters, making it essential to understand how this affects biological communities.
The ocean is losing its breath, with low-oxygen sites increasing fourfold in the open ocean and tenfold in coastal waters since 1950. Climate change and nutrient pollution are driving this decline, which can stunt growth, hinder reproduction, and lead to disease or death.
Scientists warn that the world needs to address climate change and nutrient pollution to halt the decline of ocean oxygen. Low oxygen levels can stunt growth, hinder reproduction, and lead to disease or death in animals, while also triggering toxic chemical releases.
Researchers have developed a new method to measure the average temperature of the global ocean using noble gases in the atmosphere. By analyzing air bubbles trapped in ice cores, scientists can calculate the average global ocean temperature with high precision, providing insights into past climate cycles and modern ocean changes.
Researchers have discovered a surge in radium-228 levels in the central Arctic Ocean, indicating large-scale changes along the coast. The team suspects that melting sea ice has stirred up sediments, releasing radium into the ocean, which could have significant impacts on Arctic food webs and animal populations.
Ocean researchers discovered 'smoke rings' that can transport small marine life at high speeds across vast distances. These linked eddies are ten times faster than regular ocean currents and were found in the Tasman Sea and South Atlantic.
A new tool advances understanding of ocean chemistry and suggests that microbial metabolisms shape the ocean's balance. The model simulates impact on North Atlantic chemistry and predicts genes and transcription throughout the ocean.
Researchers have discovered that a high concentration of coccolithophores and diatoms thrive in the Great Calcite Belt, driven by nutrient levels, sea surface temperature, and carbon dioxide concentration. The bloom plays a crucial role in global carbon cycle models and highlights the complexity of phytoplankton ecology.
Researchers from Bigelow Laboratory discovered nitrite-oxidizing bacteria to be key players in the global carbon cycle, capturing more than 1.1 gigatons of CO2 annually. These large, relatively rare bacteria outperform archaea in carbon capture, highlighting a significant shift in our understanding of oceanic carbon cycling.
A new instrument called CaPASOS will be used to measure CO2 levels in the air and surface of the ocean in remote regions. This will provide valuable data on carbon dioxide uptake by the ocean and its impact on climate change.
Scientists from Cardiff University analyzed sediment samples from the North Atlantic Ocean, finding changes in ocean circulation that impacted heat transport to Europe. They linked these changes to historical records of colder and warmer climates, shedding light on past climate variations.
Researchers have discovered a 'shadow zone' around 2km below the sea surface where ancient water has remained isolated for centuries. This region's unique shape and geothermal heat sources trap ocean water, suspended in an area with minimal vertical movement.
The Scripps Institution of Oceanography will develop an advanced ocean and atmosphere simulator to replicate complex ocean conditions and generate gale-force winds in a controlled setting. The simulator will help researchers understand how pollutants and climate change affect marine animals, plants, cloud formation, and the planet.
BIOACID research reveals ocean acidification affects ecosystems and services, including climate regulation, food provision, and biodiversity. Reducing carbon emissions by mid-century is crucial to reach Paris climate targets and limit global warming.
A research article reveals that a warmer ocean surface in central-eastern Baffin Bay triggered the ice retreat of Jakobshavn Isbrå ice stream during the Younger Dryas period. The study used marine fossil diatoms to reconstruct past sea surface conditions, finding warmer sea surface temperatures and less-extensive sea ice cover.
New research from Carnegie Institution for Science suggests that North Atlantic wind farms can generate at least three times more power than onshore wind farms, tapping into winds throughout the atmosphere. However, this tremendous wind power is seasonal and primarily available during winter months.
Researchers suggest open-ocean wind farms can sustain higher electricity generation rates than on-land wind farms due to kinetic energy reservoir access. Annual global energy demand could be met with commercial-scale open-ocean wind turbines spanning approximately 3 million square kilometers.
W. Stanley Wilson, founder of NASA's Oceanography from Space Program and organizer of the international coalition supporting the Argo observing system, is recognized for his key role in these initiatives. He will be formally recognized on February 13, 2018, during a ceremony at the Ocean Sciences Meeting.
The Newport Line, a decades-long ocean monitoring program off the Pacific Northwest coast, has been recognized for its significant contributions to marine science. The PICES Ocean Monitoring Service Award acknowledges the program's value in understanding climate patterns, salmon returns, and ocean currents.
Researchers used a Wave Glider to collect data on the Southern Ocean's mixing patterns, which are key to understanding climate change. The autonomous platform successfully traversed the turbulent Drake Passage, gathering insights into ocean physics and heat energy mixing.
Quantitative analysis reveals that dark ocean surfaces absorb more light than white ice surfaces, leading to accelerated sea ice melt. The study found a significant correlation between solar heat input and ice melt volume, suggesting that heat input is a major causative factor of melting ice.
Researchers measure exceptionally high oxygen absorption in the Labrador Sea during winter 2014/2015. The study suggests that while this region may absorb more oxygen than lost, the global decrease in surface water oxygen content due to climate change cannot be compensated.
Giant larvaceans, a type of plankton, consume tiny pieces of plastic and pass them in their fecal pellets, which sink to the ocean bottom. This process suggests that these filter feeders may contribute to faster transfer of plastic pollution from surface to sea floor.
Scientists use radioactive 129I to track ocean currents in the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. The tracer's long half-life allows precise tracking of water circulation patterns, including the 'Arctic loop' and deep-water flows southward to Bermuda.
Scientists developed a method to quantify past oxygen depletion in oceans using thallium isotope composition of ancient seafloor sediments. The analysis suggests up to half of the deep ocean was oxygen-depleted during Oceanic Anoxic Event 2, with modern trends showing similar rates of deoxygenation.
International research team discovers extremely low-oxygen regions in Atlantic Ocean, producing high levels of nitrous oxide. The phenomenon was previously unknown and had escaped research due to the small size and mobility of these eddies.
A study analyzing five years of Ocean Health Index data for 220 countries found that global ocean health has remained stable, but individual countries have seen changes, particularly in the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions. Improvements in fishery management and marine protected areas may have stabilized ocean health scores in other regions.
A new study analyzing multiple ocean datasets reveals that the oceans are robustly warming, regardless of data used. The heat redistribution among global oceans experienced a significant shift over several decades.