A study published in Nature Communications found that while climate change increases iceberg production, it doesn't necessarily lead to increased iron input into the oceans. Ice samples from around the world revealed varying levels of iron content, with some ice containing up to a million times more iron than others.
A team of scientists discovered a giant virus genome in choanoflagellates, unicellular predators that eat bacteria and small algae. The virus encodes genes for microbial rhodopsin proteins, which are also found in vertebrates and help detect light.
Researchers found that stony corals Porites astreoides grow more slowly under acidic seawater conditions, indicating a limit to their adaptation to climate change. The study used natural laboratory settings off the east coast of Mexico to investigate coral growth in response to low pH and high dissolved carbon content.
Researchers at GEOMAR have directly measured tectonic strain build-up on the North Anatolian fault in the Marmara Sea, posing a significant threat to Istanbul's metropolitan region. The study suggests an earthquake with magnitudes between 7.1 and 7.4 could trigger catastrophic consequences similar to the 1999 Izmit earthquake.
Scientists predict the oceans will become warmer, but surprisingly more oxygen-rich due to nitrogen-cycle interactions. After centuries of declining oxygen levels, the ocean's oxygen inventory may even surpass pre-industrial levels by 4000 years.
A new numerical model suggests that plankton biomass controls the carbon cycle in the ocean, leading to a self-sustained 40k yr climate cycle. This finding challenges the standard theory of climate change driven by solar radiation and orbital forcing.
A team of scientists identified the tropical Pacific as a crucial factor in climate forecasting, with natural climatic fluctuations affecting future climate development. Better ocean data, particularly subsurface data, can improve predictions significantly.
A 2019 study found evidence of sporadic, small landslides preceding a massive one on Ritter Island, sparking interest in whether slow landslides reduce the risk of catastrophic collapses. Researchers measured seismic activity and deformation patterns to understand the island's dynamics.
Researchers investigated CO2 leakage through North Sea wells and found that it has detrimental effects on organisms living at the seabed. However, strong bottom currents disperse the dissolved CO2 quickly, limiting its impact.
A team of scientists at GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre of Ocean Research Kiel used simulation techniques to analyze the drift of MH370 debris and propose new strategies for tracking marine objects. The study found that Stokes drift, caused by surface waves, plays a crucial role in determining the final position of drifting objects.
Researchers at GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel have directly detected oceanic nitrification process by measuring hydroxylamine, a short-lived compound. The new method allows for quick and simple analysis of nitrous oxide formation in the ocean.
Researchers found that natural selection can couple genes for color pattern and mate preferences when species still interbreed. The study identified four narrow regions of the genome that are highly differentiated among species in hamlets, closely related reef fishes that differ in terms of color pattern.
A new study published in Global Change Biology reveals that high CO2 concentrations cause significant harm to Atlantic cod larvae, leading to underdeveloped gills and developmental delays. The findings contradict previous assumptions that larvae could adapt to acidic conditions through acclimation of parental generations.
Researchers found that extratropical eruptions produce strong hemispheric cooling in proportion to their sulfur release, contrary to the assumed weaker impact. This study sheds light on the importance of injection height and helps quantify volcanic eruptions' past climate variability effects.
Scientists have reconstructed the monsoon's precipitation history over the past 1 million years using sediment cores from the eastern Indian Ocean. The results show that the monsoon was weaker during peak ice ages and strongest during interglacial warm periods, with fluctuations in the Earth's axis inclination playing a subordinate role.
Scientists have recorded horizontal and vertical movement of a submerged volcanic flank for the first time using a sound-based underwater geodetic monitoring network. The entire southeastern flank is in motion due to gravity, and a catastrophic collapse could trigger a major tsunami.
A new AI-powered workflow enables scientists to systematically and sustainably evaluate large amounts of high-resolution deep-sea images. The workflow, developed by GEOMAR researchers, uses machine learning algorithms to automatically detect features such as manganese nodules in the seafloor.
Researchers discovered that microplastics form stable aggregates with biogenic particles, such as plankton and faecal material, which can sink into deeper water layers. The presence of biofilms on microplastics also facilitates aggregation, potentially affecting the transport and distribution of microplastics in the oceans.
A recent study by the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel found that glacier depth has a significant impact on plankton blooms off Greenland. The team discovered that as glaciers retreat, summer plankton blooms decrease due to reduced nutrient input from meltwater.
Researchers found a close relationship between two species of blind cave shrimp in Israel and Italy, with genetic analysis revealing a common ancestor. The study suggests that the unique conditions in the caves led to a slowdown in evolutionary changes.
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.
Scientists have linked ocean currents to the spread of invasive jellyfish Mnemiopsis leidyi in European waters. The study, which collected over 12,000 data points, shows that these species can travel up to 2000 kilometers within three months.
Scientists have discovered that up to 25% of new ocean floor is formed by mantle material without magmatic processes, challenging current understanding. This phenomenon occurs at paces of less than two centimeters per year, particularly in regions like the Cayman Trough.
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 new review paper highlights the global scope of the underwater munitions problem, with over a million tons of intact and corroding munitions littering the Baltic and North Seas. The chemicals released from these munitions pose significant risks to marine ecosystems, including carcinogenic and cyto- and genotoxic effects.
A study by GEOMAR and international colleagues reveals a 4-fold reduction in Pb concentrations in European surface waters since the phasing out of leaded gasoline. However, legacy Pb from Mediterranean sources persists, suggesting sediments are now a new source of Pb to the environment.
The SUGAR project has expanded knowledge of gas hydrates in the seafloor and developed technologies for environmental monitoring. Companies from Germany have successfully tested methane extraction from submarine hydrate deposits, with interest from Asian countries like Japan and China.
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.
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.
Researchers found that stable gas hydrates can indirectly destabilize sediment above, triggering submarine landslides. The new process, independent of climatic changes, involves the formation of fluid conduits beneath the seafloor, leading to hydro fractures and shallow slope failure.
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.
Researchers from GEOMAR Helmholtz Center for Ocean Research Kiel identified a stratification of the seafloor as responsible for at least one landslide in the region. The discovery was made by combining drilling and seismic data, which revealed a layer of clay overlying ooze composed of fossil planktonic organisms.
A team of researchers found that rapid changes in sedimentation, not warming ocean waters, played a key role in destabilizing gas hydrates. The study used computer models and data from the Nyegga area to simulate the evolution of the seabed and response of gas hydrates during this period.
A new measurement technology has enabled scientists to determine nitrogen oxide concentrations in the ocean for the first time in 30 years. Low oxygen levels are linked to NO production, according to a recent study published in Deep-Sea Research Part II.
Researchers find uplift of sea floor in region caused by ice melting to be primary cause of methane hydrate dissolution. The process, ongoing for thousands of years, is not linked to climate change.
Researchers from GEOMAR and Universidad de Chile found that the 2016 earthquake released accumulated energy from a previous quake in 1960, with a slip of over 4.5 meters. This study suggests reevaluating seismic cycles for risk assessment and construction recommendations
Researchers have found that comb jellyfish can adjust their regeneration mechanisms based on environmental nutrients. In nutrient-rich environments, the larvae can fully regenerate, while in areas with fewer nutrients, they survive but cannot fully heal.
Mussel larvae are sensitive to ocean acidification due to their high calcification rate and limited ion regulation capacity. Researchers found that larvae can increase pH and carbonate concentration below the shell to promote calcification, but this is reduced by increasing acidification
A new analytical method developed at GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel shows that water penetrates significantly deeper into the Earth's crust than previously assumed. This finding is crucial for understanding the ocean's heat budget and volatiles in the crust.
Researchers found that over broad regions of the South Atlantic, a combination of two or three nutrients was needed to stimulate phytoplankton growth. This study provides experimental evidence for widespread nutrient co-limitation, which has implications for global ocean models and predictions about nutrient limitation.
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.
Researchers publish high-resolution data on particle density in equatorial Atlantic and Pacific Ocean, finding that particle density increases again in 300-600 meters of water depth due to daily migratory behavior of plankton organisms. This challenges previous assumptions about the flow of particles into the deep sea.
The Weddell Sea has formed a large ice-free area, supporting the Kiel climate model. This natural phenomenon plays a crucial role in sea ice formation and deep water circulation. Scientists closely monitor its occurrence to improve climate models and differentiate between natural variability and human-induced changes.
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.
New study reveals that methane leaks around North Sea boreholes could be a major source of greenhouse gases, with up to 17,000 tonnes released per year. Scientists estimate that about one third of the over 11,000 wells drilled in the North Sea are leaking methane.
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.
An international team of scientists discovered a possible cause for irregularities in climate evolution: enhanced volcanic activity induced by falling sea levels. This study found that reduced pressure on the seafloor led to increased lava and carbon dioxide emissions, stabilizing atmospheric CO2 concentrations during glacial periods.
A new dataset provides improved representation of solar variability, enabling more accurate climate model simulations and distinguishing natural from anthropogenic processes. The dataset includes enhanced estimates of solar forcing and particle effects, which may counteract rising Earth temperatures.
Marine microorganisms rely on iron to recycle dead matter and release nutrients such as phosphorus. This process is crucial in the tropical North Atlantic, where nitrogen limitation may be replaced by phosphorus limitation, influenced by human activities.
A new study reveals that red sea rabbitfish brought live marine animals with them when they invaded the mediterranean, expanding biodiversity and threatening native ecosystems. The research highlights the role of fish in spreading invasive species through 'ichthyochory,' a previously unknown mechanism.