Researchers reconstructed Arctic ocean conditions during Late Cretaceous greenhouse periods, finding periodicities matching modern Arctic climate influences. The findings suggest that natural modes of climate variability, such as ENSO and AO/NAO, may remain unchanged under global warming.
A comprehensive database analysis found a strong positive relationship between surface production and organic matter export, driving predicted patterns of seafloor biomass. Seafloor biomass is highest around the poles and equator due to nutrient-rich upwelling waters, while central abyssal plains exhibit consistently low values.
A major grant award of £3.3 million has been secured by a Southampton-led consortium project to study past and possible future sea-level rise. The researchers aim to obtain a better picture of how much and how quickly sea level may rise as a result of global warming.
Rapid turnover of lipid membranes enables phytoplankton to adapt to phosphorus scarcity, potentially supporting further growth when conditions improve. The process occurs within 24 hours and is a physiological response by individual cells.
Researchers measured carbon dioxide fluxes in the North Atlantic using an autonomous system, making nearly 4,000 flux measurements. The study found that formation of bubbles in breaking waves may increase gas transfer at high wind speeds.
Researchers reconstructed global sea level history over the last 21 thousand years using data from 400 high-quality markers. The study found a gradual rise of 1m/century interrupted by two periods with rapid 'jumps' of up to 2.5m/century, coinciding with climate warming and cooling events.
A research expedition is studying the movement of water in the Southern Ocean to understand the rate of horizontal and vertical mixing between different water layers. The study aims to quantify the rate of climate change by measuring the effects of ocean mixing on heat exchange, nutrient cycling, and atmospheric CO2 concentrations.
Researchers used LIDAR technology to measure changes in coastal morphology following a catastrophic series of landslides in Matata, New Zealand. The study found that debris flows sourced from the Awatarariki stream transported over 350,000 cubic meters of debris, and mapped sediment flow paths with high accuracy.
Researchers reconstruct carbon dioxide levels during the Middle Eocene Climatic Optimum, a 400,000-year period of extreme global warming. They found that atmospheric carbon dioxide levels doubled, leading to temperature increases of 4-6 degrees Celsius.
Newly published findings reveal king crabs' distribution is influenced by water temperature in the Southern Ocean. The thermal barrier limits their biogeographical distribution, and even small increases in temperature due to global warming could lead to their spread into new areas.
Dr Veerle Huvenne, a NOC marine geoscientist, has been awarded a major research grant to map complex deep-sea environments and study the biodiversity they support. The project, CODEMAP, aims to use state-of-the-art surveying methods to map habitat heterogeneity as a proxy for biodiversity.
A study led by Dr. Stuart Painter identifies five distinct water masses controlling coccolithophore blooms off the southeast coast of South America, highlighting the region's complexity and productivity. The research cruise measured salinity, chemistry, and nutrient levels, confirming that specific conditions foster bloom formation.
Sea levels around Falkland Islands rose by 0.75mm/year between 1842 and early 1980s, but accelerated to 2.5mm/year since 1992, consistent with global warming observations
A new study estimated human activities' impact on the North East Atlantic deep seafloor, finding bottom trawling has a greater physical footprint than other major activities. The research highlights the need for better data collection and management to protect seafloor ecosystems.
International research suggests that sea levels will be 30-70 centimeters higher by 2100 even with geo-engineering efforts. However, large-scale actions like sulfur dioxide injections or mirror orbits pose significant challenges. Bioenergy with carbon storage (BECS) appears to be a more desirable option.
Researchers used computer simulations to predict the impact of mitigation policies on ocean acidification. A peak year of emissions and post-peak reduction rates significantly influence ocean acidity increases by 2100. The study suggests that substantial emission reductions need to occur as soon as possible.
Scientists have engineered a variant of fluorescent protein from reef coral to observe protein movement in live cells. The newly created mIrisFP has excellent properties as a genetically encoded marker protein, enabling the study of dynamical processes within live cells at high spatial resolution.
A study found that iron availability plays a crucial role in controlling coccolithophore growth and calcification. Coccolithophores are globally important species of marine algae responsible for massive blooms in oceans worldwide.
A new study suggests that adding nutrients to the sea could lower viral infection rates among phytoplankton, enhancing the biological carbon pump. This process involves transferring carbon from the atmosphere to the deep ocean, potentially helping mitigate global warming.
Scientists have monitored rapid faunal changes in a deep-sea community off Ireland's coast, where sea cucumber populations surged in abundance. Climate-driven fluctuations in organic matter supply and nutrient quality may have triggered these events.
Computer simulations reveal how ocean stirring and mixing create filamentary structures in plankton patches, resisting dispersal. The research, supported by the Natural Environmental Research Council and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, provides new insights into plankton patchiness.
Researchers found that Saharan dust inputs favor SAR11 bacteria over Prochlorococcus, potentially altering oceanic communities. Dust nutrients like iron boost phytoplankton growth and influence bacterial populations.
Researchers have discovered that the Indian continental crust was forced down to a depth of at least 200 km under the Asian plate during the Himalayan collision. This finding is significant as it contradicts previous estimates and challenges fundamental parameters of Himalayan tectonics.
Scientists launch Waves, Aerosols and Gas Exchange Study (WAGES) to investigate air-sea gas exchange and its impact on climate. The two-year project uses the Royal Research Ship James Clark Ross to collect continuous measurements of carbon dioxide, sea-spray aerosol, heat, moisture, and momentum.
The National Oceanography Centre (NOC) has partnered with the Met Office to upgrade the Porcupine Abyssal Plain sustained observatory (PAP-SO), a key European ocean observatory. This collaboration aims to advance scientific knowledge of the ocean and improve climate prediction by integrating meteorological and ocean data.
Researchers have successfully imaged the internal tissues of a soft-bodied marine worm using micro-computed x-ray tomography (micro-CT) without dissection or destructive methods. This technique allows for high-definition images and three-dimensional rotating views, enabling detailed study of functional anatomy.
A British scientific expedition has discovered the world's deepest undersea volcanic vents, 5000 meters deep in the Caribbean. The team used advanced underwater technology to film and survey the seafloor, revealing slender spires of copper and iron ores erupting with superheated water.
A British scientific expedition is heading to the Cayman Trough, a rift in the seafloor of the Caribbean that reaches over three miles deep. The team will use robot submarines and remotely-controlled vehicles to study deep-sea vents, which support lush colonies of deep-sea creatures.
Oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) support a variety of habitats and species, including brittle stars, spider crabs, and tube-living organisms. Global warming may exacerbate oxygen depletion and reduce biodiversity in these regions.
Research found that spore-like acantharian cysts rapidly sink from surface waters to the deep ocean, delivering significant amounts of organic matter to the ocean depths. This phenomenon may be part of an extraordinary reproductive strategy allowing juveniles to exploit a seasonal food bonanza.
A new study suggests that pumping nutrient-rich water to boost algal growth and draw carbon dioxide from the atmosphere may not be an effective solution to combat global warming. The simulation results show modest climatic benefits, with potential risks of exacerbating global warming if the scheme fails.
Researchers found tiny single-celled creatures called foraminifera living in the Challenger Deep build their homes using material that sinks down from near the ocean surface. The discovery challenges previous assumptions about the environment and composition of agglutinated foraminifera tests.
Researchers reconstruct past ocean chemistry using calcium carbonate veins that precipitate from seawater-derived fluids in rocks beneath the seafloor. The composition of past seawater can be determined from suites of calcium carbonate veins that formed millions of years ago, providing valuable insights into climate and ocean evolution.
Researchers found that the current interglacial period has lasted 2.0-2.5 millennia longer than predicted by dominant theory, raising questions about natural climate trends and human impact. The study suggests that orbital changes may still influence climate for another two thousand years or so.
Researchers developed a novel method to correct data for humidity's cross-sensitivity in open-path sensors, aligning with previous studies' results. This robust method enables widespread use of open-path sensors for air-sea carbon dioxide flux estimation.
New evidence suggests that post-depositional 'burn-down' events in the Kimmeridge Clay Formation caused loss of organic matter, resulting in alternating patterns between organic-rich and -poor sediments. This supports the 'burn-down' theory over the long-held hypothesis of elevated planktonic productivity.
Researchers estimate that echinoderms, including starfish and sea urchins, produce over a tenth of a gigatonne of carbon per year through calcifying their skeletons. This contribution is more significant than previously thought and must be taken into account in climate models.
A recent scientific conference highlighted the effects of unseasonal summer storms on UK marine life, including a surge in deadly jellyfish and rare seabird sightings. The event brought together representatives from various sectors to discuss conservation measures and environmental change.
Researchers used high-resolution seismic data to analyze fault evolution across the Gulf of Corinth rift, revealing patterns of basin subsidence and fault activity. The study provides new insights into early rift history and the development of faults associated with the rift, shedding light on seafloor spreading mechanisms.
The study reconstructs environmental conditions on the Voring Plateau, indicating shallow marine environments in early Eocene and full submersion by late Eocene. This suggests earlier marine connections between Nordic sea basins, which may have contributed to declining global temperatures and ice sheet development.
High-resolution computer simulations reveal that North Atlantic water enters the Arctic Ocean through three main routes: Fram Strait, Barents Sea northern branch, and southern branch. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of ocean climate change mechanisms.
Four new species of deep-sea king crabs were formally described, expanding the total number of known species to 113. The new discoveries reveal that king crabs are found in most world oceans at depths between 500 and 1500 meters.
Researchers found Kuwait Bay's sea surface temperature rose at an average rate of 0.62°C per decade, three times the global average. This increase is attributed to 50% due to local drivers such as wind and river flow, while 13% is caused by human activity.
Oceanic core complexes are large elevated massifs formed along slow-spreading mid-ocean ridges. Research by Dr. Bram Murton and colleagues found that these complexes form during periods of reduced magma supply from volcanism, leading to suppressed or absent volcanism.
A 14,000-year reconstruction of the past climate at Maxwell Bay in Antarctica reveals unprecedented regional synchronous warming and ice loss. The study suggests that current warming is linked to atmospheric trends associated with global climate change.
Researchers have mapped the large-scale distributions of dissolved organic nitrogen and phosphorus over the Atlantic Ocean, finding that these nutrients dominate surface waters and play a crucial role in export production. The study suggests that nutrient-poor regions, like subtropical gyres, rely on these nutrients to sustain life.
Researchers warn that climate variability can affect deep-sea ecosystems, potentially disrupting food chains and carbon cycles. Long-term monitoring is crucial to understand the impact of global warming on these vulnerable ecosystems.
New data from a 10,000-kilometer cruise reveals that iron availability significantly controls the input of fixed nitrogen into the Atlantic Ocean. This finding is crucial for understanding global climate patterns and their potential implications on carbon dioxide sequestration.
The Casablanca Seamount dive revealed a geologically interesting terrain with vertical descents and massive lava flows. The area hosted various marine life, including sponges, corals, lobsters, and fish species.
Researchers have developed a technique to distinguish between farmed and wild salmon by analyzing the chemistry of their scales, which grows like tree rings and preserves a record of the water they lived in. The new method achieved 98% accuracy and has the potential to identify farms responsible for releasing wild fish into rivers.