Researchers from the University of Miami used Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) to detect ground inflation along one flank of Cotopaxi volcano before its eruption in 2015. The study's results, supported by ground-based GPS instruments, show that similar or greater ground inflation is expected for future eruptions.
A new study found that Caribbean staghorn corals are benefiting from 'coral gardening,' which involves planting laboratory-raised coral fragments on reefs. The research provides important benchmarks for the long-term survival of coral reefs worldwide, which have been declining due to climate change and ocean pollution.
Researchers at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School found that manmade aerosol particles in the atmosphere drive changes in global rainfall patterns. The study suggests that these aerosols are a primary driver of large-scale shifts in precipitation, particularly in the tropics.
A new study of stalagmites from an Iranian cave suggests the Middle East will experience diminishing precipitation and no relief from drought in the next 10,000 years. The research links climate changes to solar insolation across Eurasia, indicating a prolonged dry spell.
Glass eel larvae can sense Earth's magnetic field and orient themselves using a biological clock, allowing them to migrate towards the coast. This study sheds light on the mechanisms of eel migration and has implications for our understanding of other species' navigation behaviors.
A recent study found that 35 percent of the world's national animal symbols are threatened with extinction, highlighting the urgent need for conservation efforts. The analysis also revealed that populations of national animal symbols represented by North America and Australia-Oceania fare better than those in Africa.
Researchers have discovered atmospheric gravity waves radiating from hurricanes, which could be used to monitor the storms' intensity and location from hundreds of miles away. These subtle waves can reveal processes occurring in the eyewall of a hurricane that are obscured by thick clouds, leading to better forecasts.
Researchers at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School developed a new technique to measure near-surface ocean currents using a specialized video camera. This innovation can help scientists predict the fate of spilled oil and other marine pollutants, improving disaster response and understanding pollutant transport.
The University of Miami's Rosenstiel School has received a two-year NOAA grant to support cutting-edge coral conservation research. Researchers will outplant nursery-raised staghorn corals onto nearshore reef habitats and develop an outreach program to engage the public in coral reef conservation.
Researchers found that mitochondrial-nuclear interactions affect energy production in animal cells, leading to variations in traits and potentially influencing human health. The study suggests that metabolic fitness relies on these interactions, which have significant implications for physiology and medical interventions.
Researchers found that rogue waves occur roughly twice daily at any given location in a storm and are not as rare as previously believed. The study provides critical information for designing and operating ships and platforms safely in extreme conditions.
A recent study found that massive warm-water eddies in the Caribbean Sea contribute to intense hurricanes like Matthew. The research team measured ocean temperature, salinity, and currents to better understand these oceanic features.
Researchers developed a model simulating the motion of floating debris, revealing how ocean currents transport and accumulate marine debris. The study found that undrogued drifters accumulate in gyre centers, while anchored drifters take longer to reach the center.
Researchers used buoys' trajectories to simulate debris motion, finding areas with high probability for MH370 crash. The analysis is consistent with recently confirmed aircraft debris finds, highlighting the importance of sustained ocean observations.
Coral reefs face severe bleaching every year on 99% of the world's reefs within this century if current trends continue. However, more ambitious emissions reductions may extend their survival by an average of 11 years.
Researchers at the University of Miami have identified margin collapses and submarine landslides along the Great Bahama Bank that could generate tsunamis in the past and potentially again. The study suggests that these events could pose a risk to Florida and Cuba, with tsunami waves potentially several meters high.
Researchers found Atlantic killifish adapting to toxic pollutants due to high genetic variation, making them more resilient than other species. This study suggests that genetic diversity is key to evolutionary adaptation and could inform strategies for human sensitivity to environmental chemicals.
A University of Miami research team analyzed sea spray droplets generated from breaking waves and found that the amount of large droplets is 1000 times more than previously thought. This information can be applied to hurricane models to improve intensity predictions, aiding in people's safety.
A new study challenges the understanding of subtropical rainfall decline in response to increased greenhouse gases. Researchers found that land will warm faster than oceans, leading to less severe impacts on people living in these regions.
A new study by University of Miami researchers found that the Agulhas Current, a major Indian Ocean current, has broadened since the early 1990s due to increased turbulence from intensifying winds. This widening of the current has significant implications for global climate change and ocean heat transport.
Researchers at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School used data from international scientific cruises to map the distribution of dissolved organic carbon in the Atlantic Ocean. They found that one third of global ocean net production comes from this basin, with nutrient arrival predicting DOC production.
Researchers have discovered a new earthquake hazard in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region, revealing that the Ghazaband fault is accumulating more than half of the relative motion between tectonic plates. This increases the potential for a high-magnitude earthquake and poses a significant threat to cities like Quetta.
Researchers detected high concentrations of mercury and β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) in shark fins and muscles, linked to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. Restricting shark consumption may protect human health and shark populations threatened with extinction.
A team of scientists used a state-of-the-art computer model to test Charles Darwin's hypothesis that marine species cannot cross the Eastern Pacific's 'impassable' marine barrier. The study found that even under extreme El Niño conditions, coral larvae could not survive long enough to make the trip across the ocean.
Researchers found that tiger sharks prefer to scavenge on dead and dying green turtles, avoiding hundreds of healthy individuals. This behavior is similar to terrestrial carnivores, such as hyenas and polar bears, which selectively scavenge when the opportunity arises.
A new study reveals the exact timing of the modern monsoon pattern in the Maldives 12.9 million years ago, linking it to past climate changes and coral reefs. The analysis of sediment cores provides direct physical evidence of environmental conditions that sparked the monsoon system still affecting the Indian subcontinent today.
A study by researchers at University of Miami Rosenstiel School found that weathered oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill affects heart, eye, and neurological function in mahi-mahi embryos and larvae. The findings suggest that this type of oil poses a significant threat to developing fish.
A new study by University of Miami researchers uses satellite data to quantify the impact of man-made canals and levees on Louisiana's coastal wetlands. The study found that these structures limit tidal inundation in 45% of the state's coastline, threatening the ecosystems' ability to adapt to sea-level rise.
A UM researcher is leading an international campaign to study the impact of smoke particles on regional climate warming. The experiment will investigate how smoke affects marine low clouds in the southeast Atlantic Ocean. By understanding this interaction, scientists can improve global aerosol models and climate change forecasts.
A new study by University of Miami researchers found that ocean acidification is dissolving limestone on coral reefs in the upper Florida Keys at an alarming rate. The annual loss of reef poses a significant threat to the ecosystem's health and the estimated $7.6 billion asset value of these reefs.
A new study found that corals preconditioned to high CO2 levels before increased temperatures showed 44% lower growth rates compared to unconditioned corals. This suggests that elevated CO2 worsens coral response to thermal stress, potentially exacerbating climate change impacts on coral reefs.
A new University of Miami-led study found significant increases in flooding frequency in Miami Beach over the last decade due to accelerated sea-level rise. The researchers suggest using regional sea-level rise projections to better prepare for future flood hazards in South Florida.
A new approach to studying coral reefs suggests that multiple stressors, such as ocean temperature and acidification, can have devastating effects on corals. The researchers recommend a global strategy for choosing locations for larger field-based experiments to inform adaptation policies.
A new study by UM Rosenstiel School researchers found that expanding protected areas in US federal waters would safeguard 100% of core home range areas used by three shark species. The study suggests that protecting sharks' core habitat use areas, where they spend the majority of their time, can provide significant conservation benefits.
A new study by UM researchers found that shallow-reef corals are more closely related to their shallow-water counterparts over a thousand miles away than they are to deep-water corals on the same reef. This challenges previous expectations and highlights the need for protecting shallow water corals in the Florida Keys.
UM Rosenstiel School researchers found that fish larvae swam on a 15 percent straighter course and seven percent faster when in groups. This group orientation behavior is thought to be beneficial for reducing predation and detecting food, a phenomenon previously observed only in adult fish.
A study by a University of Miami-led team provides new insights into microbial reefs called stromatolites, which are believed to hold ancient records of early life. The research maps the growth and structure of these rare ecosystems in Shark Bay, Western Australia.
A University of Miami-led study shows that the North Atlantic absorbed 100% more man-made carbon dioxide over the last decade, impacting ocean life and marine organisms. The findings highlight the importance of reducing fossil fuel emissions to mitigate the effects on the oceans.
Researchers tracked shark movements and longline fishing vessels in the North Atlantic finding significant overlap, driving shark declines. The study suggests catch quotas or size limits will be necessary to protect oceanic sharks from commercial fishing.
A new study found that the Loop Current plays a crucial role in sustaining Florida red tide blooms. The researchers discovered that when the Loop Current is in a northern position, it allows a bloom to continue under favorable conditions, but a southern position prevents it from being sustained.
Researchers estimated that upwards of 320,000 green, loggerhead, and Kemp's ridley sea turtles were likely present within the spill site, with over 95% originating from outside the US. The study provides new geopolitical context to the scope of the oil spill's impacts.
A team of biologists found that current harvest levels for gray wolves in the Northern Rocky Mountains lead to decreased survival and reproduction, smaller packs, and social disruption. The research highlights the need for stronger science-based policies to guide regulated carnivore hunting.
Researchers will investigate oil's impact on the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem and public health over three years. The funding is part of a larger $38 million GoMRI program supporting research on environmental issues.
A new study found that recreational anglers who received education on shark conservation were more supportive of management and conservation efforts. The researchers surveyed 158 anglers in South Florida, revealing that many catch-and-release anglers recognized the post-release mortality risks for sharks.
A study by University of Miami researchers found a weakening of the Walker circulation due to increased greenhouse gas emissions, leading to changes in rainfall patterns. The analysis used historical cloud cover observations as a proxy for wind velocity in climate models.
A new method estimates fish movements using ocean heat content images, revealing detailed movements not apparent with surface temperature data. The analysis shows large migratory fishes have affinities for ocean fronts and eddies, similar to hurricanes.
A University of Miami-led study suggests the atmosphere drives the Atlantic Multi-decadal Oscillation (AMO), a decades-long climate variation affecting global weather patterns. The research finds that atmospheric circulation alone can explain the pattern, without ocean circulation's role.
Scientists have developed a new technique to measure the speed of internal waves below the ocean surface using a single satellite image. This allows for more accurate information to be obtained from satellites, enabling researchers to track ocean currents and objects moving on or below the surface.
A new study published in Limnology and Oceanography found that a nutrient-rich, balanced diet is beneficial to corals during stressful thermal events. The researchers discovered that excess nitrogen alone and zooplankton made high-temperature bleaching events worse, while a balanced mix of nutrients afforded coral resilience.
Researchers will conduct research to support long-term sustainability of the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem, with a focus on observation networks and ecosystem modeling. The projects aim to enhance effective and sustainable ecosystem management.