Researchers found that sharks and other large predatory fish visit the mesopelagic zone, a critical habitat for these species. The study suggests these animals dive to this area for reasons beyond feeding, potentially involving navigation or avoidance of predators.
The study found that the nutrient content of Sargassum tissue can help determine enrichment sources and improve predictions for managing the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt. The researchers identified enhanced nitrogen and phosphorus levels in the seaweed, indicating a thriving population.
Researchers from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution analyzed in situ observations since 2001, revealing the Gulf Stream is warming and moving towards the shore. The study used data from Argo floats and Spray underwater gliders, providing insights into the ocean's dynamics.
A new study definitively confirms the Gulf Stream has slowed by 4% over the past four decades, with implications for weather and climate. The research used Bayesian modeling to combine data from various sources, providing clear evidence of significant long-term change.
Researchers applied innovative techniques to detect coral reef health, focusing on microbes and metabolites in Florida's Coral Reef. The methods successfully distinguished between reefs based on geography, benthos, disease, and environmental features, providing novel insights into ecosystem characteristics.
A new framework, SHARC, provides a way for shore-based scientists, citizen scientists, and the public to collaborate with robotic sampling processes. The framework enables remote participants to conduct shipboard operations and control robotic manipulators using basic internet connection and consumer-grade hardware.
A study of highly migratory fish predators finds widespread losses of suitable habitat and redistribution in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico by 2100 due to climate change. The impacts are already observable, with potential loss of up to 70% of suitable habitat for some species.
Scientists have found a clear human fingerprint on climate change, with specific signals from CO2 increases altering Earth's atmosphere temperature structure. This evidence rebuts claims that recent atmospheric and surface temperature changes are natural.
Researchers have observed stabilization of the Beaufort Gyre in the Arctic Ocean, which could lead to a massive freshwater release. This change could impact the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), potentially disrupting global climate patterns.
Deep-sea scientists have discovered extensive, ancient coral reefs within the Galápagos Marine Reserve, supporting a diverse array of marine life. The reefs are pristine and teeming with life, offering insights into global significance and potential as 'canaries in the mine' for other reefs.
Researchers used thermal video and image analysis to measure heart and respiration rates in exotic wildlife species in controlled settings. The study validated the accuracy of this technology for future use in wild populations, especially threatened species.
A recent study published in Nature found that melted meteorites retain extremely low water content, making them unlikely to be the primary source of Earth's water. The research suggests that unmelted, or chondritic, meteorites are more likely to have delivered water to our planet.
A new study published in PNAS reveals that the dissolution of bubbles in high-latitude oceans is a dominant pathway for gases like oxygen and nitrogen to enter the deep ocean. This improved understanding can help improve the accuracy of climate models, which are crucial for predicting changes in the ocean's carbon dioxide inventory.
Researchers found that Waquoit Bay has shifted from a benthic to a pelagically-dominated ecosystem due to human causes, including excess nutrient pollution and climate change. The bay's ecosystem degradation has broader implications for estuaries worldwide.
A new study uses paleoclimate data to predict the impact of future climate change on land and sea. Terrestrial amplification, where land warms faster than sea, is estimated to be 40% larger over continents than oceans.
Scientists have identified genetic subgroups of a common coral species in Palau's Rock Islands that exhibit remarkable tolerance to extreme heat. The corals' larvae travel from their birthing grounds to the outer reef, where they survive and maintain their heat tolerance.
Researchers analyzed GPS tracks of 46 wandering albatrosses to understand their airspeed increases with wind speed up to 20 m/s. The birds limit their airspeed by adjusting turn angles to maintain wing strength, while exploiting updrafts over waves in low winds.
Researchers found a significant hydrothermal vent site in the Arctic Ocean's Aurora system, which could expand estimates of seafloor mineral deposits rich in copper and gold. The discovery also has implications for understanding ultra-slow spreading mid-ocean ridges and the search for extraterrestrial life.
A new study examines the impact of coral chemical compounds on reef composition and health, finding that they vary significantly by coral species. The research also discovers an invasive reef alga releasing high quantities of caffeine, which may contribute to its ability to invade and flourish on Caribbean reefs.
New research reveals that rapid warming in the Gulf of Maine has reversed a 900-year cooling trend, with climate model simulations indicating that greenhouse gas forcings are causing surface temperature changes and changes in ocean circulation. The study's findings have significant implications for the region's ecosystems and fisheries.
Researchers found that Weddell seal moms limit their own diving and underwater foraging capabilities to provide iron to their pups during lactation. This sacrificial behavior may make the seals more vulnerable to climate regime shifts that could decouple the seasonal pulse of productivity in the Antarctic environment.
A new study predicts a temperature-linked decrease in the production of essential omega-3 fatty acids, which are crucial for fish and human consumption. The researchers analyzed planktonic lipids in the global ocean, finding a significant decline in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) under worst-case climate scenarios.
A new study reveals that fluid flow in Paliochori Bay's shallow-water hydrothermal system supports high rates of chemosynthetic production, with microbes adapting quickly to changing conditions. The study finds that active fluid flow sustains carbon fixation rates among the highest determined for coastal margin sediments.
The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution has developed a lightweight, compact marine winch designed to make crew operations easier and more efficient. The winch offers improved flexibility and is expected to be added to InterOcean Systems' product line.
A team of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution researchers discovered that nearly 10% of the oil floating on the Gulf of Mexico after the Deepwater Horizon spill was dissolved into seawater by sunlight. The process, called photo-dissolution, has significant implications for understanding the fate and potential toxicity of these compounds.
The Earth BioGenome Project has entered a new phase with the start of full-scale genome sequencing, aiming to sequence all known eukaryotic life. The project's Deep-Ocean Genomes Project will explore deep-sea life, which is considered vulnerable to ocean acidification and warming.
A new study finds that bio-based cellulose acetate plastic widely used in consumer goods disintegrates and degrades in the ocean on timescales of months, contrary to previous assumptions of decades. The rapid degradation is attributed to marine microbes, which can break down CDA-based materials using esterase and cellulose enzymes.
A new study published in ACS Environmental Au highlights the complexities of cleaning up burnt and unburnt nurdles spilled along Sri Lanka's coastline. The research proposes recommendations for the ongoing clean-up, including educating citizen scientists and revising response efforts to account for variability in spilled nurdles.
Researchers from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution have discovered a 900-mile-long mantle conduit beneath Panama, which allows hot material to travel laterally through the shallow mantle. This 'mantle wind' helps explain why plume-derived volcanic material appears in central America despite the absence of active volcanoes.
The grant aims to build a robot that navigates complex environments and collects data over long periods, combining image collection and acoustic analysis to mimic a trained diver's curiosity. This will enable scientists to slowly build a detailed picture of ecosystem function and health, reducing the impact on animals' behavior.
Researchers found that changes in eDNA concentration accurately reflect movement of creatures between the twilight zone and surface. The study provides clues about species diversity, distribution, and migration patterns using genetic material shed by marine creatures.
The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution has been selected by the National Science Foundation to develop a coral reef digital twin, which aims to create a smart, integrated, and connected ecosystem for ocean innovation and sustainable utilization. The project will translate digital twin technology into environmental solutions and bring...
The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is leading a new NOAA-funded project to investigate the role of western boundary currents in climate change. The study aims to improve climate models by quantifying oceanic and atmospheric variability in these currents, which have a significant impact on extreme weather and sea-level.
A new study found increased potential for large and recurrent blooms of toxic algae Alexandrium catenella in the Alaskan Arctic, threatening marine wildlife and human health. The rapid warming of the Arctic is setting the stage for dangerous bloom events.
The Center for Chemical Currencies of a Microbial Planet (C-CoMP) will conduct transformative research on the behavior of bioreactive molecules and ocean microbes involved in one-quarter of the Earth's annual organic carbon cycle. The center aims to understand the key molecules, their cycling rates, and sensitivity to climate change.
Research reveals that Greenland's coastal ice caps experienced growth rather than shrinkage during past periods of warming. This study provides a new perspective on climate change, highlighting the complex relationship between climate conditions and ice cap changes across different regions of the Arctic.
A new study finds that sunlight can break down marine plastic into tens of thousands of chemical compounds, transforming it into a suite of polymer-, dissolved-, and gas-phased products. This process produces more complex transformation products than previously understood, with some bags producing up to 15,000 formulas.
Researchers found that coral communities in the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA) are recovering from past heatwaves, with heat-tolerant offspring repopulating the reefs. This study provides a source of hope for coral reef conservation and restoration, highlighting the potential for some reefs to keep pace with ocean warming.
A new study highlights how rapid climate change and extreme events are accelerating species extinction risk, particularly for emperor penguins. The research proposes listing the species as threatened under the Endangered Species Act to support conservation efforts and mitigate climate change impacts.
A recent study investigated the impact of deoxygenation on Caribbean Ocean floor ecosystems and found that coral microbes are surprisingly resilient. Despite the death of macro-organisms, coral microbes rapidly recover after hypoxic events subside, suggesting an independent recovery route from benthic macro-organisms.
A new review paper assesses heat and freshwater changes in the Indian Ocean, finding some consistent responses to anthropogenic global warming. However, observational records are still too short to distinguish natural variability from man-made changes.
Researchers found that protistan grazing pressures are higher at hydrothermal vent sites than surrounding deep-sea environments. Protist consumption of bacteria and archaea biomass accounts for up to 22% of fixed carbon.
Mesobot, a versatile underwater robot, provides unprecedented insight into the mid-ocean twilight zone. The robot tracks and records high-resolution images of zooplankton, gelatinous animals, and particles, greatly expanding scientists' ability to observe creatures in their mesopelagic habitat with minimal disturbance.
Researchers found evidence of massive icebergs drifting from Northeast Canada to southern Florida using high-resolution seafloor mapping and radiocarbon dating. The discovery provides insight into the interactions between icebergs/glaciers and climate, shedding light on how past changes in freshwater forcing influenced shifts in climate.
Two new papers investigate massive plankton blooms with vastly different potential impacts on ecosystems. The studies reveal unexpected productivity hotspots in the Mid-Atlantic Bight, fueled by Gulf Stream water upwelling, and a huge bloom of Phaeocystis pouchetii on the New England continental shelf.
Researchers found that some foraminifera species can survive and even thrive in hypoxic and anoxic sediments, suggesting a new direction for studying past environmental conditions. The study also revealed diverse metabolic strategies used by these organisms to adapt to low oxygen conditions.
Researchers found that low-to-mid latitude land surfaces cooled by an average of 5.8°C during the Last Glacial Maximum, contradicting previous estimates. The study's findings suggest a higher climate sensitivity to greenhouse gases and potentially stronger future global warming.
The Ocean and Climate Innovation Accelerator (OCIA) consortium aims to advance knowledge of the ocean's role in combating climate change and develop new solutions. The consortium will focus on advancing the 'networked ocean' concept, placing sensors across oceanic environments to monitor critical metrics.
A new study on the Northern Star Coral reveals its ability to recover from laboratory-induced stress, shedding light on coral resilience. Researchers found that coral with algal symbionts recovered their mucus microbiomes more consistently and quickly.
The WHOI and NOAA have released a report on the socio-economic effects of harmful algal blooms in the US, highlighting gaps in current estimates and research. The report recommends improving methods for assessing impacts and fostering greater collaboration among researchers, policymakers, and communities affected by HABs.