A new study by researchers at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution found that the biospheric carbon turnover within river basins is vulnerable to future temperature and precipitation perturbations from a changing climate. This suggests that soil organic carbon sensitivity to climate change may be more widespread than previously assumed.
Researchers from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution found that anthropogenic noise prompts changes in cephalopod feeding behaviors. Longfin squid were less likely to capture prey during noise playback and more likely to abandon pursuing prey if the noise started during their hunt.
The report reviews available tools and current understanding of the health status and trends of individual whales and the species. It concludes with recommendations for additional information needs and necessary management actions to enhance the health of individual right whales.
Researchers reconstructed 3,000 years of storm history in the southern Marshall Islands to find that tropical cyclones were more frequent during the Little Ice Age. Climate change is expected to shift this region's cyclone formation northward, but also decrease its frequency.
Researchers at WHOI will contribute to improving the nation's collective response to harmful algal blooms (HABs) through $2.5 million in funding over the coming year. The projects aim to enhance monitoring and determine socioeconomic impacts of blooms nationwide, with a focus on protecting human health, ecosystems, and local economies.
Researchers at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution have developed a machine learning-based framework to improve estimates of air-sea heat exchange in the Arctic Ocean. The project leverages remote sensing technologies and data from sensors, saildrone USVs, and satellites to validate satellite-based modeling of the Arctic region.
Oregon State University (OSU) will take over systems management of Ocean Observatories Initiative's cyberinfrastructure in September 2023. The team will handle data storage and delivery for the OOI, which consists of five instrumented observatories collecting over 800 instruments' data.
Researchers investigate marine heatwaves and their effects on regional ocean circulation, marine life, and fisheries. They found that extreme warming events can extend to 300 meters below the surface in certain areas, impacting ecosystems and economies.
A new study estimates that studying the ocean's biological carbon pump could lead to more accurate climate models, improving policies on carbon emissions. The research suggests a global economic benefit of $500 billion if science informs policy decisions.
Researchers find significant decline in coral skeleton density due to ocean acidification on the Great Barrier Reef and South China Sea. This effect will likely accelerate as ocean acidity increases over the next several decades.
The Florida Current, a key component of the Gulf Stream, has slowed significantly over the past century, with its strength being the weakest in the past 110 years. This decline is linked to the broader Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) system, which plays a crucial role in regulating global climate.
The Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant's stored contaminated wastewater contains multiple radioactive isotopes with varying levels of risk. These include tritium, a relatively short-lived isotope, and other isotopes like carbon-14, cobalt-60, and strontium-90, which pose more complex hazards to humans and the environment.
Dr. Ying-Tsong Lin, the 12th person in history to visit Challenger Deep, is an acoustic scientist studying sound propagation in the ocean. His research aims to improve acoustic communication and geo-location at extreme depths.
New study analyzes nearly 60 infographics and documents on plastic lifetimes, revealing inconsistencies in reported estimates. Researchers found varying numbers of years, from one to hundreds of years, and even a striking uniformity in fishing line degradation estimates at 600 years.
A new study suggests that operating with fewer traps and a shorter season in the US lobster fishery may be more profitable for fishermen while also protecting endangered North Atlantic right whales. The research found that Massachusetts fishers have caught more lobster since implementing a three-month fishing closure, while Maine's lob...
Research reveals North Atlantic right whales are in poorer body condition than Southern right whales, affecting reproduction and growth rates. The study suggests lethal vessel strikes, entanglement, and food scarcity contribute to their decline.
Researchers found that much good work had been done on oil weathering and degradation by microbes, with significant implications for future research. The study also highlighted the impact of sunlight and oxygen on oil composition, reducing the effectiveness of dispersants.
Researchers used a new geochemical tool to analyze volatile elements in Earth's interior, revealing that nitrogen has been present since the planet's formation. The method, which identifies air contamination, provides valuable insights into the evolution of our planet and may also be used to monitor volcanic activity.
A new study finds that freshwater runoff from rivers and shelf sediments are bringing significant quantities of carbon and trace elements into the Arctic Ocean. This increase in nutrients may boost Arctic marine productivity, but also exacerbates climate warming.
A new study from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution reveals the ocean's biological carbon pump is more efficient than previously estimated, capturing twice as much carbon as thought. This discovery has significant implications for future climate assessments and policy.
The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution has received an $8.3 million grant to extend the life of the Overturning in the Sub-polar North Atlantic Program, a key part of Earth's ocean-climate system. The program provides a high-resolution view of processes that regulate global climate and influence weather in Europe.
Researchers found a diverse community of microbes that efficiently recycle and store organic compounds to survive in hostile environments far beneath the ocean floor. The study reveals genetic material suggests many lower crust microbes rely on carbon from their surroundings to obtain energy.
Researchers find historically rare events in Indian Ocean have become more frequent and intense, with potential dire impacts on Australia's climate. The study uses coral records to reconstruct variability over the last millennium, providing new insights into how the Indian Ocean interacts with ENSO.
The study found that massive flood events in the eastern North Pacific Ocean, known as the Missoula Floods, may have contributed to abrupt climate changes in the Northern Hemisphere. The researchers reconstructed sea surface temperature and salinity patterns using fossil plankton data from marine sediment cores.
A study by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution compared seawater from protected and impacted reefs in Cuba and Florida Keys, finding that protected reefs have higher microbial diversity and lower nutrient concentrations. This suggests that offshore and highly-protected reefs are healthier than nearshore reefs with less protection ...
Squid exhibit strong alarm behaviors when exposed to underwater pile driving noise, which can be associated with offshore wind farms. The study found that fast habituation may make squids more vulnerable to predation, while longer periods between pile driving activity may discourage long-term habituation.
A study found that clownfish in Kimbe Bay are unable to adapt genetically to habitat changes and renew their population. The quality of the anemone providing a home to the fish is crucial to its survival, highlighting the urgent need for conservation efforts to protect these marine species.
A new study suggests that emperor penguins in Antarctica are likely to decline by 86% by 2100 due to sea ice loss, with only a 5% chance of survival under the 1.5 degree Celsius scenario. The 'business as usual' scenario is even more dire, with nearly complete colony loss and extinction imminent.
A Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution study finds that polystyrene breaks down faster than previously thought when exposed to sunlight, transforming into CO2 and other compounds. The research suggests additives in polystyrene play a key role in its breakdown.
Scientists develop a method to estimate whale weight using drone aerial images, opening up new avenues of research on growth, energy requirements and survival. The innovative approach can be used for studying other marine mammals where alternative methods are not feasible.
A new study measures how much of coral nutrition comes from hunting, suggesting that corals may be eating more than expected. The research provides a more accurate view of coral diets and has big implications for reef survival during climate change.
Researchers have discovered a vast reserve of methane in the Earth's oceanic crust, formed through chemical reactions involving seawater and olivine. This finding opens up new possibilities for understanding the origins of life beyond our planet.
Researchers tracked blue sharks using satellite tags and found they spent most of their days diving into warm-water eddies to forage for small fish and squid. The study suggests blue sharks prefer warm-water eddies due to their inability to regulate body temperature, shedding light on their unique feeding behavior
The Exploring Ocean Worlds project aims to determine the potential of ocean worlds to harbor life, focusing on Europa and Enceladus. A new Network for Ocean Worlds will facilitate nationwide research coordination.
A new study published by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution found that major currents in the North Atlantic do not directly cause changes in sea levels along the New England coast. Instead, both are controlled by variability in weather patterns over the North Atlantic, such as the North Atlantic Oscillation.
Researchers discovered that organic carbon is preserved in sediments due to strong chemical bonds with minerals, preventing it from decomposing. This process helps maintain a stable balance of gases in the atmosphere, allowing for oxygen to remain available for human consumption.
Researchers discovered cytochrome P450 enzymes in giant ocean viruses, which may help develop treatments for life-threatening illnesses. The findings, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, could also shed light on the biology and origin of these viruses.
Researchers discovered two distinct subspecies of short-finned pilot whales in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, separated by the eastern Pacific Ocean. The study, published in Molecular Ecology, used genetic analysis to verify the findings, revealing that continents may not have been as significant a barrier to this species' evolution.
A new study from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution has discovered distinct microbial communities surrounding Caribbean corals. The research found that different types of coral have unique microbial communities living near them, with some species showing enriched presence in the seawater closer to corals.
NOAA has selected the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) to host the Cooperative Institute for the North Atlantic Region (CINAR). CINAR will conduct innovative, multidisciplinary research on climate change and its impacts on the U.S. Northeast continental shelf ecosystem.
A new study from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution uses coral chemical data to reconstruct nearly three centuries of wind data, revealing that monsoon winds have indeed increased over the past centuries. This finding suggests that stronger winds may be becoming more common due to climate change.
A study by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution scientists found that deep-sea microbes are unable to fully utilize organic carbon due to its scarcity and physical isolation. The research suggests that the unique environment of deep sediments may limit life on Earth and provide insights into the possibility of extraterrestrial microbia...
Researchers tracked juvenile Emperor penguins for up to 6 years, revealing they initially swim far north to learn how to dive before heading south to the sea ice zone. The study highlights the unique connection between diving behaviors and the thermocline layer in the ocean.
Researchers found that the deep Pacific Ocean lags behind in terms of temperature and is still adjusting to the Little Ice Age. The ocean's long memory indicates that it 'remembers' past climate conditions hundreds of years ago.
A study by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution found that short-finned pilot whales off the coast of Hawai'i have distinct vocal dialects. The discovery may help researchers better understand the whales' social behavior and conservation needs.
A new study by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution reveals that sea levels are rising faster in some U.S. East Coast regions compared to others, primarily due to post-glacial rebound. The research team found that when post-glacial rebound was stripped away, sea level trends increased steadily from Maine to Florida, indicating the impa...
Researchers at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution found that coral reefs' soundscape influences coral larvae's choice of settlement, with healthy reefs having more fish sounds attracting larvae. The study suggests using sound to aid in coral reef preservation and potentially rebuild damaged reefs.
Research shows Greenland's surface melting has increased dramatically since the mid-19th century, with a 50% increase in total ice sheet meltwater runoff versus the start of the industrial era. This study provides evidence that climate change is driving unprecedented rates of ice sheet melting, which could accelerate sea level rise.
The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution has documented a dramatic rebound in flounder health due to decades of remediation efforts, including a sewage treatment plant and discharge tunnel project. The number of liver tumors among winter flounder has decreased significantly since the late 1980s.
A new study found that climate change drove the Harappans to resettle in smaller villages in the Himalayan foothills. The research, led by Liviu Giosan, suggests that changing weather patterns made agriculture difficult near cities, leading to a massive migration.