Articles tagged with Continental Shelves
Research shows fish species like Atlantic cod and hagfish contribute significantly to seabed ecosystem health. Bioturbation impacts on organic carbon storage and greenhouse gas absorption are crucial for understanding ocean's role in climate change.
Researchers tracked 131 juvenile sea turtles and found they may be active swimmers during their early life stage, challenging existing hypotheses. The study provides important data for assessing risks from human activity and informing conservation efforts.
Researchers have discovered that bismuth alloys can provide a better seal than traditional cement plugs, reducing the risk of leaks and greenhouse gas emissions. The innovative solution has the potential to save Norway billions of dollars in plugging costs, with reduced installation time and no need for rigs.
The study reconstructs a nearly continuous record of marine oxygen levels through the Phanerozoic using a machine learning approach. Oxygen levels in deep continental shelf seawater were negatively correlated with the production rate of the oceanic crust over timescales of 10–100 million years.
Researchers have identified pathways through which warm ocean water flows into ice shelf cavities for the first time. The study found broad ocean heat intruding toward the shelf, with seawater temperatures up to 1℃ higher than freezing at depths of 50-100 meters.
Research has revealed that Fraser Island's formation was tied to the Middle Pleistocene Transition, a major change in earth's climate. This finding suggests that the island's creation and subsequent prevention of sand transport into the Great Barrier Reef set the conditions for coral growth and reef formation.
Researchers confirm significant increase in freshwater entering the Arctic Ocean via the Bering Strait, leading to a decrease in saltiness and potential impacts on sea ice formation and regional ecosystems. This change could also affect climate-sensitive processes, such as deep water mixing in the North Atlantic.
A FAU Harbor Branch study demonstrates hydrology impacts through high-resolution simulation model. Increased freshwater discharge contributes to intensified shelf water mixing that favors surface intrusion of Loop Current waters.
Killer whales have been observed hunting and killing blue whales, with three documented events in Australian waters. The attacks were coordinated and resulted in the whale's flesh being stripped off, highlighting the apex predator's influence on marine environments.
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 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.
Researchers have identified two submerged archaeological sites off the Australian coast, dating back at least 7,000 and 8,500 years. The findings demonstrate the potential of new exploratory techniques for locating ancient cultural artefacts on the continental shelf.
The benthic biomass on the continental shelf of the Antarctic Weddell Sea declined by two-thirds between 1988 and 2014, with a drastic change in composition. The study's findings indicate that increased sea-ice cover and thicker snow cover have concrete negative effects on benthic organisms and ecosystem productivity.
Researchers found that glacier ice walls block warm seawater, preventing melting and raising global sea levels. The findings provide better tools to predict future water levels and create more accurate climate prognoses.
Researchers from Kazan Federal University have developed a new reagent to combat hydrate formation in Arctic oil production, reducing environmental harm. The chitosan-graft-Polyacrylamide reagent slows down hydrate formation and ensures safe transportation of products in optimal temperature ranges.
Researchers estimate bottom trawl footprints on continental shelves and slopes up to 1,000m in depth. Sustainable fisheries management may provide collateral environmental benefits by reducing trawling footprints in regions meeting international benchmarks for sustainable fishing rates.
Researchers find that a flat continental shelf off Mexico's coast efficiently traps edge waves, leading to unusually long-lasting tsunami waves. This phenomenon could pose a significant tsunami hazard in other regions with similar shelf shapes, such as the Pacific Northwest and northern Japan.
Scientists predict that climate change will alter the location and size of suitable habitats for many marine species on North America's continental shelves. The study found that habitats generally tend to shift north along the coastline, but these shifts vary depending on specific species' requirements and seafloor characteristics.
Research by University of Delaware oceanographer Wei-Jun Cai and colleagues reveals that coastal water is taking up a larger portion of atmospheric carbon dioxide. The study's findings, published in Nature Communications, may have important implications for understanding the global carbon budget and predicting greenhouse gas emissions.
The NSF has announced two new Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) sites along the Northeast U.S. continental shelf and in the northern Gulf of Alaska. The sites will study complex food webs, human activities, and environmental changes to promote science-based stewardship of marine ecosystems.
A new marine biodiversity study reveals the impact of glacial events on subantarctic seabed animals, providing insights into the extent of South Georgia's ice sheet during the Last Glacial Maximum. The research found that most seabed species have not moved far back to recolonize the coast despite having thousands of years to recover.
Researchers from USF College of Marine Science and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission expect no major red tide blooms along Florida's west coast this year. Nutrient levels in the Gulf of Mexico favor non-toxic algae, suppressing red tide bloom development.
Scientists have developed an algorithm to characterize ripples on the ocean floor, which can help understand storm behavior. The algorithm uses fingerprint analysis to measure ripple parameters, such as wavelength and orientation, allowing for more accurate predictions of erosion, storm surge, and overwash.
The UGA Skidaway Institute is investigating the dynamic forces of Cape Hatteras waters, which are crucial for understanding global carbon cycling and climate change. The PEACH project uses a combination of shore- and ocean-based instruments to record surface currents and subsurface information.
Researchers tracked whale sharks in the Gulf of Mexico, revealing they use both near-surface and deeper waters for feeding, with some staying at depth greater than 50 meters continuously for over three days. The study found complex patterns of habitat utilization likely driven by shifting ocean conditions and prey distribution.
Scientists have discovered a previously unknown process of warm Gulf Stream water and continental shelf exchange. Researchers also explored the effects of Saturn's magnetospheric dynamics on Titan's ionosphere.
Scientists have discovered a previously unknown process where warm Gulf Stream water and colder waters of the continental shelf exchange, influencing shelf circulation, biogeochemistry, and fisheries. The discovery provides new insights into the complex interactions between these two water masses.
The Chinese continental shelf's basement is of exotic origin, unrelated to eastern China's continental lithosphere. Subduction cessation at ~100 Ma jammed the trench, altering Pacific plate motion and forming a transform boundary.
A deep-sea core from Okinawa Trough has provided a 200,000-year record of Quaternary environmental changes, with high percentages of sedge and grass in glacial intervals indicating shortened offshore distance. The study highlights the impact of global ice volume, sea-level changes, and monsoon variability on sediment sources.
Professor Jack Barth recognized for outstanding contributions to continental shelf oceanography and community service. The Oceanography Society's TOS Fellows program honors individuals who have made significant contributions to the field.
New Geosphere articles explore Sonograms of Earth, a 1138-m-long drill core representing 20 million years of glacial history. The articles also examine alternative hypotheses for the origin of Grand Canyon and solve debates over Death Valley.
Researchers have uncovered a system of active gas springs in the Haifa Bay seabed, at relatively shallow depths. The discovery poses significant ecological risks and highlights the need for thorough research to prevent infrastructure failures and mitigate climate change impacts.
Scientists discovered a diversion of the Gulf Stream's path south of New England in late 2011, resulting in unusually high surface water temperatures and strong currents. The researchers found that the warm waters were carried by the Gulf Stream itself, rather than just transient warm core rings.
Researchers found that environmental factors, such as warming waters, are shifting the distribution of Atlantic mackerel northeastward and into shallower waters. This could impact U.S. commercial and recreational mackerel fisheries, which may face more variable resource conditions in the future.
Marine scientists compiled a directory of life on Australia's continental shelf, identifying 37 environmental factors shaping seabed life. The new maps and knowledge highlight complex patterns of biodiversity across the country's shelf habitats.
A new study by Florida State University researchers found that low river flow can lead to a decrease in phytoplankton concentration on the continental shelf, affecting food availability for young fish larvae. This could have significant implications for offshore fisheries.
Scientists analyzed East/Japan Sea CO2 uptake, finding a surprising drop in recent years. Simulations also suggest large raindrops favor tornado formation. Remotely sensed dune celerity revealed the world's fastest moving dunes, while Martian craters indicate hidden ice deposits.
A team of researchers attributes the sudden thinning of Jakobshavn Isbræ, one of Greenland's largest glaciers, to subsurface ocean warming and atmospheric changes. The study suggests that ocean temperatures may play a more significant role in glacier flow than previously thought.
A multi-year study reveals that nutrients from the Amazon River spread beyond the continental shelf and drive carbon capture in the deep ocean. Diazotrophs, which pull nitrogen and carbon from the air, offset respiration in tropical oceans, making them a significant carbon sink.
The University of Delaware has received $400,000 from NOAA to continue development of an ocean observing system for the Mid-Atlantic region. This funding is part of the national Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS), which aims to coordinate ocean data collection and delivery for various applications such as storm forecasting and em...
Researchers studied coastal 'jet' south of Block Island, revealing strong seasonal variability in currents. Analysis showed that freshwater outflow from estuaries and wind stress drive the interplay behind this phenomenon, producing a stronger jet during summer and weaker flow during winter.