Articles tagged with Ocean Circulation
A new study by the University of South Florida finds ocean circulation was the major determinant of Florida's 2018 red tide blooms. The study used ocean circulation models and autonomous underwater gliders to pinpoint the initiation zone for the blooms, which were likely carried to the coastline by a rare upwelling circulation.
A new study found that a slowing of ocean circulation in Antarctica's waters drastically altered global ice age cycles, making them colder and longer. The mid-Pleistocene transition, with no obvious orbital cause, remains largely unexplained.
A new study reconstructs ocean heat storage since 1871, revealing key changes in temperature history and circulation patterns. The findings suggest that up to half of mid-latitude Atlantic Ocean warming can be attributed to changes in ocean circulation since the 1950s.
A century and a half of reconstructed ocean warming offers insights into the Earth system's energy balance. The study suggests that global warming of the oceans has occurred over the past 150 years, with comparable warming patterns observed in the 1920s-1940s and 1990s-2015.
A new study has found evidence of a centuries-long cold snap in the deep Pacific, with ongoing cooling indicating the ocean is still adjusting to surface cooling during the Little Ice Age. The research suggests that the heat loss in the deep Pacific since 1750 offsets nearly a quarter of global heat gain in the upper ocean.
A study suggests that up to 40-50% of Arctic sea ice loss over the last three decades is due to unknown internal drivers, such as tropical effects. This discrepancy challenges the consensus among climate scientists who attribute it to flawed modeling.
Researchers found a small ice-free 'polynya' in the Arctic that sustained microscopic marine life for at least 5,000 years. This discovery provides insight into how marine ecosystems adapted to extreme climate conditions during the last Ice Age, highlighting their vulnerability and resilience.
Researchers analyzed ocean sediments to understand Atlantic Ocean circulation changes, finding two episodes of ice melting linked to slow-downs in ocean circulation. The findings have implications for future long-term changes in Earth systems with global climate change.
Tropical Storm Maliksi forms in the Philippine Sea with sustained winds of near 40 knots (46 mph), moving north towards Japan. The storm's circulation center is over open waters, extending bands of thunderstorms over northern and central Philippines.
Tropical Cyclone Ewiniar has strengthened in the South China Sea, blanketing Hainan Island with bands of thunderstorms. The storm is expected to make landfall in southeastern China's mainland and dissipate quickly, prompting severe weather warnings.
Researchers propose 'anomalous moist enthalpy advection mechanism' to explain WNPAC formation. This new theory suggests that atmospheric dynamics and thermodynamics drive WNPAC maintenance, rather than local air-sea interactions.
Researchers found that hurricane-suppressing effects of cooler sea surface temperatures were outweighed by the side effects of slowed ocean circulation in Florida during the Younger Dryas period. Turbidites captured the fury of Florida's stormy days, revealing a surprising level of hurricane activity despite chilly seas.
Tropical Storm Pakhar made landfall in southeastern China, with NASA's Suomi NPP satellite capturing an image of the storm shortly after. The storm had maximum sustained winds near 63 mph and was centered about 54 miles southwest of Hong Kong.
Tropical Storm Irwin is moving north-northwestward in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, with its structure remaining well-organized despite declining deep convection. The storm is expected to continue weakening and eventually degenerate into a remnant low, with forecasters predicting this will occur by Tuesday, August 1.
Ocean absorbing more carbon dioxide reduces atmospheric greenhouse gas levels, but promotes acidification in marine organisms. A study by UC Santa Barbara geographer Timothy DeVries and colleagues found that a slowdown of the ocean's overturning circulation is likely the cause.
A new study from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution reveals that Antarctic Bottom Water has freshened at an unexpected rate between 2007 and 2016, potentially altering ocean circulation and contributing to sea level rise. The researchers hypothesize that a recent landscape-changing event may be responsible for the shift.
A new study found that 10-50% of iceberg melting occurs in Greenland's fjords, outweighing the amount of freshwater coming from the island's glaciers. This discovery could help scientists better understand how Greenland melts and its impact on ocean circulation and climate.
A new study reveals that Antarctic sea ice migration drives the strength of global ocean circulation by changing water density. The researchers found that freshwater from melting sea ice contributes 10 times more to freshwater input than land-based glaciers, making it a vital contributor to circulation.
New research from UEA's Centre for Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences found that oceans on distant Earth-like planets with varying salinity levels can significantly impact their climates. The study discovered that extreme salinity levels could lead to dramatic warming in polar regions, potentially extending a planet's habitability.
Rana A. Fine, a professor at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School, has been selected as a Fellow of the Oceanography Society for her significant contributions to understanding ocean circulation and ventilation. Her research spans scales from local to global, covering various latitudes and ocean depths.
A new study finds that the influx of freshwater from Greenland is 'freshening' the North Atlantic Ocean and could disrupt the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), an important component of global ocean circulation. This could lead to changes in climate, including cooler winters and regional sea level increases.
A new study shows that Aboriginal burning practices in Australia had a minimal effect on the erosion of their inhabited landscapes. The researchers used beryllium-10 to model the impact of fire on landscape erosion and found that it was not intense enough to change the natural rate of erosion over thousands of years.
New studies reveal that human-produced aerosols could lead to up to 40% of future Arctic sea ice loss and formation of coastal sea ice drives North Pacific ocean circulation. Meanwhile, scientists face challenges in predicting sea level rise from West Antarctica's melting ice sheet.
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.
A new tropical storm, named Kabayan, has formed off the Philippines and is moving towards the country. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center predicts the storm will make a final landfall in southeastern China on October 4.
A new study from the University of Exeter solves a long-standing climate science mystery by explaining how changes in ocean circulation affect carbon storage. The researchers found that warmer water upwelling in the Southern Ocean helps store more CO2, contributing to glacial cycles.
Researchers analyzed deep sea coral samples to reveal that past carbon dioxide spikes occurred alongside high ocean circulation events. The findings suggest that excess carbon in the deep ocean was flushed out, releasing CO2 into the atmosphere.
NASA's Terra satellite captured a visible image of Typhoon Krovanh on September 17, 2015, showing the storm's southeastern quadrant with the Marianas Islands resembling five o'clock in the sky. The typhoon had intensified into a powerful storm with maximum sustained winds near 95 knots.
A study by University College London found that warm, stagnant water from the deep Arctic Ocean and Nordic Seas contributed to the end of the last Ice Age. The researchers used proxy data to reconstruct past ocean circulation changes, which showed a warmer deep Arctic Mediterranean during glacial times.
A new study suggests high solar activity in the 1950s-80s slowed down ocean circulation between the South Atlantic and North Atlantic, cooling Greenland while the rest of the Northern Hemisphere warmed. Weak solar activity could now fire up the circulation mechanism, leading to faster ice sheet melting and increased sea-level rise.
Tropical Storm Halola has tracked west-northwestward at 11 knots (12.6 mph/20.3 kph) and is forecast to intensify as a typhoon on July 15.
A new study suggests that retreating sea ice in the Iceland and Greenland Seas may be changing the Atlantic Ocean's circulation patterns. This shift could lead to a cooling of western Europe as the Gulf Stream weakens, resulting from reduced oceanic convection.
The Aquarius instrument successfully completed its primary three-year mission in November 2014, achieving its science objectives and providing valuable data on ocean dynamics and climate models. The loss of onboard power regulation and spacecraft attitude stabilization led to the end of operations.
Researchers found evidence of repeated climate fluctuations 1.4 billion years ago, reflecting changes in wind patterns and ocean circulations driven by orbital forcing of climate change. The study sheds light on how past climate changes have affected Earth geologically and biologically.
Tropical Storm Mekkhala made landfall in the Philippines and tracked north, weakening to a remnant circulation northeast of the islands. NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite captured images of the storm's remnants on January 18 and 20, showing an open circulation center with some clouds and no precipitation.
A Harvard University study reveals that global sea level has accelerated far more than initially thought, with a 30% increase in sea level rise from 1900-1990 compared to previous estimates. The researchers used a new approach to estimate sea level change by accounting for the limitations of existing tide gauge records.
A new Rutgers study published in Science found that ocean circulation plays a crucial role in regulating the Earth's climate. The researchers discovered that changes in the deep ocean conveyor system around 2.7 million years ago led to global climate change, including the expansion of ice sheets and a significant drop in sea levels.
A study published in Geophysical Research Letters found that ocean warming causes atmospheric circulation changes, leading to increased heavy rain bands and extreme precipitation events at mid- and high-latitudes. This shift could result in more common, but intense storms in previously rare regions.
Tropical System 94W is developing in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean, affecting the southern Philippines. The Philippine authorities have issued warnings due to signal No. 1 conditions, with sustained winds of 18.6-37.2 mph expected in at least 36 hours.
NASA's Terra satellite reveals strong thunderstorms around the center of Tropical Cyclone Kofi, with cloud top temperatures near -80C. The storm is currently moving southeast and expected to transition into an extra-tropical system by March 4.
A new study suggests that Atlantic deep water formation may be much more fragile than previously realised, with sudden and large reductions in the influence of these North Atlantic waters in the deep ocean. This could have widespread impacts on regional sea level, droughts, and ocean acidification under future climate change scenarios.
Cyclone Victoria appears as a 'J' shape due to thunderstorms wrapping around the eastern side of the storm. The cyclone is weakening rapidly due to wind shear and dropping sea surface temperatures.
Cyclone Victoria intensified overnight with a tighter storm circulation and possible eye formation, according to NASA imagery from April 10, 2013. The cyclone is located near Australia, moving south-southeast at 8 knots, and is in an area of low wind shear but will face increased wind shear as it heads further south.
A Johns Hopkins University scientist finds that ozone depletion has altered the mixing of waters in Southern Ocean, potentially impacting CO2 levels and global climate. The study's findings suggest a possible slowdown or reversal of ocean ventilation if stratospheric ozone recovers.
The inclusion of intense but small-scale polar storms in climate models could lead to a different picture of climate change. Adding these storms results in significant changes in ocean circulation, including an increase in heat traveling north in the Atlantic Ocean.
A University of Utah study found that periodic changes in winds 15 to 30 miles high in the stratosphere influence deep-sea circulation patterns, affecting Earth's climate. The research revealed the North Atlantic as a sensitive area where warming or cooling from the troposphere can trigger downwelling events.
Sanba intensified from Tropical Storm to Super Typhoon on Sept. 12-13, with NASA's Aqua satellite capturing infrared data showing massive thunderstorms and heavy rain over the western North Pacific. The storm featured a large eye surrounded by strong convection and strong thunderstorms, consistent with an annular typhoon
Tropical Depression 8 strengthened into Tropical Storm Gordon on August 15, after days of organization and development across the eastern Atlantic. The storm is expected to track east into the Atlantic, potentially affecting the Azores, with strengthening expected over warm waters.
Debby has weakened due to interactions with land, losing organization and moving towards the Atlantic Ocean. The storm brought heavy rain and flooding to northern Florida, causing damage to Interstate 10.
Researchers found that about 12-5 million years ago climate was decoupled from atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations. The climate of modern times more readily responds to changing carbon dioxide levels.
WHOI scientists Henry Dick and Joe Pedlosky received prestigious medals from the American Geophysical Union. Dick was awarded the Harry H. Hess Medal for his work on the mantle melting and ocean crust formation along global ocean ridges.
New research from the University of Missouri examines past greenhouse climate intervals to understand interactions among atmosphere, oceans, and climate. The study found changes in ocean circulation patterns 70 million years ago could help scientists understand modern increases in greenhouse gases.
Tropical Storm Nock-ten is forecast to bring heavy rainfall, gusty winds, and localized flooding to central Philippines. The storm is expected to weaken over land but re-energize once it enters the South China Sea.
The Arctic Ocean's freshwater content has risen significantly, with a 20% increase since the 1990s. This change affects global ocean circulation and heat exchange between the ocean and atmosphere. Researchers analyzed over 5,000 salt concentration profiles to determine this increase.
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.
The study of fish teeth reveals ocean circulation patterns that differ from present day, shedding light on heat transfer and oxygenation. An iridium anomaly is linked to the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event, reaffirming the link between impact and mass extinction.
Researchers found significant changes in oceanic circulation that followed glacial retreat, moderating climate change. The study provides insights into major climate swings and helps understand what drives glacial and interglacial cycles.
Researchers found a massive carbon dioxide 'burp' occurred 18,000 years ago, locking away CO2 in the deep ocean during the last ice age. This discovery supports the theory that ocean circulation played a significant role in triggering global warming during ice ages.
Dr. Karen Heywood has made significant advancements in understanding the ocean's role in climate change, using novel research methods and data analysis. She will be honored with the Georg Wüst Prize at the European Geophysical Union assembly in Vienna.
Researchers at Cardiff University found evidence of a global ocean circulation 'seesaw' that linked abrupt temperature changes in the North Atlantic to rapid cooling in the Southern Ocean, with implications for our understanding of climate change's effects on a global scale.