Articles tagged with Ocean Currents
Researchers have created a comprehensive family tree of living and extinct baleen whales stretching back nearly 40 million years. The study estimates that there were over 70 species, with many lineages branching out into unique body shapes and feeding strategies before extinction occurred between 30-23 million years ago.
Researchers found that young sea turtles (6-18 months old) swim actively and disperse through ocean currents, reaching favorable habitats. This discovery has huge implications for understanding early sea turtle survival and behavior.
Researchers mapped how neurons fired in the brain of a sea slug while it moved, revealing large groups of co-active neurons that can be dramatically simplified and interpreted. This approach may help understand how brain networks change in disease states and how drugs act to restore normal brain function.
A study published in Science reveals that swirling ocean currents, known as eddies, play a significant role in delivering carbon from phytoplankton blooms to the deep ocean. The research, led by Melissa Omand, found that these currents transport small, non-sinking phytoplankton cells to depths of up to 1,000 meters.
The study found that the Atlantic Ocean's overturning has been weakening since 1970, mainly caused by freshwater from melting Greenland ice sheets. This could lead to major negative effects on ocean ecosystems, fisheries, and regional sea-level rise.
NASA's Aqua satellite tracked Tropical Cyclone Bavi as it moved westward through the Philippine Sea, revealing strong thunderstorms and cold cloud top temperatures. The storm is expected to continue on a westerly trek before weakening into a depression near the northern Philippines.
A new biophysical model developed by Claire Paris reveals that tiny ocean organisms, known as foraminifera, can drift significantly before falling to the seafloor and being fossilized. This study aids in improving our understanding of past global climate conditions.
Research reveals how tiny creatures' movements affect temperature estimates, allowing scientists to refine past climate studies. By analyzing plankton shells and ocean currents, researchers created a tool to estimate the impact of drift on temperature estimates.
Researchers found that hurricane-altered ocean currents accelerate the invasion of non-native marine species, such as lionfish, by 45% and increase population size by 15%. This study has broader implications for global climate change and the spread of marine invasives.
A report suggests global warming will increase ocean upwelling in several systems, enhancing marine productivity and fisheries. However, a thicker, warmer top layer may reduce upwelling's ability to energize coastal ecosystems, posing a significant threat to global fisheries and marine biodiversity.
A $2.5 million NSF grant will support the five-year Agulhas System Climate Array project, which aims to monitor changes in the ocean's circulation due to climate change. The research will focus on the physical characteristics of the Agulhas Current and its role in global climate variability.
A new study by the NCEAS Marine Debris Working Group estimates that over 4.8 million metric tons of plastic waste enter the world's oceans from land annually, with a possible maximum of 12.7 million metric tons.
A high-seas moratorium would improve fisheries income distribution among maritime nations, with European and developed nations benefiting the most. Coastal catches could increase by up to 18% in a catch-neutral scenario, while others may face significant losses.
A new satellite imaging concept could significantly reduce search areas for missing boats and planes, potentially reducing search and rescue time. The system uses existing satellites to take images of the seas, enabling more accurate tracking of vessel movements.
Tropical Cyclone Eunice is still churning in the South Indian Ocean, tracking south-southeastward at 10 knots. Its intensity has increased to 115 knots with a microwave eye 5 nautical miles across.
Researchers tracked jellyfish movements with GPS loggers and observed their swimming direction to show they can actively swim counter-current in response to drift. The findings could help predict and avoid troublesome jellyfish blooms, improving management of these ocean ecosystems.
Researchers found that sea turtles imprint on the unique magnetic field of their natal beach as hatchlings and then use this information to return as adults. The study suggests that tiny magnetic particles in the turtles' brains respond to the Earth's field, providing a basis for their magnetic sense.
Tropical Storm Jangmi is expected to bring strong winds and heavy rainfall to the Philippines as it moves westward through the Sulu Sea. NASA's Aqua satellite detected the storm on December 29, revealing a tightly wrapped low-level circulation centered near 10.0 north latitude and 124.2 east longitude.
Scientists from GEOMAR found a possible reason for increasing oxygen deficiency in tropical zones, attributing it to fluctuations in trade winds. This change affects the habitat of fish species and can reverse once trade winds strengthen.
Scientists found high variability in mid-depth Atlantic Ocean currents around 2,000 years before the last Ice Age ended. The team analyzed neodymium isotopes in coral fossils to gain insight into ocean circulation during the Ice Age.
A massive study provides the first detailed look at how Greenland's ice is vanishing, revealing that current ice sheet modeling studies are too simplistic to accurately predict future changes. The research suggests that the Greenland Ice Sheet may lose ice more rapidly in the near future than previously thought.
Tropical Cyclone Bakung is moving west-southwest over the Southern Indian Ocean, with maximum sustained winds near 40 knots (46 mph). NASA's Aqua satellite captured an image of the storm on December 12, showing deeper convection around its low-level center.
Tropical Cyclone Bakung is moving west-southwest over the Southern Indian Ocean, with maximum sustained winds near 40 knots (46 mph). The cyclone is expected to slowly intensify over the next couple of days, nearing hurricane-force by Dec. 16.
Typhoon Hagupit weakened to a tropical storm after passing through the eastern Philippines, with its cloud extent covering northern and central provinces. The storm is expected to reach southern Vietnam by Dec. 11 as a depression.
A new study attributes the global 'warming hiatus' to increased oceanic heat drawdown, particularly in the equatorial Pacific, North Atlantic, and Southern Ocean basins. The research reveals distinct mechanisms for each region, improving climate models' projections of future temperature changes.
A study by Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University researcher Yuichi Nakajima identified genetic data that suggest the diversity and differentiation of deep-sea barnacle populations in two troughs near Okinawa and the Mariana Islands. The findings have implications for understanding climate change impacts on oce...
Researchers used robotic ocean gliders to study the transport of warm water near the Antarctic coast, discovering that swirling ocean eddies play a key role in this process. The findings will aid in determining how rapidly ice is melting and contributing to rising ocean levels.
The TRMM and GPM satellites provided critical data on Hurricane Vance before it made landfall in western Mexico. The analysis revealed a large area of heavy rainfall near the center of the hurricane, with some intense storms dropping rain at rates of over 50mm per hour.
Researchers have discovered that cold-water corals can fuse the skeletons of genetically distinct individuals, creating stable reefs in the dark depths of the ocean. This adaptation allows them to conserve energy and strengthen their habitats, potentially aiding their survival under future climate changes.
Iceberg scour marks on sea floor indicate meltwater and iceberg movement as far south as Miami and southern Florida. Researchers used high-resolution numerical models to simulate glacial meltwater floods, showing that massive icebergs could have drifted along the east coast of the United States.
A study published in PLOS ONE suggests that coral reefs will have winners and losers among species facing increasing stressors. Fast-growing, small, and stress-resistant corals are likely to thrive in a warmer future.
Researchers demonstrate that collective movements of small zooplankton create large-scale current patterns affecting ocean circulation. The findings suggest that these organisms could contribute trillion watts of power to the ocean.
A study by University of South Carolina researchers found that natural processes can cause dramatic year-to-year drops in fish populations. The team used tree rings to extrapolate back in time nearly 600 years and found that low winter upwelling, which favors fish growth, has increased recently, sparking concerns about climate change.
Researchers found that animal communities in Sargassum rafts were significantly less diverse than those observed in the 1970s, with 13 species missing from recent samples. The study suggests that long-term shifts in ocean conditions may be contributing to the decline, but further research is needed to confirm this.
A growing 'dead zone' in the Arabian Sea allows green Noctiluca scintillans to dominate the base of the food chain, potentially devastating fish populations that support 120 million people. The shift is linked to massive sewage flows and nutrient-rich waters.
Researchers at University of Washington found that heat absent from Earth's surface is plunging deep into the North and South Atlantic Ocean, part of a naturally occurring cycle. This explains the global average air temperature flatlining since 1999 despite greenhouse gases.
An international team of scientists has described a new hard coral species, Pachyseris inattesa, from the Saudi Arabian Red Sea. The study highlights the region's potential for scientific discovery and conservation efforts to preserve its natural treasures.
The NASA Terra satellite captured images of three tropical cyclones in the Pacific Ocean: Hurricane Genevieve, Hurricane Iselle, and Hurricane Julio. Satellite data shows that Genevieve has strengthened into a hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 75 mph.
A study found that juvenile loggerhead turtles in the South Pacific Ocean swim against prevailing currents at a rate of 30 cm/sec. The turtles use multiple sensory cues to detect current flow and orient themselves for swimming.
Tropical Depression Genevieve may strengthen late on August 4 and 5, while Hurricane Iselle moves toward the Hawaiian Islands. Tropical Storm Julio is also forming southwest of Mexico, expected to become a hurricane later this week.
Researchers from the University of New Hampshire found that decreased carbon dioxide levels led to the initiation of Antarctic glaciation 34 million years ago, contradicting a long-held theory. The study suggests that CO2-driven cooling played a crucial role in generating the ice sheet.
A new study found that turbulent mixing in the deep waters of the Southern Ocean varies with surface eddy strength and possibly wind speeds, impacting global ocean circulation and climate. This insight will enable scientists to build better computer models predicting future climate change.
The fossilized remains of a giant bird were found to be an extremely efficient glider, using long slender wings to stay aloft for miles over the open ocean without flapping its wings.
New research reveals that changes in Antarctic winds may accelerate global sea level rise by up to 4°C warmer water temperatures near ice shelves. This could lead to a massive increase in the rate of ice sheet melt, with direct consequences for global sea levels.
The study, led by the University of Cadiz and Spanish National Research Council, reveals five large accumulations of plastic waste in surface waters, matching the five major twists of surface water circulation. Microplastics were detected in 88% of ocean surface samples, posing risks to marine food chains and ecosystems.
Climate scientists report that deep ocean currents stalled or slowed at around 950,000 years ago, leading to longer and more intense ice ages. The slowdown increased carbon dioxide storage in oceans, keeping temperatures cold and triggering a new phase of colder ice ages.
Researchers found that deep ocean currents stalled or stopped, increasing carbon dioxide storage and suppressing temperatures. This led to longer, more intense ice age cycles, as the climate system entered a new phase of colder but less frequent ice ages.
Tropical Depression Hagibis regenerated and sped northeast through the East China Sea after a brief weakening. Moderate rainfall was observed at a rate of 1.4 inches per hour in its northeastern quadrant.
Researchers have found a significant relationship between climate change and ocean currents spanning six million years, with shifts detected in sediments analyzed from the Atlantic near Gibraltar.
A new study reveals that gentoo penguin populations continue to grow in response to climate warming, while Adélie and chinstrap penguin populations are declining due to reduced krill supplies. The research, led by scientists from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, sheds light on how past climate change affected these species.
A University of Leicester team has discovered that the entire island was covered in a searing-hot layer of green glass 45 thousand years ago. The volcanic activity on the island provides insights into hazardous eruptions elsewhere, and may help understand undersea currents triggered by earthquakes.
Research found that adult sea turtles' migration patterns and feeding site selections are based on their past experiences drifting with ocean currents as juveniles. This suggests that turtles imprint on suitable locations during their juvenile development phase, influencing their adult migrations.
A UCI-NASA study reveals six massive glaciers in the Amundsen Sea sector are in irreversible decline, contributing significantly to sea level rise. The glaciers contain enough ice to boost global sea levels by 4 feet and are melting faster than expected.
Researchers explore how fluctuating sea levels impacted the Galapagos Islands' ecology over thousands of years. The study reveals that shallow 'land bridges' between volcanic outcroppings allowed landlocked species like snakes, geckos, and iguanas to thrive.
A study published in Nature Climate Change suggests that East Antarctica's ice sheet could trigger a persistent ice discharge into the ocean, resulting in a long-term sea-level rise of 300-400 centimeters. This could lead to catastrophic consequences for coastal cities worldwide.
Parts of ancient Antarctica reached temperatures similar to today's California coast and Florida heat due to high CO2 levels. The study used a new method to measure past temperatures, providing insights into the sensitivity of the climate system to greenhouse gases.
Researchers found that climate change is shrinking Antarctic Bottom Waters, a massive current that 'hides' heat and carbon from the atmosphere. This reduction in convection could lead to increased heat trapping in the deeper ocean, contributing to global warming.
The Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Deepwater Horizon oil spill model accurately predicted shoreline oil impact, utilizing Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System (COAMPS). By combining satellite images with ocean circulation models, NRL developed BioCast to forecast water clarity and contaminant distribution.
Researchers have discovered that Antarctic mosses can regenerate after 1,500 years of dormancy under the ice. This finding has significant implications for understanding polar ecosystems and climate change, as mosses play a crucial role in storing carbon in both northern and southern polar regions.
An international team of researchers found that deep winter mixing plays a crucial role in transporting iron to the surface, supporting phytoplankton growth and the aquatic food chain. The study highlights the unique aspects of the iron cycle and its sensitivity to climate changes.