Articles tagged with Ocean Currents
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.
A study published in Nature Geoscience found that changes in the Sun's energy output may have led to marked natural climate change in Europe over the past 1000 years. The research suggests that regional climate variability associated with solar activity should be taken into account when making future climate projections.
A team of scientists tracked 17 loggerhead turtles for 27 to 220 days, providing the first look at their early behavior and movements in the wild. The study's findings challenge previously held beliefs, suggesting that young turtles may drop out of currents into the middle of the Atlantic or the Sargasso Sea.
The Baltic Sea's unique stratification affects the fate of fish stocks, with different species occupying distinct salinity layers. This research highlights the importance of considering regional conditions in fisheries management, as individual stocks do not necessarily benefit from each other.
Researchers investigate parallel mountain chains, rift flank uplift, and unique episodes in Earth's history. They use computer models and experimental data to understand the timing of uplift and crustal extension during rifting processes.
Young hatchery salmon orient themselves according to the Earth's magnetic field, suggesting a kind of built-in GPS. They rely on subtle differences in magnetic intensity and inclination angle to discern their position.
A new study suggests that early multicellular organisms grew larger to access nutrient-rich currents in the deep seas. The research, published in Current Biology, reveals that these enigmatic life-forms, known as Ediacara biota, reached heights of up to a meter to compete for resources.
Researchers discovered a novel metamorphosis hormone that triggers the transformation of moon jellyfish from polyps to medusas in response to cold temperatures. This understanding may offer new methods for controlling moon jellyfish blooms and preventing ecological damage.
Researchers used a new ocean model to simulate the migration of eel larvae from the Sargasso Sea to Europe. The study found that small-scale ocean currents play a crucial role in determining eel population fluctuations and that eels return to specific locations within the Sargasso Sea where their mother spawned.
Scientists discover Atlantic amphipods reproducing in Arctic waters, marking a shift in the zooplankton community and potential impacts on marine birds, fish, and whales. The findings suggest that warmer ocean temperatures are allowing these species to thrive in previously inhospitable areas.
Researchers use radar to predict sinkholes and analyze ancient ambers for clues about paleobotany. Serpentinization in seafloor environments reveals hydrogen generation and its impact on the deep biosphere. Vast landmasses form above sea level, while trilobites venture into upper intertidal zones.
Researchers estimate that coastal areas absorb approximately 250 million metric tons of carbon each year, compared to a century ago when they released about 150 million metric tons. This shift suggests that coastal oceans play a crucial role in the global carbon cycle and can help counteract climate change.
Researchers found that warm ocean currents near Europa's equator and subsiding currents at the poles could create chaos terrains on the surface. This process may help initiate upwelling ice pulses, which form features like these terrains.
Researchers in China, Egypt, Israel, Argentina, Mexico and California published new findings on sedimentology, petrology and paleotopography. The studies reveal insights into the geological processes that shape these regions, including eolian sand fractionation, magmatic activity, and exhumation of the Andes.
Scientists have discovered current volcanic activity beneath West Antarctica's massive ice sheet. The seismic swarms indicate a subglacial volcano with active magma moving below the ice.
NASA's TRMM satellite monitored Tropical Storm Melissa's transition to a tropical storm, revealing intense rainfall rates of up to 55 mm/hour. The satellite's Precipitation Radar data also showed the storm's structure, including towering convection near its center.
Young salmon scatter in all directions after entering the ocean, contrary to previous assumptions that most head north immediately. The study provides critical insights into salmon behavior and factors influencing survival, such as water temperature and predator presence.
Researchers will design and test kites that harness ocean currents and tidal flows to generate electricity, potentially offering advantages over stationary marine turbines. The project aims to develop a more efficient and cost-effective way to tap into the vast kinetic energy of the oceans.
Scientists report nearly double coastal erosion speed in Eastern Siberia due to rising summer temperatures and Arctic sea ice retreat. The study reveals a significant increase in wave-driven erosion, with the island of Muostakh at risk of disappearing.
NASA's infrared imagery reveals signs of organization and strengthening in Tropical Depression 29W over the Philippine Sea. The system is expected to move west and cross over Luzon as a tropical storm on October 31, potentially intensifying into a typhoon in the South China Sea.
A Griffith University-led study has found that ocean acidification may inhibit the development of juvenile Irukandji jellyfish, potentially providing some protection for South East Queenslanders. The research also highlights the risk of Irukandji expansion into new areas due to climate change.
A new study reveals that global ocean currents, rather than Earth's geometry, explain why the Northern Hemisphere receives more tropical rain. Icy waters from the poles influence seasonal rains crucial for crops in Africa and India.
Two UK-funded projects will monitor crucial ocean currents in the North Atlantic, improving long-term climate predictions and weather forecasts. The first project, OSNAP, will run for five years, with funding of around £20m, while the second project, RAPID, will continue to monitor the strength of the global conveyor belt until 2018.
A new study reveals dramatic ocean mixing in Drake Passage, crucial for regulating Earth's climate and ocean currents. The research provides detailed information needed to accurately predict long-term climate projections.
Researchers collected water samples up to six kilometres below the surface of the Southern Ocean, finding that physical transport in the ocean on currents shapes microbial communities. The study shows that communities connected by ocean currents are more similar to each other, regardless of distance.
Researchers found that blades with equal chord length, angled at 79 degrees and moving at 1.5 times the current speed can extract maximum energy from tidal currents. A Norwegian company's pilot project is already generating 28 kilowatts of power.
Scientists found that ocean currents carrying anammox bacteria produce vast amounts of nitrogen gas in the Pacific Ocean, weakening the ocean's ability to absorb CO2. This process also leads to fewer algae in the water, less food for marine microorganisms and ultimately, a decrease in fish populations.
Scientists have measured ice-shelf melting rates and processes beneath Pine Island Glacier, revealing a critical need to understand channelized melting under massive glaciers. The findings could lead to the break-up of the ice shelf and contribute to global sea-level rise.
The QPE team studied the impact of Typhoon Morakot on the East China Sea, examining freshwater run-off, upwelling, and biogeochemistry. They also investigated internal waves, measuring their size, shape, and direction using sonar to track plankton movement.
A 150-year-old moss bank on the Antarctic Peninsula reveals rapid ecological changes driven by warming temperatures, showing sensitive flora and fauna responses to climate change. The study suggests future terrestrial biota changes will track projected temperature increases closely.
A year-long experiment shows that coccolithophores can build strong shells in acidic waters, contrary to earlier studies. The organisms' ability to cope with future ocean conditions may depend on genetic diversity among species.
Researchers used a coupled ocean-atmosphere model to predict climate shifts in the Pacific, with good agreement found between predictions and observed climate development. The study's findings suggest the potential for successful long-term climate predictions, but caution that reliability is still around 50% for regional forecasts.
A new study models how baby corals disperse in the world's oceans to understand their responses to changing sea conditions. The researchers used a computer model to simulate the paths of coral larvae worldwide, revealing that some may travel thousands of kilometers across open ocean.
Four NASA satellites provided crucial data on Super-Typhoon Utor's rainfall rates, wind speeds, and storm strength. The data helped forecasters predict the typhoon's landfall and track its movement through the South China Sea.
The ancient greenhouse world had few large reefs and a poorly oxygenated ocean, supporting minute picoplankton instead of larger diatoms. Large marine animals became abundant when algae became large enough to support top predators in cold oceans.
Researchers at GEOMAR found that about one third of oxygen supply in tropical oxygen minimum zones is provided by vertical turbulent mixing, surprising previous assumptions. High-precision measurements confirmed this finding, using a tracer and profiling current meters.
Marine scientists have decoded the mechanism for long-term climate fluctuations in the Atlantic, revealing that ocean currents significantly affect long-term climate variability. The study found that heat exchange between ocean and atmosphere influences decadal climate fluctuations, which are superimposed on the general warming trend.
A new study found that dissolved iron supply to oceans around continental shelves is more variable by region than previously believed, affecting future climate prediction. Iron promotes the growth of microscopic marine plants, which remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Research suggests that freshwater ecosystems were more resilient than oceans during the asteroid impact due to annual freeze-thaw cycles, groundwater seeps, and dormant stages of many organisms. This study also explores the bubbling of methane from thermokarst lakes, an important factor in the carbon cycle and global climate change.
The new GOES-R series of satellites will offer enhanced imaging capabilities, providing full-disk images every five minutes. This increased resolution and frequency will enable more timely and accurate weather forecasting in the Western Hemisphere.
The study highlights the need for continuous satellite monitoring to better predict melting and sea-level rise. The ice sheets covering Antarctica and Greenland contain 99.5% of the Earth's glacier ice, with a potential raise of 63m if melted completely.
A team of researchers found geologic evidence that challenges the conventional explanation for Antarctica's initial glaciation. Volcanic rocks in the Scotia Sea suggest an ancient volcanic arc may have blocked ocean currents, leading to a colder climate.
In the western Weddell Sea, Antarctic glass sponges have increased in density threefold between 2007 and 2011, colonizing new habitats and outcompeting other species for food. These rapid growths suggest that communities at the sea bed react more quickly to climate-related changes than previously thought.
A recent study by NOAA scientists reveals that distinct groups of killer whales gather seasonally and exhibit low levels of gene flow, indicating separate subpopulations. Genetic evidence suggests a revision to the current stock designations for killer whales in the western Gulf of Alaska and Aleutian Islands.
Researchers discovered a fast-growing community of glass sponges in the Antarctic, contradicting their long lifespan estimates. The seafloor takeover is driven by climate change-induced ice shelf collapse, potentially benefiting glass sponges as winners in the process.
Tropical Storm Chantal is bringing powerful thunderstorms and heavy rainfall to the Caribbean Sea, with a storm surge of 1-3 feet expected in affected areas. The National Hurricane Center predicts tropical storm conditions will affect Windward Islands today and Puerto Rico tonight or early Wednesday.
Tropical Storm Erick brought heavy rain and strong winds to the Mexican coast, with NASA's TRMM satellite tracking its movement. The storm weakened over the next two days, but not before causing rough surf and ocean swells that posed a life-threatening risk to southern Baja California.
Researchers found that significant reductions in emissions will be necessary to stabilize current mercury levels, as legacy mercury persists for decades. The study highlights the need for aggressive reductions to mitigate future increases in ocean mercury levels.
Researchers at ETH Zurich found that ocean eddies have a significant impact on weather patterns, particularly in the Southern hemisphere. Warm eddies increase near-surface wind speed, cloud cover, and rain probability, while cold eddies have the opposite effect.
A global study of ocean nitrogen cycle changes at the end of the last ice age confirms the oceans' ability to balance on a global scale. However, the data suggests it is a slow process that may take centuries or millennia, highlighting concerns about current rapid changes.
A new study on ocean microbes calls into question the potential use of algal blooms to trap carbon dioxide. Diatoms are found to be using more iron than needed for photosynthesis, storing it in their shells and reducing the amount available for other phytoplankton.
A NASA satellite captured infrared imagery revealing a large area of disorganized thunderstorms and strong gusty winds over the southeastern Gulf. The system has a high chance (60%) of becoming a subtropical or tropical cyclone within 2 days, posing a threat to southern Florida.
Researchers reconstructed Arctic circulation through sediments and found that protactinium was being swept out of the Arctic before settling to the bottom. This suggests that the water couldn't have been stagnant, contradicting assumptions about the impact of the last ice age on global ocean currents. The study's findings indicate that...
A Stanford-led study suggests that Hawaiian green sea turtles are still far from recovering to their historic levels, with 80% of major nesting sites having disappeared. The research analyzed historical and current data, revealing a significant decline in the population's geographic range and abundance.
Two UAF scientists contributed to a global study on glacier mass losses and their impact on rising sea levels. Their findings suggest that Alaskan glaciers alone explain one-third of the current sea-level rise, making Alaska a top contributor to global sea level.
Scientists at the National Oceanography Centre have discovered that dredged sediment in Liverpool Bay moves back to the port within weeks, saving millions of pounds. The study's findings suggest that computer models can accurately predict particle movement, reducing environmental costs and disturbance.
An international team of scientists has created the first digital map of the entire Antarctic seafloor, revealing detailed topography with resolutions as low as 500x500 metres. This new bathymetric chart will help researchers predict sea currents, model geological processes, and understand marine life.
Researchers analyzed footage from James Cameron's DEEPSEA CHALLENGE expedition, revealing a vibrant mix of organisms in each trench site. The study highlights the diversity of creatures living in extreme ocean depths, including giant amoebas, sea cucumbers, and shrimp-like crustaceans.
Researchers studying ice sheet movement in Greenland and Antarctica have found that warming temperatures cause sea levels to rise. The speed of ice shelf movement has nearly doubled in recent years, leading to increased sea level rises and uncertainty about future projections.