Articles tagged with Ocean Currents
A new study describes the arrival of the potentially invasive bryozoan Membranipora membranacea on Antarctic coasts via macroalgae, highlighting the vulnerability of Antarctic ecosystems to non-native species. The discovery raises concerns about the potential ecological impact and dramatic changes to local marine communities.
A study revealed a North Atlantic-Middle East teleconnection that influences Middle East summer temperatures, with ocean-atmosphere interactions driving the variability. The connection involves AMV, a low-frequency fluctuation of basin-wide anomalously warm and cold phases.
A Rutgers University-led study using robotic kayaks found layers of concentrated meltwater in the ocean, revealing significant ambient melting rates near glaciers. This challenges current frameworks for analyzing ocean-glacier interactions and has implications for sea-level rise.
The AutoNaut is a specially-adapted sea-going robot that can deploy an underwater Seaglider, carrying sensors for climate research. The vessel has been tested off the coast of Barbados and will be used to track cloud formation and its role in the climate system.
Researchers found Antarctic waters had changed by comparing shipboard measurements with robot float data, revealing larger-than-predicted warming and oxygen loss around the Antarctic coast. The team improved climate models to better reflect environmental changes, which could impact predictions of ice melt.
Simulations suggest a 15% chance of a temporary slowdown or pause in the North Atlantic Current within the next 100 years. The current's collapse is considered unlikely due to non-linear behavior and rapid changes in precipitation.
Researchers found that changes in deep-water circulation occurred around 7,000 years ago, influencing CO2 levels in the atmosphere. This discovery highlights the importance of studying past climate change and suggests future climate change could lead to increased CO2 release from Southern Ocean.
Researchers uncover the oldest known coastal defence system built by ancient settlers to protect against rising oceans. The ancient Tel Hreiz seawall in Israel was a temporary reprieve from sea level rise, abandoned and inundated over time.
A new study suggests that dark carbon fixation could be contributing to the growth of ocean 'dead zones', where oxygen is scarce. This means that existing models may underestimate the impact of climate change on these regions, leading to severe ecological and economic consequences.
A new study suggests that California could more than triple its southern sea otter population by repopulating the largest estuary on the coast, the San Francisco Bay. This would be a huge boost to conservation efforts, potentially lifting the species out of endangered status.
An ice-free Arctic region could lead to increased global warming, but also offer benefits like reduced shipping distances and heating demands. IIASA researchers propose strategies to increase the North Atlantic current, which could lower ocean temperatures and mitigate climate change.
Researchers used computer simulations to investigate wind and water conditions that cause Kemp's ridley sea turtles to become stranded on beaches in Cape Cod. The study found that turtles are more likely to strand when water temperatures drop below 10.5°C and winds blow with high wind stress.
A team led by the University of Exeter suggests that animals carrying sensors can fill gaps in ocean monitoring, particularly in areas near poles and shallow coastal regions. The study highlights the potential for animal-borne sensors to enhance our understanding of climate variability and weather patterns.
NASA is sending five airborne campaigns across the US to investigate fundamental processes that impact human lives and the environment. These campaigns will conduct science on high-altitude aircraft, autonomous gliders, and floats to study snowstorms, ocean eddies, and river deltas.
Researchers discovered that lower dissolved oxygen levels trigger a shift in the marine nitrogen cycle, with ammonium replacing nitrate as the main fixed nitrogen component. This change indicates a significant biogeochemical vulnerability to ocean deoxygenation, potentially affecting nutrient availability.
New studies in Cell journal use Tara Oceans samples to assess plankton diversity, revealing a gradient of diversity along latitudes. Transcriptome study also explores microbial community gene expression and adaptations to environmental conditions.
Researchers developed an image-processing algorithm to analyze satellite images of arctic ice floes, revealing long-term ocean movement dynamics. The technique improves understanding of sea ice transport, its interactions with ocean currents, and the impact on climate change.
A study reveals a correlation between precession and Atacama rainfall, suggesting that precession reconfigures southern hemisphere westerlies differently. Model simulations replicate this relationship, which may impact global ocean circulation patterns.
A new study recommends that emperor penguin populations be listed as 'vulnerable' due to projected sea ice loss and rising temperatures. The researchers advocate for improved climate change forecasting and enhanced protection measures to safeguard the species.
Researchers have developed a novel statistical analysis to determine the global picture of how the ocean helps predict the low-level atmosphere and vice versa. The study reveals that the ocean influences the atmosphere almost everywhere in the extratropics, shedding light on regional climate prediction.
Mechanism modeling can improve the accuracy of air-sea fluxes, which are crucial for predicting marine atmospheric boundary layer processes. By accounting for the impact of waves, currents, and wind coupled together, models can better represent the interactions between the atmosphere and ocean.
A new study found that North Atlantic haddock larvae use a magnetic compass to navigate the ocean, orienting towards the northwest. This discovery suggests that the larvae are equipped with an innate ability to detect and respond to the Earth's magnetic field.
A new study from Oregon State University found that underwater soundscapes varied widely across four protected marine sites, driven by differences in animal vocalization rates, human activity and weather. The study provides a baseline for these regions and can be used for comparison over time.
New research reveals that bacteria from Arctic algae blooms can travel to the atmosphere and seed clouds, impacting global weather patterns. The particles help accelerate ice crystal formation, influencing climate and precipitation patterns.
Researchers have solved a 127-year-old physics problem regarding the Kelvin angle in boat wakes, finding that the traditional assumption is not always true. The study reveals that boat wakes can have a different angle and even be off-center when affected by shear flow or other environmental factors.
New research found that Antarctic icebergs can weaken and delay the effect of Global Warming in the Southern Hemisphere. The study suggests that icebergs persist for years, cooling ocean waters and impacting currents by lowering ocean salinity.
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
A recent study using sonar surveys found that tidewater glaciers in Alaska are melting underwater at unprecedented rates, contradicting previous estimates. The research suggests that these glaciers may be experiencing 'hotter water' conditions than previously thought.
Researchers have developed a new method to measure submarine melt rates, revealing that current theoretical models may be underestimating glacial melt by a significant margin. The study's findings could lead to improved forecasting of climate-driven sea level rise.
Researchers at Rutgers University and the University of Oregon develop a new approach to measure submarine melt, revealing tidewater glaciers are retreating faster than expected. This finding could significantly enhance forecasting of climate-driven sea level changes.
Researchers studied Adélie penguins at Edmonson Point to examine immune and genetic stability. They found quantities of cell types associated with future cell death, genomic instability, or cancer development in 19 adult penguins.
A Stanford-led study identifies shifting weather patterns and ocean conditions as contributing factors to the collapse of Mexico's jumbo squid fishery. The research found that warmer waters led to smaller, less profitable squid, shutting down the entire industry in the Gulf of California.
Researchers have documented a 22-year average sea level rise of 2.2 millimeters per year in the Arctic Ocean using radar measurements from space-based altimetry satellites. The findings reveal significant regional differences, with sea levels rising twice as fast in the Beaufort Gyre and falling along the west coast of Greenland.
Researchers at Michigan State University have discovered that spermine, an odorous compound in male semen, attracts mature female sea lampreys and helps them select suitable mates. This finding could potentially be used to control invasive sea lamprey populations in the Great Lakes.
A new paper reconstructs the ancient Trans-Saharan Seaway, revealing massive climate and sea level changes that occurred 50-100 million years ago. The research also discovers giant sea snakes, catfish, and extinct fishes, highlighting the dynamic nature of Earth's evolution.
Researchers at GEOMAR have directly measured tectonic strain build-up on the North Anatolian fault in the Marmara Sea, posing a significant threat to Istanbul's metropolitan region. The study suggests an earthquake with magnitudes between 7.1 and 7.4 could trigger catastrophic consequences similar to the 1999 Izmit earthquake.
The team discovered that the belt forms seasonally in response to two key nutrient inputs: human-derived from Amazon River discharge and natural from West African upwelling. The blooms are expected to be a new normal, with data indicating a possible regime shift since 2011.
Scientists propose that Earth's continental crust may have been thicker and present as far back as four billion years, with continents possibly rising from the sea much earlier than previously thought. The new model suggests that the survival of early crust was dependent on radioactivity levels.
Researchers found that bioluminescence helps dinoflagellates ward off copepod grazers, allowing them to survive longer and compete better. This defense mechanism may be crucial for the species' success as a poor competitor.
The current Norwegian Barents Sea oil spill risk governance framework is inadequate for integrating multiple risk frames and knowledge systems. Social learning and collaborative knowledge production are essential for developing a shared understanding of the problem situation and solutions.
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.
A new study found that tropical squid species are unaffected by projected end-of-century CO2 levels, which could lead to an increase in their population. This is surprising given the negative impact of ocean acidification on other marine species.
A new study led by the University of Washington reveals that mysterious holes in Antarctic sea ice are caused by a combination of factors, including unusual ocean conditions and intense storms. The research sheds light on the role of these polynyas in global ocean currents and carbon cycles.
Interannual fluctuations in phosphorus concentrations and iron-rich dust transport are reported in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. Climate variation leads to oscillations between iron-limited and phosphorus-limited states, with significant correlations observed with the Pacific Decadal Oscillation.
Researchers have designed a new power generator that uses Prussian blue to extract electricity from seawater. The system can switch between two modes of operation, providing both long-term steady power and high power density for tasks such as underwater device operation.
Researchers found that nitrogen-rich poop from penguins and seals creates biodiversity hotspots in Antarctica, supporting thriving communities of mosses and lichens. The extent of these hotspots is linked to the number of animals present, not climate or region dryness.
Researchers found the Great Whirl, a massive whirlpool off East Africa, is larger and longer-lived than previously thought. It can grow to over 275,000 square kilometers in area and persist for about 200 days.
A new study suggests that ocean warming may lead to faster carbon recycling, reducing the deep ocean's ability to store carbon. In many regions, bacteria consume plankton at shallower depths than previously thought, releasing CO2 back into the atmosphere.
A Princeton-led research team reconstructed ocean nitrogen levels from 70 million years ago to 30 million years ago, showing a significant increase in oxygen after the India-Asia collision. This finding reveals that plate tectonics had a major impact on ocean chemistry and life conditions.
Researchers studied Holocene landform changes in northern China's desert belt, finding sand seas and sandy lands are vulnerable to climate change and human activities. The study provides insights into Earth surface processes and supports ecologically sustainable land use strategies.
Global climate models can adequately simulate temperature variability at timescales of years to multiple millennia. The study suggests that with correct initial and boundary conditions, particularly in the deep ocean, forecasting temperature variations becomes more feasible.
A new study links a slowdown of the Atlantic Ocean current to a massive buildup of carbon in the deep ocean. This buildup cooled the planet and triggered a series of ice ages that lasted for hundreds of thousands of years. The research suggests that if this current continues to slow, it may not help store carbon emissions.
A new study reveals that the Atlantic Ocean's conveyor belt is slowing down, with some scientists fearing it could lead to dramatic temperature drops in Europe and exacerbate hurricanes. The research suggests that past changes in ocean circulation patterns may have preceded major climate shifts by several centuries.
A newly discovered parasitic arsenic cycle in which bacteria keep phytoplankton on an energy-sapping treadmill of nutrient detoxification may offer a glimpse into what further ocean warming will bring. This process could explain the success of SAR11 bacteria, which surpass all other plankton in numbers.
A global team of scientists has measured the ocean's sink for man-made CO2 over a period of 13 years, finding that it takes up 34 gigatonnes between 1994 and 2007. The absorption rate is congruent with the increase in atmospheric CO2 levels.
The study used data from over 800 sharks and tunas, as well as 900 industrial fishing vessels, to create a map of the northeast Pacific Ocean. The researchers found that vessels from Taiwan, China, Japan, the US, and Mexico accounted for over 90% of fishing in key habitat areas for seven shark and tuna species.
A new study forecasts that ocean acidification will reduce the depth at which some shelled organisms can survive to just 83 meters by 2100. This drastic reduction in viable habitat could impact marine food webs significantly and lead to cascading changes across ocean ecosystems.
Scientists found that wind stress and its curl are key factors in simulating the Pacific North Equatorial Countercurrent. Weak biases in these models affect tropical surface currents and climate simulations.
Researchers from the University of Plymouth detail a blueprint for city marine parks to connect urban areas with their people and the reciprocal benefits of the marine environment. The study highlights the potential of these parks to contribute to community wellbeing, economic prosperity, and sustainability.
A study found that polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene are the most abundant types of microplastics in Mediterranean coastal waters. The researchers identified extreme concentrations up to 500,000 microplastics per square kilometer in certain areas.