Articles tagged with Oceanography
A study published in Nature Communications reveals that ancient ocean chemistry created a self-sustaining cycle that kept oxygen levels high after they first rose. This cycle, fueled by phosphorus recycling, allowed for biological productivity and maintained oxygen in the atmosphere.
A study found that methanotrophic bacteria in African lakes break down methane, reducing its impact on global warming. The greener the water, the more these bacteria thrive, mitigating the effects of lake pollution.
A new study highlights the importance of combining source reduction with cleanup of legacy macroplastics to prevent microplastic accumulation. The study found that halting plastic inputs by 2050 could reduce cumulative ocean plastic by 51.4% but would still leave significant amounts of microplastics behind.
Researchers found that coastal flooding has predictable daily timing across regions, with tides playing a significant role in determining the timing. This study has the potential to improve flood forecasting and emergency planning, particularly as sea levels continue to rise.
A study found that warmer sea surface temperatures and terrain changes can significantly impact the intensity and path of tropical cyclones like Cyclone Shaheen. Simulations showed that increased sea surface temperature intensified the cyclone and increased rainfall along coastal areas.
Dr. Michael Twardowski, Ph.D., an internationally recognized expert in optical oceanography, has been named Edwin A. Link Ocean Technology and Defense Endowed Professor at FAU Harbor Branch. He will focus on developing innovative ocean-sensing technologies for marine science and national defense.
Research finds that controlled Crown-of-thorns starfish populations can support coral diversity by preventing dominant species from monopolizing reef space. This helps increase coral diversity. COTS feeding on fast-growing corals like Acropora creates space for slower-growing species like Montipora and Porites to persist.
Researchers mapped the Challenger Deep using the EM124 multibeam echosounder, finding a preferred estimate of 10,927 m, which highlights the importance of sound-speed models, vessel speed, and survey conditions. The study's dataset is publicly available, allowing for further validation and comparison with other observations.
Research highlights advances in global weather modeling, sea ice convergence, and changes in seasonal drought patterns. Tornado emergencies are also explored, with a focus on Latinx communities and the importance of building trust and partnerships.
A recent study published in PLOS One reveals that the ocean's depths, including the Mar Del Plata Submarine Canyon, have accumulated human trash, including plastic and fishing gear. The research found 29 identifiable manmade objects, including plastic bags and food wrappers, which were funneled into the canyon by currents and geography.
The Mediterranean Sea is warming and becoming saltier at an accelerated pace, even at great depths, with the Adriatic region showing the strongest changes. This acceleration is driven by warming and added salt, which is affecting the sea's deep circulation and marine life.
A new study found that ocean acidification can undermine the health of diatoms, crucial organisms for oxygen production and carbon capture. The research highlights the need for better understanding of complex processes in seawater to find solutions for ocean conservation.
Rivers worldwide deliver nearly 263,000 tons of microplastics to the ocean annually, with 96% coming from the Global South. Heavy rainfall events can increase microplastic transport, particularly in regions with high plastic use and poor waste management, posing a climate-sensitive pollution threat.
Marine microbes play a vital role in ocean health, climate regulation, biodiversity, and the blue bioeconomy. They drive processes including nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, and primary productivity. AMI recommends acknowledging their importance in European ocean policy to ensure a healthy, resilient, and sustainable ocean.
Professor Peixoto, a pioneering researcher, will shape AMI's strategic direction and champion its mission, providing clear leadership and representation. She aims to translate outstanding microbiological research into solutions and benefits for people and the planet.
Researchers developed a physics-based AI approach to predict global-scale carbon cycling in ocean sediments, resolving a long-standing challenge in climate science. The study reveals key findings on dissolved organic carbon behavior, including 11% of particulate organic carbon returning to seawater.
A new mesocosm experiment on Gran Canaria is testing whether concrete rubble can increase ocean alkalinity, mimicking natural rock weathering to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere. The study aims to standardize measurement methods for Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE) and assess its ecological acceptability.
Dissimilatory iodate-reducing microorganisms (DIRMs) inhabit marine oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) where oxygen is depleted, contradicting theoretical predictions. DIRMs reduce nitrate (NO3⁻) before iodate (IO3⁻), allowing them to thrive in OMZs.
The Arctic melt season has extended by seven and a half days since 1979, driven by sea ice forming later in the fall, with implications for the global climate system. The changing sea ice properties also impact the ecosystem, including the health of algae, which affects the entire food web and fisheries in the sub-Arctic and Arctic.
A new study highlights the impact of coastal freshening on the giant amphipod species Paraceradocus miersi, which lose salts, gain water, and suffer gill damage in diluted waters. The research warns that continued freshening may pose a significant threat to many marine invertebrates and reshape the global ocean's communities.
A team of researchers observed a fish-prawn hybrid, Scalicus engyceros, walking backward in the deep sea. The creature's unique features, including its pectoral-fin rays and barbels, enable it to sense prey and balance during walking and swimming.
A 1,000-year record from Galápagos corals shows El Niño is intensifying due to climate change, with ENSO variability 37% higher than during the preindustrial era. This increase in El Niño events poses growing risks to ecosystems, infrastructure, and human societies.
New measurements show that human-induced carbon dioxide emissions have penetrated deep into the North Atlantic, altering the ocean's isotopic signature. The Suess effect is detectable in nearly all North Atlantic water masses, with strongest signals in young, subsurface waters.
Researchers combined narwhal measurements with historical oceanographic data to build a robust model showing how temperature, salinity, and depth are related. The study found that warm Atlantic Intermediate Water has become thicker, accelerating glacier melting and influencing ocean circulation and climate patterns.
Researchers have mapped Indonesia's seagrass ecosystems, identifying areas of high and low quality, and found that conservation efforts are needed for hotspots, coldspots, and areas with contrasting conditions. The study provides a spatially informed framework for prioritizing conservation and restoration efforts.
Baleen whales are taking advantage of the warming Greenland Sea, with regular feeding frenzies observed in recent years. The abundance of whales has increased significantly, with over 4,000 humpback whales, 6,000 fin whales, and 6,000 minke whales visiting the region in 2024.
High-resolution sediment samples off the coast of Brazil show that the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation was more dynamic than previously thought during the Heinrich Event. The circulation was strengthened in two periods, impacting tropical precipitation patterns and carbon storage in the ocean.
Researchers analyzed 27,000 ancient seafloor samples and found a consistent pattern of manganese enrichment in sediments from high latitudes, indicating polar oceans remained oxygen-rich. This suggests that oxygen availability drove the observed differences in ocean conditions during ancient ice ages.
Scientists propose a colossal cliff across ancient North America may have exposed Grand Canyon's oldest rocks nearly a billion years before it was carved by the Colorado River. The study suggests the 'great escarpment' of steep rocky cliffs formed when the supercontinent Rodinia broke apart 800 million years ago.
Scientists have discovered a new coral species growing up to 1 meter tall on rocky outcrops in the Pacific Ocean. The bright yellow coral was found thriving in large numbers among brittle stars and has been classified into a new family, Laurinqueidae.
The 36th annual State of the Climate report reveals record highs in greenhouse gas concentrations, global sea level, and ocean heat content. Greenhouse gas concentrations reached a 53% increase from preindustrial levels, with fossil fuel emissions reaching a record high in 2025.
A recent study published in Science Advances has discovered a key transport pathway for nutrient-rich organic particles to depths of over 1,000 metres. The large-scale winter upwelling of surface water rapidly delivers these particles, introducing them directly into the ocean circulation.
Researchers developed an AI that navigates ships using human-like decision-making, handling complex situations such as narrow channels and multiple vessels. The AI achieved compliance with maritime traffic rules and demonstrated unexpected behavior like local navigation customs.
Researchers from Peking University have reviewed the role of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging geodesy in monitoring glacier velocity, which helps assess how glaciers respond to climate change. SAR offers a non-contact alternative to field-based approaches, providing high-resolution measurements over large and difficult-to-access ...
The partnership generates valuable bathymetric data through vessel operations and lost crab trap removal, enhancing navigational safety and coastal models. The new dataset will be publicly available for researchers, agencies, and coastal managers to support commerce.
Researchers found that anaerobic decolorization of RB5 dye by Clostridium sp. strain T4 increased acute toxicity, despite efficient color removal. The study highlights the importance of integrating subsequent aerobic or oxidative treatment to achieve further detoxification in azo dye-containing wastewater management systems.
Researchers developed a machine learning framework to account for water quality differences, enabling accurate MC-LR measurements without repeated calibration. The model achieved a Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency of 0.89 and improved analytical efficiency while reducing time, labor, and sensor consumption.
A recent study reveals that over 90% of the Mar Menor's key nutrients degrading the ecosystem come from recirculated underground flows, not traditional sources like streams or groundwater. This discovery highlights a previously overlooked pathway of contamination and its impact on eutrophication episodes.
A study reveals that natural cooling of coral reefs varies with large-scale climate oscillations, including ENSO and IOD. Coral skeletons provide a record of past subsurface temperatures and biological responses to heat stress, highlighting the dynamic relationship between climate refuges and their effectiveness in protecting corals fr...
The study highlights the significant demand for brachyuran land crabs, with species being sold on e-commerce platforms like eBay, and often without welfare advice. The research aims to inform conservation and policymaking efforts by understanding the extent of the trade.
Researchers at Hiroshima University discovered a crab trapped in a plastic bottle off Okinawa, Japan, which survived for two months by feeding on juvenile fishes and algae inside the bottle. The study highlights the dangers of marine plastic pollution on small marine animals.
The American Meteorological Society (AMS) has released a statement expressing concerns about the proposed OMB rule on federal grantmaking changes. The rule could reduce public access to weather information, slow commercialization of advances in weather science, and limit scientific collaboration.
Researchers analyzed 44 years of killer whale data in Washington state, finding a decline in the presence of endangered fish-eating killer whales. In contrast, populations of Bigg's killer whales, which prey on seals and other whales, are becoming more abundant.
The 'Hess Evolution' expedition aims to uncover the origin and age of Hess Rise, a vast volcanic plateau. Researchers will analyze rock samples collected from depths of up to 6,000 meters to determine if they reveal systematic age patterns across the plateau.
Researchers from Stellenbosch University found high concentrations of DMSP in Antarctic sea ice, which produces climate-cooling gases when broken down. This discovery highlights the crucial role of the Southern Ocean marginal ice zone in global sulfur cycling and climate regulation.
Researchers found evidence that the Aleutian Islands' subduction beneath the North American Plate occurred at least 56 million years ago, significantly earlier than previously thought. This discovery has implications for understanding tectonic and climatic processes that shaped the Earth's history.
A new study from the Batten School & VIMS provides a detailed analysis of marine heatwaves (MHWs) in the Chesapeake Bay, going beyond surface-water datasets to include subsurface patterns. The research introduces a classification scheme that reveals the complex nature of MHWs and their impact on ecosystem health.
New studies reveal potential for 30-day forecast accuracy boosts using machine learning and explore the impact of vegetation on ocean currents during the Little Ice Age. Researchers also find that La Niña events can slow global warming by amplifying each other's cooling effects.
A new underwater mapping technique, Sonar-MASt3R, combines sonar and visual data to generate detailed 3D maps of environments in real-time. The system enables vehicles to navigate through cloudy water by quickly mapping the general shape of their surroundings using sonar.
A controversial cooling strategy to shield Earth from sun's rays could offer unequal protection for oceans and communities, leaving 25-75% of seas at risk from overheating. Researchers used computer simulations to forecast marine heat waves under future scenarios with and without solar geoengineering.
A recent study reveals that human-induced sea level rise has significantly increased the frequency of storm surge events, with a fourfold increase in historical 100-year events. This shift is largely attributed to rising sea levels, which now occur every eight years rather than once every century.
A new study has analyzed over 2100 samples to build a genetic dataset containing more than 500 million unique genes, revealing the immense potential of deep-sea biodiversity for developing new technologies. The research found that despite vast genetic diversity, deep-sea organisms rely on stable, core designs to survive extreme conditi...
A three-year study reveals coral hormone cycles similar to humans', helping detect reproductive stress and informing reef conservation. Hormone levels were found to be influenced by sunlight, not heat, and distributed evenly throughout colonies.
Researchers used the Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model to predict internal tide sea-surface height signatures and improve SWOT satellite observations of small-scale ocean eddies. The new approach accounts for 60% more internal tide signal, yielding a clearer picture of these important ocean patterns.
SwRI has introduced a new 30-inch diameter pressure vessel, enabling faster testing of larger equipment at extreme ocean depths. The vessel can test equipment up to 16,500 psig, simulating the pressures in the deepest parts of the ocean, and features a novel quick-acting closure system.
The study shows a significant 5°C warming of intermediate waters at 800m depth in the equatorial Atlantic over the last 11,000 years. This warming is not mirrored by changes in tropical sea surface temperatures, indicating an extratropical origin.
A case study of captive belugas reveals evidence of mirror self-recognition, suggesting this behavior may be innate in the species. The findings support the idea that some cetaceans possess cognitive abilities similar to those of humans and other animals.
A research team used microbial ecological habitats to predict filter-feeding whale presence, achieving accuracy 53% higher than traditional methods. This approach incorporates eDNA analysis to better understand whale-bacteria connections and inform ocean health monitoring.
Scientists found that meltwater destabilized methane hydrates beneath northwest Greenland, releasing large stores of methane. This process may have contributed to past climate events and could influence future climate change as polar ice sheets continue to retreat.
Researchers analyzed hormones stored in Rice's whale baleen to understand its life story. The study found evidence of stress and reproductive patterns, shedding light on the species' critically endangered status.