Articles tagged with Oceanography
A team of researchers developed a new technique using drone photographs to estimate the age-structure of free-ranging dolphin groups, aiding in timely conservation efforts. By analyzing the distance between a dolphin's blowhole and dorsal fin, they can infer its total body length and age.
The £7 million CoTide project aims to develop scalable tidal stream energy, making renewable power cheaper, more reliable, and scalable. The initiative will create integrated engineering tools and solutions to overcome technical challenges in harnessing ocean tides as a clean energy source.
ASU's new collaboration, ʻĀkoʻakoʻa, aims to restore coral reef vitality and coastal sustainability through a partnership between scientists and local communities in Hawaiʻi. The initiative focuses on West Hawaiʻi island, where 120 miles of reef harbor diverse human and coral conditions.
The InVADER Mission successfully deployed a high-tech laser laboratory on the ocean floor, marking a paradigm shift in ocean research and exploration. The Laser Divebot collects compositional data without disturbing the environment, removing the need for physical samples.
A recent study finds that most US fish stocks are not constrained by the Magnuson-Stevens Act, but rather by economic demand and other factors. The act's critics may be misinterpreting the data, as healthy stocks are being left in the water due to market forces and policies.
A multidisciplinary team of scientists conducted a comprehensive study to understand the sources and sinks of plastic debris in the Southern North Sea. Local citizen scientists played a crucial role in tracking the distribution pathways of plastic particles, revealing that two-thirds were washed ashore within 25km of their release site.
Researchers developed an AI-powered tool to identify and measure coral reef halos globally, providing a new method for monitoring ecosystem health. The tool enables efficient tracking of reef ecosystems' function at large scales, improving understanding and management of coral reefs.
A new study proposes that ancestors of Prochlorococcus microbes used chitin particles as rafts to venture into the open ocean. This enabled them to evolve new abilities and eventually thrive in the nutrient-poor waters, playing a crucial role in absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere.
A new study reveals that mercury levels in the Arctic tripled at the beginning of the Holocene, with sea ice reduction being the main cause. Climate warming has led to a decrease in perennial sea ice, allowing for increased mercury transfer and deposition in the Arctic environment.
Researchers highlight the need for a coherent international framework for decommissioning offshore structures due to limited evidence on their environmental impact. The study emphasizes the critical need for consensus on future approaches as an estimated 1,800 offshore wind turbines will require decommissioning by 2030.
New research reveals that atmospheric dust supports 4.5% of global annual carbon export production through phytoplankton growth, with regional variation up to 20-40%. This pathway helps regulate atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and mitigate climate change.
Oceanographers warn of limitations in carbon dioxide removal, emphasizing the need for rapid emission cuts to limit global warming. Clear definitions of marine heatwaves are also crucial for coastal communities to adapt and resource managers to prioritize mitigation strategies.
Researchers discovered that coastal marine invertebrates can survive and reproduce on floating plastic debris in the open ocean. This finding suggests a rapid shift in biogeographical boundaries due to floating plastic pollution.
Researchers used unique stripe configurations to identify individual octopuses over time, enabling long-term studies. The findings provide insights into the behavior and ecology of this species.
Researchers have discovered a unique underwater spring in the Pacific Northwest that could provide insights into earthquake hazards. The Pythia's Oasis seep is sourced from water 2.5 miles beneath the seafloor at the plate boundary, regulating stress on the offshore fault.
A new study predicts that Antarctic deep ocean currents will slow by over 40% in the next 30 years and may collapse, with significant impacts on climate and marine ecosystems. The decline of this circulation could stagnate the bottom of the oceans and trap nutrients, affecting marine life for centuries to come.
Researchers identified fluctuations in climate and ocean conditions as the main drivers of entanglement risk to whales in Dungeness crab fishing gear. The study provides new tools for managing fisheries while minimizing impact on whale populations.
A recent study by researchers at the University of Texas at Austin found that the ocean's ability to absorb CO2 will peak by 2100 and become less efficient after 2300 due to a surface layer of low-alkalinity water. This emergence hinders CO2 absorption, leading to faster warming.
The study reveals that Antarctic bottom water (AABW) has collapsed several times in the past, with these collapses linked to an enhancement of North Atlantic Deepwater and intensified Northern Hemisphere glaciation. AABW collapse may have pulled Earth into harsher glacial climates in the past.
Researchers at MIT have developed a membrane-free electrochemical process to remove carbon dioxide from seawater, potentially reversing ocean acidification. The system could be integrated with existing desalination plants or ships to help mitigate emissions.
Researchers have studied sailfish hunting behavior for the first time, revealing a unique hunting strategy. The study estimates that sailfish need roughly half of a tuna per day to meet their energetic demands, shedding light on their basic biology.
Researchers used nearly half a million fossils to solve a 200-year-old mystery about the distribution of species on Earth. They found that the modern-day diversity gradient may have arisen from the steepening of the latitudinal temperature gradient, promoting more ecological niches in tropical regions.
Researchers applied machine learning tools to study how climate impacts connectivity and biodiversity in the Pacific Ocean's Coral Triangle. They found that climate dynamics have contributed to biodiversity due to variability introduced by El Niño and La Niña events.
Researchers at MIT create a novel approach to building deformable underwater robots using simple repeating substructures. The system can assemble into various shapes and sizes, offering scalability and efficiency improvements over current technologies.
Researchers have identified the need for standardization of performance indices and a single frame for normalization methods to address concerns with bioelectrochemical systems. The study proposes strategies for up-scaling BES technologies, enabling resource recovery through on-site treatment of wastewater at an efficiency comparable t...
Researchers found a novel gene-transfer mechanism in Prochlorococcus that enables the transmission of entire blocks of genes between organisms, even when widely separated. This mechanism, dubbed 'tycheposons,' involves sequences of DNA that can include several genes and are transported by membrane vesicles or hijacked virus particles.
UC San Diego researchers analyzed plankton samples from the Continuous Plankton Recorder Survey to reconstruct historical marine pollution trends. They found rising levels of manmade chemicals in oceans, which may be used to monitor ecosystem health and study connections between ocean pollution and human chronic illnesses.
Researchers created a map of ancient ocean 'dead zones' to predict future locations and impacts of low oxygen zones in a warmer Earth's oceans. The map showed that during the Pliocene epoch, low-oxygen waters were widespread in the Atlantic Ocean, particularly in the North Atlantic.
Researchers develop AI model to predict exhaust gas emissions from ships under different air-to-fuel ratios. The ensemble dataset and double ensemble models produce the most accurate emission predictions for CO2, NOx, and SO2 gases.
Researchers studied the photosynthetic antenna of Codium fragile, a marine algae, to understand how it efficiently utilizes weak blue-green light. The study revealed that siphonaxanthin and chlorophyll b play key roles in absorbing green and blue-green light, respectively.
Researchers have developed a robot capable of sorting, manipulating, and identifying microscopic marine fossils. Forabot uses robotics and artificial intelligence to automate the tedious process of evaluating foram shells and fossils.
Researchers found that Kellet's whelk larvae are susceptible to developmental abnormalities and mortality at high temperatures, with half of hatchlings dying off at 27.6°C and veligers more resistant to defects at 24.9°C
A new study reveals that microfibers in the Mediterranean Sea are home to over 2,600 bacterial species, including Vibrio parahaemolyticus, a potentially deadly bacterium. The presence of these bacteria poses a significant threat to human health and aquatic ecosystems.
The strongest Arctic cyclone ever observed poleward of 70 degrees north latitude caused a 30% greater loss of sea ice than previous records, with waves reaching up to 100 kilometers towards the center of the ice pack. Researchers suggest that existing models underestimate the impact of big waves on ice floes in the Arctic Ocean.
Researchers discovered that krill oil protects dopaminergic neurons from age-related degeneration through temporal transcriptome rewiring and suppression of several hallmarks of aging. Krill oil increases neuronal resilience, promoting anti-oxidative stress and anti-inflammation, and abrogating multiple aging hallmarks.
A new study published in Marine Pollution Bulletin found significantly higher levels of polyethylene, polypropylene, acrylic, and polyamide in the North Atlantic gyre compared to other offshore locations. Inshore areas exhibited a diverse range of polymers, possibly influenced by proximity to various plastic sources.
Researchers found a previously unknown transport route for carbon-rich particles from the Barents and Kara Seas to the deep sea, absorbing up to 3.6 million metric tons of CO2 annually. This mechanism is essential for creating global carbon dioxide budgets and understanding the ocean's role in the carbon cycle.
A new study by the University of Gothenburg reveals that the salinity of surface water is crucial for sea ice formation at low temperatures. The study finds that warm water is prevented from rising to the surface due to its lower salinity, creating a 'lid' that allows cold polar temperatures to freeze continuously moving warmer water.
An international team of researchers found evidence of cooked fish remains at the Gesher Benot Ya'aqov archaeological site in Israel, dating back approximately 780,000 years. This discovery predates previous knowledge by about 600,000 years and sheds light on the evolution of cooking techniques.
Researchers discovered that cephalopods develop their large nervous systems using similar mechanisms as vertebrates, with a focus on the retina. This study provides insight into the developmental process of these intelligent creatures and could lead to new discoveries about human brain development.
A study reveals a consistent pairing of volcanic ash and low ocean oxygen events during times of rapid climate warming at the end of the last ice age. The research suggests that volcanic eruptions may increase as the planet warms, posing risks to populated regions.
Researchers found coastal embayments experience episodic hypoxic events and increased hypoxic conditions compared to open coastline. These areas are likely to be impacted by climate change and ecosystem changes.
In a study published in PLOS ONE, researchers found that large pelagic fish prefer using sharks as scratching surfaces for parasites. In contrast, smaller fish tend to avoid taking this risk due to the threat of predation, highlighting the adaptability of these species.
Researchers have discovered that small eddies, swirling at the edges of massive ocean currents, are a key source of nutrients for phytoplankton. These nutrient-rich eddies help maintain healthy populations of phytoplankton, which are essential for carbon sequestration and mitigating climate change effects.
A new study suggests that climate change is favoring La Niña events in the Pacific Ocean. The researchers found that temperature patterns at the ocean's surface have changed, with the Pacific off South America cooling and the western Pacific warming more than elsewhere. This has led to a strengthened temperature difference between the ...
A new study reveals the western Arctic Ocean's ocean acidification is happening at a rate three to four times higher than other oceans due to sea ice loss. The researchers found a correlation between the decrease in sea ice and increased acidification, suggesting this process could intensify over the next few decades.
A recent study by the University of Plymouth and international partners reveals that rapid sea temperature drops of up to 10 degrees were a primary cause of a devastating coral die-off event in Costa Rica's Eastern Tropical Pacific. The research highlights the importance of considering upwellings when managing reef systems, and propose...
MIT researchers create a low-power, sound-harvesting camera that captures color photos and transmits data wirelessly. The autonomous device can run for weeks without power, enabling scientists to explore remote oceans and monitor climate change impacts.
A NASA initiative studies wildfire-induced air pollution by measuring atmospheric CO and O3 levels using airborne observations. The study found that CO levels increased in the plume as it was transported away from the fire site, while plume age was associated with distance in both vertical and horizontal directions.
A Virginia Tech research team has developed a new method for recycling polystyrene, which is widely used in Styrofoam but rarely recycled. The process involves exposing the material to ultraviolet light and adding a chemical catalyst, creating a valuable product called diphenylmethane (DPM) that can be used in various industries.
Researchers used a three-dimensional climate model to recreate Earth's history and found that changing continents significantly increased ocean oxygen levels. This new study reveals the previously underestimated role of plate tectonics in shaping ocean biodiversity.
A special section in BioScience synthesizes insights from 40 years of long-term ecological research, highlighting the diversity of ecosystem responses to climate change. The study demonstrates that regional drivers, human activities, and interactions between climate drivers shape these responses.
A new model suggests Antarctica's ice shelves are melting at an accelerated rate due to the Antarctic Coastal Current. Freshwater from melting ice can trap warm ocean water beneath the shelves, causing them to melt further. This mechanism could increase sea level rise predictions by up to 40%.
A new study using elephant seal data has found that the North Pacific Blob's subsurface warming persisted for over two years, with temperatures extending 1,000 meters below the surface. The extensive subsurface warming raises questions about its mechanisms and potential connections to surface warming.
Researchers used phylogenomics to evaluate relationships among species in the B. frauenfeldi complex, concluding there are five distinct species and a continuum between B. frauenfeldi and B. albistrigata pests. The study's findings provide essential data for pest management and international agricultural trade.
Researchers analyzed fossil corals to reveal changed ocean current circulation patterns. The data supports a scenario where the upper Pacific Ocean was more mixed during the last ice age, contributing to carbon storage and cooler climates.
Scientists developed a novel multilayer coating to improve the longevity of steel, increasing its lifespan by up to 400 hours. The coating, comprising three layers, was found to provide higher resistance to rust than conventional Zn coatings.
The construction of dams and changes in land use have significantly impacted the amount of sediment rivers carry to oceans. Sediment transport has decreased by 49% globally due to dam construction, while increasing on 36% of rivers in the south, primarily driven by deforestation.
A study by Dr. Armineh Barkhordarian confirms a systematic warming pool in the Pacific caused by human activities, leading to increased frequency and intensity of local marine heatwaves. The region has experienced 31 marine heatwaves over the past 20 years, compared to just nine between 1982 and 1999.
A recent study using satellite images identified over 450,000 ocean oil slicks worldwide, finding that the overwhelming majority (94%) are caused by human activity. The remaining 6% can be attributed to natural sources, highlighting the need for better understanding of global oil pollution and its impacts on marine ecology.