Articles tagged with Oceanography
Researchers have compiled a dataset of microplastic abundance in the world's upper oceans, estimating 24.4 trillion pieces weighing 82,000-578,000 tons. The data fills gaps in global coverage and provides realistic amounts for assessing impact on aquatic organisms.
A new MIT study provides detailed information on the wave-damping benefits of marsh plants, enabling coastal restoration planners to determine the area needed for mitigation. The analysis incorporates plant morphology and interactions with currents and waves, providing a more quantitative way to estimate the value provided by marshes.
The global coral reef crisis is characterized by widespread overfishing, pollution, disease, and climate change. The report highlights the need for swift action to address these issues and identifies management efforts such as reducing pollution and establishing marine protected areas.
A new study published in Coral Reefs confirms that soft corals Plexaura kükenthali and Plexaura homomalla are two separate species. The research found significant differences in morphology, genetics, reproduction, and symbiotic relationships between the two species.
Researchers found that additives in commercial shopping bags boost the conversion of solid plastics into water-soluble compounds under sunlight. The compounds vary depending on the additives used, with some bags releasing up to 15,000 dissolved compounds.
A new study reconstructed the Kuroshio Current Extension's past behavior, finding it was sensitive to global climate change during the Pliocene era. The current's sensitivity to CO2 levels is a concern for its potential impact on ecosystems, weather patterns, and regional climates.
China's space transportation systems have made significant leaps in recent decades, with advancements in launch vehicles, propulsion systems, and artificial intelligence. The country aims to become a powerful space nation by the mid-21st century, with plans for manned missions to the Moon and Mars.
A research expedition discovered that higher waves in the Arctic Sea facilitate ice cloud formation through the dispersal of organic particles into the atmosphere. This finding is crucial for predicting climate change effects on the region.
Scientists discovered that volcanic arcs, including chains like the Andes and Cascades, played a crucial role in regulating atmospheric CO2 levels over the past 400 million years. This natural feedback mechanism helped maintain a stable climate, but recent human-driven emissions have disrupted this balance.
A new method by University of Rochester scientists documents the impact of wind on mesoscale eddies, revealing a continual loss of 50 gigawatts of kinetic energy. This discovery provides a more detailed spatial analysis than existing methods and has significant implications for understanding ocean currents and climate.
A team of scientists from Princeton University found that the Arctic Ocean's nitrogen supply is limited by strong stratification, preventing plankton growth and potentially affecting fish populations. The research used fossilized plankton to study the history of nitrogen sources and supply rates in the western and central Arctic Ocean.
The deployment of thousands of autonomous robots called BGC-Argo floats is transforming our understanding of marine primary productivity on a global scale. By measuring oxygen production over time, researchers can estimate net primary productivity and shed light on the ocean's role in storing carbon.
A new study suggests that the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is losing stability and may be approaching a critical threshold. The AMOC plays a crucial role in regulating Europe's temperatures and weather patterns, and its collapse could have severe global implications.
Research by Lancaster University has found elevated levels of toxic chemicals, known as 'forever' chemicals, in the Arctic Ocean. These chemicals, used in products like stain-proof uniforms and non-stick pans, can accumulate in sea ice due to long-range transport from the atmosphere.
A study by UC San Diego scientists reveals that extreme heat and elevated ozone levels have a disproportionate impact on low-income ZIP codes in California. Areas with higher unemployment rates and car traffic are more affected, with increased hospitalizations for respiratory issues.
University of Groningen researchers used artificial intelligence to analyze the Dead Sea Scrolls, identifying two scribes who wrote the famous Great Isaiah Scroll. The AI tool separated text from background and analyzed handwriting patterns, revealing differences between the two scribes.
Recent study suggests that biblical texts in Dead Sea Scrolls were written by multiple scribes with mirrored writing styles. Artificial intelligence-based writer identification technique provides new evidence on unknown scribes.
A recent study by Tulane University researchers found that human-made levees on the Mississippi River have reduced the amount of organic carbon released into the atmosphere. The team measured sediment ages and deposition times, revealing that ancient carbon was buried at a slower rate before modernization.
A student from UNIST proposed a ship-arrival time prediction model based on Artificial Intelligence and won the grand prize. The model aims to improve the efficiency of shipping and port logistics by accurately predicting vessel arrival times.
Researchers confirm that fine particles in wildfire smoke can be several times more harmful to human respiratory health than particulate matter from car exhaust and other sources. The study, focused on Southern California, highlights the risks of tiny airborne particles with diameters of up to 2.5 microns.
Researchers found a significant interdecadal decrease in extreme heat days over Northeast China from the 1980s to 2000s, driven by reduced variability of daily maximum temperature. The Silk Road and East Asian-Pacific teleconnections played a crucial role in modulating this change.
Mason researchers will generate census tract-level data for criteria air pollutants using fusions of observational and computer model predictions. The US Environmental Protection Agency sets national standards based on the latest scientific understanding of these substances' impact on health and welfare.
A new three-year project led by the University of Minnesota Sea Grant aims to determine the potential for a sustainable food-fish aquaculture industry in Minnesota. The study will assess production costs, consumer demand, and market priorities to help producers estimate profit margins.
Cornell University researchers estimated the depth of Kraken Mare on Saturn's moon Titan to be at least 1,000 feet, using data from the Cassini mission. The sea is also massive, covering an area nearly as large as all five Great Lakes combined.
In 2D simulations, researchers found that the pseudo-turbulence relationship changes within larger-scale flows in less viscous fluids. The team discovered an inverse energy cascade and a different mathematical relationship between flow energy and frequency.
The CMIP6 models reproduce spatial distributions of temperature extremes better than CMIP5 models. However, they struggle to capture warm days and cold nights, especially over the Tibetan Plateau. Advanced CMIP6 models show no significant differences from their CMIP5 counterparts for some models.
A new study published in Environmental Research Letters reveals that tropical cyclones have been moving faster across ocean basins since 1982, with the North Atlantic experiencing an increase in hurricane frequency. The researchers attribute this trend to a combination of natural and human-induced climate change.
Research led by University of Hawai'i at Mānoa scientists reveals that rain from hurricanes and Kona storms is a key source of fresh water for Hawaii's groundwater. The study analyzed rainfall and stable isotopes to determine the origin of water in aquifers, finding significant amounts of rainwater recharging groundwater.
Wilfred weakened into a trough in the Central Atlantic Ocean, with maximum sustained winds near 35 mph and forecasters expect winds to continue decreasing. The system's interaction with an upper-level trough led to linear thunderstorm development.
Researchers tracked precursors near the tropopause to predict persistent heavy rainfall in South China, finding anomalies in Arctic and tropical regions. The study revealed a special configuration of synoptic systems that leads to persistent heavy rainfall, providing new insights for regional prediction.
A new species of brittle star from the Cretaceous period has been identified as Ophiomitrella floorae, honoring Dutch metal vocalist Floor Jansen. The fossil was found in a shallow, warm sea that covered parts of present-day Netherlands during the Dinosaur Era.
A study by University of Melbourne researchers has confirmed that rapid warming events in the Arctic during the Last Glacial Period were synchronised with temperature increases across continental Europe and changes in rainfall regions. The findings, published in Science, provide important information for testing numerical models used t...
Collaborations on ocean science and policy are likely to be biased and risky, with potential environmental ramifications. Nordic countries' experiences emphasize the importance of established scientific organizations and trust between policymakers and scientists.
George Mason University's Daniel Tong will receive $83,748 from NOAA to develop an integrated model system predicting air quality and greenhouse gas emissions at a city scale. The three-year project aims to simulate the evolution of criteria air pollutants and greenhouse gases in a changing climate.
Anomalous geomagnetic activity detected in South Atlantic Ocean, potentially hindering satellites due to increased solar particles. Volcanic rocks on Saint Helena island reveal variation in magnetic field directions higher than expected at the latitude.
A team of researchers from Harvard SEAS developed materials that can control and mold a balloon into pre-programmed shapes using kirigami sheets. The system enables expansion in some places and constricting it in others, allowing for the creation of complex shapes.
The largest fish produce more offspring, while smaller competitors gain an advantage when it comes to finding mates. Females tend to be rarer than males at spawning grounds, and early life-history affects female reproduction.
A massive Saharan dust cloud formed from strong atmospheric updrafts, picked up by prevailing winds, and is now being blown across the Atlantic and eventually over North and South America. The dust helps build beaches in the Caribbean and fertilizes soils in the Amazon.
Scientists propose a new model to explain the formation of the Tibetan Plateau, suggesting a series of 'opening-closing' tectonic events. The study reveals that geological structures in the region were formed through different stages, contradicting the existing plate tectonics theory.
Researchers are assessing the quality of a new satellite fire product using aircraft campaign data to support NOAA's next-generation wildfire forecasting system. The goal is to improve model-ready fire emission data for the CAM-CMAQ wildfire forecasting system.
Scientists have identified the ancient origin of key hormones essential for human reproduction, metabolism, and immune function in simple creatures like sea cucumbers. This breakthrough study suggests that these hormone systems predates the evolution of the spinal cord in animals.
Researchers estimate that LEGO bricks can endure for anywhere between 100 and 1,300 years in the marine environment. The study found that weathered LEGO bricks had smoothed and discolored, with some structures having fractured and fragmented.
Researchers found a strong 'cross-correlation' between inter-earthquake distances and times, especially after large earthquakes. The study's results could help seismologists better understand earthquake patterns and inform policymakers about disaster preparedness.
A study by University of Melbourne researchers found that increased tilt angle of the Earth's axis triggers warmer summers, melting Northern Hemisphere ice sheets and ending ice ages. The team used stalagmites and ocean sediment records to determine the age of two terminations around 960,000 years ago.
A major international study has shed light on the mechanisms triggering deep earthquakes up to 40km below the Earth's surface. The research suggests that interaction between creeping shear zones loads stiff rocks, causing them to snap and generate earthquakes.
A team of scientists has successfully measured the viscosity of silicate melt under pressure and temperature conditions similar to those in the lower earth mantle. The data suggests that a bridgmanite-enriched rock layer was formed during the early history of the Earth, with implications for our understanding of the planet's formation.
Researchers at the Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, published a report analyzing climate monitoring data for the Three Gorges area of the Yangtze River in 2018. The study provides basic climate monitoring facts and data to inform further research on extreme climatic events.
The new research project will investigate the communication, traffic, and trade between the islands in the Lesser Antilles during the period 1650-1850. Historians believe that the islanders were deeply dependent on each other due to limited resources and vulnerability.
Research Professor Quansong Tong at George Mason University has received two grants from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. He aims to incorporate VIIRS albedo data into EDA package and develop a new wind energy partitioning scheme for improved dust emission forecasts.
Scientists found that sunlight can break down polystyrene over a much shorter time scale than previously estimated, degrading it in decades to centuries. The researchers' study suggests that the additive content of polystyrene samples affects its degradation rate.
A new study published in Health and Place found that living close to the coast supports better mental health in England's poorest urban areas. The research analyzed data from nearly 26,000 respondents and revealed a link between coastal proximity and reduced symptoms of mental health disorders among low-income households.
Tropical Storm Kiko is a compact storm with sustained winds of near 60 mph, located about 1,360 miles west-southwest of Baja California. The storm has redeveloped an inner circulation and is expected to turn toward the west-southwest over the weekend.
Researchers found two dramatic decreases in thorium-uranium ratios at 2.35 and 0.75 billion years ago, consistent with established dates for the Great Oxidation and Neoproterozoic Oxygenation Events.
Tropical Storm Krosa's center became difficult to pinpoint as it transitioned into an extra-tropical cyclone, with maximum sustained winds of 35 knots (40 mph). The storm was moving northeast and was expected to fully become extratropical during the day on August 16.
Tropical Storm Cosme formed over the weekend of July 6 and 7, weakening to a remnant low pressure area within days. NASA's Aqua satellite captured the storm's decline, revealing a wispy ring of clouds devoid of strong thunderstorms.
Tropical Storm Barbara formed on June 30, intensifying with heaviest rainfall rates northeast of its center. The Global Precipitation Measurement mission detected rain falling at 41 mm/hour, part of a band of thunderstorms surrounding the low-level center.
New research from University of Alberta scientists suggests the Canadian Rockies were formed through a westward collision event more than 100 million years ago. This finding challenges the traditional accretion model and instead proposes a sudden collision event between two continents.
This study reveals complex deformation and metamorphism processes, melt/fluid interactions with crust-mantle rocks, and material circulation in subduction zones. Crust-mantle physical interactions control geometry, tectonic associations, and chemical interaction in orogen and mantle wedge.
A team of researchers found that methane emissions from natural gas in Pennsylvania are significantly lower than those from coal, but not negligible. The study used a ratio of methane to ethane to determine the sources of emissions and estimated that natural gas production has about half the carbon footprint of coal mining.
The Chang'E 4 mission has collected new evidence from the largest crater in the solar system, shedding light on the moon's composition and evolution. The findings suggest that the lunar mantle may consist of equal parts olivine and pyroxene, contradicting previous theories.