Articles tagged with Oceans
Scientists have discovered a long-running conflict between SAR11 bacteria and viruses that constantly kill them off. The ongoing battle affects the planet's carbon cycle and has significant implications for ocean biology.
Tropical Cyclone 15S formed from System 92S on Feb. 9 and intensified into a tropical storm on Feb. 11. The storm strengthened to hurricane force within two days, but is expected to weaken due to wind shear and cooler waters.
Researchers analyzed lake sediment to reconstruct climate patterns in Nicaragua during the Medieval Climate Anomaly and Little Ice Age. The study found that factors currently producing drier climates resulted in wetter conditions a few hundred years ago.
A NASA TRMM satellite found an unusually tall storm-cell in Cyclone Evan's eyewall, extending 17 km above the ocean surface. This rare feature was previously thought to occur only over land, but continuous observations have revealed its existence over the ocean.
A new study calculates the impact of ocean iron fertilization on carbon sequestration, finding that it is unlikely to be an effective method for reducing greenhouse gas levels. The study estimates a net sequestration rate of just 10 tonnes of carbon per square kilometer, making it a costly and inefficient solution.
A new system developed by NCAR combines satellite data and computer weather models to predict potentially dangerous atmospheric conditions. The system provides pilots with critical information about storms, turbulence, and lightning, helping to improve flight safety over remote ocean regions.
A prospectus published in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A outlines key issues and research directions for UK marine science over the next two decades. The publication provides a vision for each field, addressing scientific challenges and technological advances necessary to meet them.
Typhoon Bopha re-intensified in the South China Sea after making a loop, with coldest cloud tops indicating strongest storms. The typhoon's eye was about 11 nautical miles in diameter and maximum sustained winds reached 110 knots.
The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation is funding 16 top scientists for pioneering research in marine microbial ecology, exploring interactions between trillions of microscopic organisms and their environment. This funding aims to make new discoveries and advance our understanding of ocean ecosystems and climate change.
The NASA HS3 mission has ended its 2012 campaign with a final data-collection flight in the North Pacific Ocean. The Global Hawk aircraft tested three new hurricane-tracking instruments: HIWRAP, HIRAD, and HAMSR, which will be used in next year's campaign to study hurricanes and severe storms.
Tropical Storm Bopha intensifies in western North Pacific, developing a distinct tail-like band of strong thunderstorms. The storm is expected to become a typhoon by Thursday afternoon, Nov. 29.
A comprehensive register of marine species reveals approximately 226,000 identified species and up to 65,000 awaiting description. This comprehensive inventory provides a foundation for conservation efforts and estimates of extinction rates.
Tropical Storm Son-tinh has spread its clouds and showers over the Philippines, according to NASA satellite imagery. The storm's center was moving through the central Philippines, with strongest thunderstorms east of the center over the Philippine Sea.
Tropical Storm Tony is a small, compact storm traveling through the central Atlantic Ocean. The storm's maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph, with some strengthening expected before gradual weakening.
A team of researchers has found evidence for a dramatic rise in early oxygen levels around 2.3 billion years ago, followed by an equally impressive fall. This drop in oxygen may have ushered in low-oxygen concentrations that set the stage for the evolution of eukaryotic organisms and eventually animals.
Tropical Storm Prapiroon was found to have intense rain bands dropping rain at a rate of about 30-40 mm/hour in the southern quadrant. The storm is expected to move northeast on Oct. 17 and become extra-tropical thereafter.
Hurricane Paul is forecast to make landfall in Baja California, bringing heavy rainfall and hurricane-force winds. The storm's center is expected to pass near Mexico's Socorro Island, which has already been battered by the hurricane.
Tropical Storm Maria is weakening due to increased wind shear and cool ocean temperatures, but will continue moving north-northeast over open waters. The storm's circulation is consolidating, with tightly curved bands of thunderstorms around the center.
Hurricane Paul has strengthened into a hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 90 mph, posing a threat to Baja California with heavy rainfall expected between 2-4 inches. The National Hurricane Center warns of dangerous surf and tropical storm conditions along the coast by Oct 16.
Tropical Storm Rafael is expected to bring heavy rainfall and flash flooding to the northern Leeward Islands, with isolated totals reaching up to 12 inches. The storm is also forecasted to impact Bermuda late on Tuesday, Oct. 16, prompting a Tropical Storm Watch for the island.
Typhoon Prapiroon brought light-to-moderate rainfall throughout, with a small area of heavy rain near the storm's center. The satellite detected rain rates between .78 to 1.57 inches/20 to 40 mm per hour in this region.
The first tropical cyclone of the Southern Indian Ocean season has been spotted by NASA's TRMM satellite, with maximum sustained winds near 35 knots. The system is expected to continue intensifying over the next three days before wind shear increases.
Tropical Storm Olivia formed on Oct 6, 2012, near Baja California, but weakened due to adverse atmospheric conditions. The storm dissipated as a remnant low-pressure system on Oct 9, with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph.
Typhoon Prapiroon intensified into a typhoon with maximum sustained winds near 75 mph on Oct. 9, according to NASA satellite imagery. The storm's eye feature was spotted using microwave imagery, indicating it is expected to continue intensifying over the next several days.
A Duke University-led study predicts that high-pressure systems over oceans will intensify, contributing to droughts and extreme summer rainfall in the northern hemisphere. The North Atlantic and Pacific subtropical highs are expected to strengthen due to increasing greenhouse-gas concentrations.
The 15th Atlantic tropical depression, TD15, has formed in the central Atlantic Ocean, moving northwest at 15mph. It is expected to strengthen into Tropical Storm Oscar and move north and northeast before weakening due to hostile atmospheric conditions.
Tropical Storm Maliksi had maximum sustained winds of 45 knots east of its center on Oct. 3, with cloud-top temperatures as cold as -63 Fahrenheit. The storm is forecast to weaken due to strong vertical wind shear and transition into an extra-tropical cyclone.
Tropical Storm Gaemi shows signs of strengthening with powerful thunderstorms and a band wrapping into the low-level center. NASA satellite imagery reveals the storm's disorganization but expects it to become more circular over the next couple of days.
NASA has observed Tropical Depression 21W in the northwestern Pacific, with sustained winds near 25 knots. The system is expected to curve westward and make landfall along central Vietnam's coast by October 6 or 7.
A new study projects a 14-20% decline in maximum fish body weight by 2050, with the tropics being most impacted. The research highlights the need to curb greenhouse gas emissions and monitor changes to ocean ecosystems.
A magnitude-8.6 East Indian Ocean earthquake triggered a global increase in seismic activity, with unprecedented large aftershocks occurring worldwide. The study highlights the predictable changes in seismicity, shedding light on more than a decade-long debate about remotely triggered earthquakes.
A magnitude 8.6 earthquake in the East Indian Ocean triggered quakes around the world for at least a week, according to a new analysis. The study found that some faults weren't immediately affected by seismic waves but were primed to break up six days later.
Tropical Storm Miriam has weakened to a tropical storm in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, with maximum sustained winds near 65 mph. Wind shear and decreasing sea surface temperatures will continue to weaken the storm over the next several days.
Super Typhoon Jelawat showed intense rainfall rates around its eye, while Tropical Storm Ewiniar's heaviest rainfall was pushed north of its center due to wind shear. NASA's TRMM satellite measured heavy rainfall rates of up to 3.1 inches per hour in Jelawat.
A Wayne State University researcher is part of a national project to find accessible methane hydrate resources, which could provide untapped economic and energy security. The two-year grant aims to improve computer simulation programs for predicting gas production from these natural ice-lattice structures.
Super Typhoon Jelawat's cloud top temperatures exceeded -63F, indicating uplift and strengthening. Tropical Storm Ewinar is getting organized due to wind shear from nearby Typhoon Jelawat.
Tropical Storm Nadine is nearing the Azores, prompting weather watches and warnings. Satellite imagery shows the storm's strongest convection north of its center, while ocean swells may affect the islands.
Tropical Storm Kristy is weakening due to adverse atmospheric conditions and cooler waters, while another system is developing with a 50% chance of formation over the weekend. Environmental conditions are expected to improve for the second low-pressure area, but satellite data shows it has become disorganized.
Tropical Storm Leslie and Hurricane Michael are being closely monitored by NASA, with Leslie now past Bermuda and Michael weakening due to cooler waters. Leslie is expected to transition from a warm core system to a cold core system, while Michael's weakening is attributed to atmospheric conditions and ocean temperatures.
Tropical Storm Michael formed on Sept 4 with winds of near 40 mph, struggling to intensify like sister storms Leslie and Isaac. Remnants of Isaac blanket the US east coast, while Leslie heads towards Bermuda, larger in size than Michael.
Typhoon Tembin is intensifying and moving towards Taiwan, with forecasted landfall on August 23. Tropical Storm Bolaven is also strengthening and expected to become a typhoon as it heads northwest around August 25-26. Both storms are being closely monitored by NASA satellites.
Typhoon Tembin rapidly intensified over the past 24 hours, growing from a tropical depression to a powerful typhoon with maximum sustained winds near 95 knots. The storm is moving slowly north-northeast and is expected to track across Taiwan by August 23.
Hurricane Gordon was tracked for three days by NASA satellites, showing its strength and eye structure. The storm weakened to a tropical storm on August 20 with maximum sustained winds near 70 mph.
Tropical Storm Gordon's clouds became less symmetric due to southwesterly wind shear, indicating a shift in its circulation. The storm was moving eastward at 18 mph with sustained winds near 65 mph.
Tropical Depression 8 strengthened into Tropical Storm Gordon on August 15, after days of organization and development across the eastern Atlantic. The storm is expected to track east into the Atlantic, potentially affecting the Azores, with strengthening expected over warm waters.
Tropical Storm Hector continues to weaken, while Tropical Depression 7's remnants move over Central America. Hector's small circulation is spinning off Mexico's western coast, with the remnants of TD7 producing showers and thunderstorms across parts of Central America and Mexico.
The US received a slightly above average score of 63 in the Ocean Health Index, which evaluates global oceans in critical aspects. Key findings include high biodiversity scores and strong coastal livelihoods, but poor food provision and pollution concerns.
Tropical Storm Florence developed over the eastern Atlantic, strengthened briefly, and then weakened due to dry air and Saharan dust. NASA's Aqua satellite captured infrared images of the storm on August 4 and 5, showing a larger spiraled storm with diminishing thunderstorms.
NASA's Terra satellite captured an image of Tropical Storm Ernesto as it approached the Lesser Antilles on August 2, 2012. The storm brought maximum sustained winds near 45 mph and a wind gust in Saint Lucia during the morning of August 3.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument captured a visible image of Hurricane Emilia on July 12, revealing an eye with high clouds overhead. Infrared data from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument showed powerful thunderstorms and cold cloud tops surrounding the eye of the hurricane.
NASA's GOES-15 satellite captured an image of three tropical systems chasing each other in the eastern Pacific Ocean, with Tropical Storm Daniel and Hurricane Emilia at the center. The system is expected to weaken to tropical depression status by July 11.
Tropical depression Doksuri was born in the western North Pacific Ocean on June 26, 2012. The NASA Terra satellite captured an infrared image revealing higher thunderstorms around the center of the cyclone.
The Kiel Cluster of Excellence 'The Future Ocean' has secured funding for its second phase, focusing on natural resources, biological diversity, and gas exchange. This will enable the team to provide a scientific basis for sustainable ocean management and engage in dialogue with decision makers.
A review of global ocean commitments has shown little success over the past 20 years. Despite international agreements, governments have failed to meet targets for protecting vulnerable species and marine habitats, leading to increased fish stock depletion and ecosystem destruction.
Tropical Storm Guchol is consolidating convection and thunderstorms over its low-level circulation center. The storm's slow development is hindered by dry air along its northern edge, resulting in a smaller size.
Bess B. Ward has received the 2012 Procter & Gamble Award in Applied and Environmental Microbiology for her sustained influence on marine microbiology and contributions to understanding nitrogen cycling processes in low-oxygen regions of the ocean.
Post-tropical storm Alberto's remnants interact with a cold front off the US East coast, moving northeast. The weak circulation dissipates by May 25, according to the National Hurricane Center.
NASA satellites captured Tropical Storm Bud in the eastern Pacific Ocean on May 21 and May 22, revealing a well-formed storm. Forecasters expect Bud to strengthen into a hurricane due to light wind shear and warm sea surface temperatures.
Tropical Depression 03W is expected to strengthen as it approaches Guam, with NASA's TRMM satellite detecting a hot tower at 15 kilometers high. The storm will bring rain and gusty winds to the island over the next couple of days.
A new study finds that many species of reef-building corals can adapt to warming waters by relying on multiple algal symbionts. This ability may help corals survive future losses due to ocean temperatures increases.