Articles tagged with Oceans
A recent study published in the Geological Society of America Bulletin suggests that Earth's largest mass extinction, known as 'The Great Dying,' occurred over hundreds of thousands of years, not suddenly. The research, led by Thomas Algeo from the University of Cincinnati, found evidence of a prolonged die-off of marine life due to ma...
Researchers at the University of Washington have advanced a technique called metagenomics, allowing them to single out a marine microorganism and map its genome even though it comprised only 7 percent of a water sample. The resulting genome offers hints that Euryarchaeota might serve as a cleanup crew after diatoms bloom and die.
A new assessment by Robert H. Condon and colleagues challenges the idea that jellyfish are dominating the seas, citing a lack of scientific evidence supporting this claim. The researchers suggest that recent blooms and increased media attention have fueled the perception of an increase in jellyfish populations.
Louis St. Laurent of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution received the 2012 Nicholas P. Fofonoff Award for his groundbreaking research on small-scale mixing processes and dynamical processes involved. The award recognizes his fundamental contributions to understanding ocean dynamics.
Tropical Storm Ethel is intensifying due to warm sea surface temperatures and low wind shear. The storm's maximum sustained winds were near 35 knots (40 mph) on January 19.
Researchers at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science have developed genetic markers to test blue marlin for their ocean of origin. The new test can accurately determine if a blue marlin was taken from the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean, helping federal seafood agents enforce regulations and prevent overfishing.
Tropical Cyclone 01S has formed in the Southern Indian Ocean with maximum sustained winds near 63 mph. The cyclone is rapidly consolidating and organizing, strengthening forecasted over the next two days.
NASA satellites track Hurricane Kenneth's record-breaking path, reaching category three status with maximum sustained winds of near 145 mph. The storm is expected to weaken due to cooler sea surface temperatures and increasing wind shear.
A new study reveals that the diversity of organisms living on coral reefs is much greater than previously thought, with 525 species of crustaceans found in a small sample area. This underestimation highlights the need for further research and conservation efforts to protect these endangered habitats.
Researchers have discovered a remarkable fossil site in Nevada where the remains of nine 45-foot-long ichthyosaurs suggest an even larger and more cunning sea monster existed: a Triassic kraken. The evidence implies that this ancient cephalopod was capable of intelligent manipulation of bones and preyed on these massive reptiles.
Tropical Storm Maria is expected to strengthen over the next two days, with maximum sustained winds near 50 mph. Hurricane Katia, a Category one hurricane, is moving between Bermuda and the U.S., prompting a tropical storm watch for the island.
Researchers discovered a specific type of bacteria capturing carbon dioxide in the 'twilight zone' of the ocean, a region thought to be inhospitable for photosynthesis. The study provides new insights into the dark ocean's carbon cycle and challenges previous assumptions about the role of Archaea.
MIT researchers found evidence that tiny aerobic organisms may have evolved to survive on extremely low levels of oxygen in oceanic 'oxygen oases.' Laboratory experiments with yeast suggest early ancestors could have thrived with minimal O2, reconciling a debate over early Earth's atmosphere.
The TRMM satellite captured rainfall data on four areas in the Atlantic Ocean that have potential for developing into tropical cyclones. System 92L and 93L show improved organization, but no surface circulation has formed yet.
Hurricane Dora's eye was visible on multiple NASA satellites, including Aqua and GOES-11, providing forecasters with clear views of the storm's intensification. The National Hurricane Center expects some weakening by tonight and rapid weakening on Friday as Dora battles wind shear and cooler waters.
A triple-header of tropical cyclones was captured by the GOES-13 satellite on July 20, including System 99L, Tropical Storm Bret, and Hurricane Dora. System 99L is showing signs of organization and potential to become a tropical depression in the next 48 hours.
Tropical Storm Bret formed in the northwestern Bahamas on July 17, strengthened into a tropical storm by July 18, and continued to intensify. The GOES-13 satellite recorded the storm's development, providing a video of its birth and strengthening process.
Tropical Storm Arlene formed over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico, strengthening into a full-fledged hurricane with sustained winds near 40 mph. The GOES-13 satellite captured the storm's development from June 27 to June 28, revealing its transformation from a low-pressure area to a tropical storm.
Researchers discovered two distinct populations of coconuts, indicating separate cultivation origins in the Pacific and Indian Ocean basins. The study also found evidence of prehistoric trade routes and the colonization of the Americas through coconut genetics.
Puyehue-Cordón Volcano in Chile erupted on June 4, prompting 3,500 evacuations. NASA's Terra Satellite, GOES-13, and GOES-11 captured images of the massive ash plume blowing northeast and southeast across the Atlantic Ocean.
Researchers found that carbon release into atmosphere today is nearly 10 times faster than during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, a 55.9 million-year-old event similar to current global warming. The study suggests this rapid change may not allow sufficient time for biological systems to adapt.
Researchers have discovered that massive ocean eddies can reach the ocean bottom at mid-ocean ridges, transporting larvae, chemicals, and heat. This phenomenon helps explain how larvae travel huge distances from one vent area to another.
Cyclone Cherono has weakened due to increased wind shear, as captured by NASA infrared satellite imagery. The storm's remnants are now moving away from Mauritius, causing ocean swells and rough surf.
Tropical Cyclone Atu formed over New Caledonia on February 21, intensifying into a powerful storm with maximum sustained winds of 95 knots before weakening. The cyclone dissipated north of New Zealand by February 25, its life spanning just four days.
Scientists discovered nearly pristine fossils of complex organisms preserved in oxygen-free waters, challenging the timeline of eukaryote evolution. The Lantian biota suggests brief oxygenation events allowed for diversification of macroscopic life forms.
Researchers studying the origin of Earth's first breathable atmosphere have found that ancient plankton played a critical role in providing oxygen. This discovery builds on earlier work that showed a reverse-greenhouse effect cooled the oceans, spawning giant plankton blooms and sending oxygen into the atmosphere.
The world's oceans are under siege due to species loss, leading to ecosystem collapse. A new study finds that a loss of ecological redundancy, where multiple species occupy the same space, is directly blamed for marine ecosystem collapse in the fossil record.
A UC Riverside-led team discovered chemical evidence of oxygen-free ancient oceans containing abundant hydrogen sulfide. This finding suggests that ocean chemistry influenced the evolution of early life, potentially delaying its appearance and proliferation.
Researchers found evidence of oxygen-poor ocean conditions lasting 2-4 million years after the first appearance of animals, suggesting fluctuating oxygen levels may have driven rapid evolutionary turnover during the Cambrian Period. This study provides new insights into how early life evolved and flourished on Earth.
Researchers found evidence of ancient ocean 'dead zones,' where oxygen levels were low, around 499 million years ago. This challenges the long-held assumption that oceans became oxygen-rich about 600 million years ago. The findings suggest that fluctuations in oxygen levels may have played a major role in shaping early animal evolution.
The GOES series of satellites provided critical weather monitoring services in 2010 and 2011, tracking severe storms, hurricanes, and blizzards. The satellites captured stunning images of weather systems, including the Pineapple Express and a Christmas weekend blizzard, helping to inform travel decisions.
A powerful low-pressure system brought significant snowfall to New England, with some areas receiving over a foot of snow. The GOES-13 satellite captured an image of the storm's center off the Massachusetts coast, showing the extent of the blizzard conditions.
A new study predicts that the Mariana crow will go extinct in 75 years due to a low first-year survival rate of 40%. The species is critically endangered and faces threats from invasive species like feral cats and brown tree snakes.
Researchers will use real-time and projected data, 3D simulation and visualization technology to model different conservation scenarios. The program aims to inform fisheries management plans and raise public awareness about ocean health.
Researchers found extremely high levels of oxidized mercury above the Dead Sea, a phenomenon previously only observed in polar regions. The findings suggest that bromine in the atmosphere plays a key role in initiating mercury oxidation.
A widely used biodiversity indicator in fisheries is found to be an ineffective guide to trends in marine ecosystems, according to a new study published in Nature. The researchers recommend more direct monitoring and the development of trend-detection methods to better assess the impacts of fishing on marine biodiversity.
The GOES-13 satellite is monitoring a cold front approaching the remnants of Hurricane Tomas, which has lost its tropical characteristics and now resembles a nor'easter. The satellite imagery shows the cold front as a line of clouds east of the US East coast, with Tomas' remnants appearing as a tight swirl of clouds near Bermuda.
A new study published in Psychological Science found that people can understand actions by recognizing underlying syntax. The researchers tested whether the structure of action sequences affected how quickly participants read sentences describing those actions.
NASA's Aqua satellite captured an infrared image of Tropical Storm Anggrek's cold thunderstorms tightly circling its center. The storm is expected to steadily weaken and dissipate as it encounters cooler waters and stronger wind shear.
A team of researchers led by Thomas Algeo from the University of Cincinnati analyzed chemical evidence from rocks formed during the Permian-Triassic extinction event, which wiped out 90% of all living species. The study suggests that massive volcanic eruptions in Siberia and global climate change contributed to the catastrophic event.
Ancient ocean sediments revealed phosphorus played a crucial role in establishing the first animals on Earth. Oxygen levels surged due to phosphorus, allowing complex life forms to emerge.
Tropical Depression 14W forms near Hainan Island, China, with strong thunderstorms and rapid wind shear detected by NASA's Aqua satellite. The depression's organization and punch are being weakened by wind shear, which is expected to make it turn north-northeast before making a brief landfall in southern China.
A 2008 Kasatochi volcano eruption sparked a record-breaking phytoplankton bloom in the North Pacific Ocean, with iron-laden ash from the eruption taking up only a modest amount of atmospheric CO2
Tropical Storm Lisa has strengthened into its third tropical storm due to low wind shear, allowing it to gain momentum. The storm's minimum central pressure is 1005 millibars and it is expected to turn north-northwest before heading west-northwest.
Trius will use its proprietary Focused Antisense Screening Technology (FAST) to identify antibacterial compounds from marine natural product libraries discovered by Scripps researchers. The goal is to develop novel antibiotics directed against microorganisms causing serious infections.
Hurricane Igor underwent significant changes in shape and strength due to NASA's MODIS and AIRS instruments, which captured its transformation from a rounded storm to a comma-shaped storm over three days. The storm's cold cloud temperatures and cloud cover were also analyzed by the AIRS instrument.
Research reveals that seamounts have comparable levels of diversity and endemism to continental margins, but their ecological communities are distinct in structure and higher in biomass. Seamount ecosystems are highly vulnerable to disturbance by bottom trawling and require decades for recovery.
Tropical Storm Julia is struggling to maintain its strength as it encounters massive Hurricane Igor's westerly wind shear. The National Hurricane Center predicts Julia will fade into a remnant low in a day or two, with some models suggesting it could be absorbed by Hurricane Igor's circulation.
NASA's Aqua satellite captured visible image of Hurricane Julia, weakened by Hurricane Igor's outflow, breaking a record for the most intense hurricane east of the Azores. The storm is expected to move west-northwest then turn northeast, staying at sea.
Scientists have used a new seismic method to investigate the collision process between India and Tibet, revealing a more pronounced boundary between rigid lithosphere and softer asthenosphere. The study provides insights into the processes involved in the collision and aims to reduce earthquake risk in the region.
Leading international scientists propose a new approach to marine tenure to reverse the 'tragedy of the commons' and restore fish stocks. A successful experiment in Chile shows that co-operative models for fishery management can improve sustainability.
NASA's Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument captured an infrared image of Tropical Depression 9 showing high thunderstorm cloud tops and strong convection. The depression formed in the Atlantic Ocean with maximum sustained winds near 35 mph, moving west at 15 mph.
Tropical Storm Dianmu made a quick track over South Korea and entered the Sea of Japan, with NASA's Aqua satellite capturing its infrared image. The storm is transitioning into an extra-tropical storm due to increasing vertical wind shear and cooler sea surface temperatures.
Tropical Storm Chanthu is forecasted to make a landfall south of Hong Kong due to dry air and increased wind shear. Infrared imagery shows strong convection from northeast to southwest, but missing on the west side of the storm.
GOES-13 satellite captured images of Hurricane Alex from its formation to landfall in Mexico, providing valuable research data for forecasters. The storm caused severe flooding, mudslides, and record-breaking rainfall.
The NASA GOES Project provides continually updating 'movies' of satellite imagery for Hurricane Alley, allowing on-line viewing on iPhone and iPad. The latest large-scale movie can be accessed at http://goes.gsfc.nasa.gov/goescolor/goeseast/hurricane2/movie/alley_east_conus.mp4.
Tropical Storm Conson has formed in the northwestern Pacific Ocean with maximum sustained winds near 60 knots (69 mph) and is forecast to make landfall on July 13. The storm's track is expected to take it north-northwest over the next couple of days, bringing heavy rainfall and gusty winds to the northern Philippines.
A study found that iron availability plays a crucial role in controlling coccolithophore growth and calcification. Coccolithophores are globally important species of marine algae responsible for massive blooms in oceans worldwide.
The GOES-13 satellite captured images of two major hurricanes, Celia and Darby, with Celia being a Category Five hurricane and Darby a Category Three. The storms appear to be chasing each other, with Hurricane Celia having the larger eye.
Hurricane Celia strengthened to a Category Two hurricane with maximum sustained winds of up to 100 mph, and NASA satellites confirmed the emergence of an eye.