Articles tagged with Oceans
NASA's Aqua satellite captured an infrared image of Tropical Depression Fami on Feb. 3, showing the storm elongating and losing its circulation after crossing Madagascar. The system has dissipated significantly due to friction from mountainous terrain, with only a slight chance it could briefly regain life.
Tropical Depression 11S forms near La Reunion Island with sustained winds of 39mph, moving southward at 6mph. The storm is expected to strengthen over warm sea surface temperatures before becoming extra-tropical.
NASA's TRMM satellite observed Tropical Storm Nisha strengthening rapidly, with rainfall rates exceeding 2 inches per hour and cloud heights reaching 6 miles.
Tropical Depression 10P is strengthening quickly due to low wind shear and warm sea surface temperatures. It is forecast to move east-southeast and bring heavy rainfall and strong winds to islands in the South Pacific, including American Samoa and Tahiti.
Tropical Storm Edzani is undergoing significant changes, with its rainfall confined to the southeast and a fully exposed low-level circulation center. The storm is elongating due to strong westerly winds, eventually transitioning into an extra-tropical storm and moving safely away from land areas.
Edzani, once a powerful cyclone, has lost its 'roundness' and become asymmetrical. The storm's convection is decreasing, indicating further weakening.
Two female leatherback turtles, Noelle and Darwinia, have traveled 800 miles between them since December 2009. The researchers aim to use their data to inform management of fisheries and protect key areas from industrial fishing and oil exploitation.
Tropical Cyclone 05B has formed in the Northern Indian Ocean, expected to approach southeastern India and make landfall on Monday, December 14. The storm is forecast to intensify due to low wind shear, but may be impacted by a zonal jet stream.
Marine aquaculture has the potential to meet global food demand as freshwater resources are limited and terrestrial agriculture struggles. Expanding marine aquaculture operations using low-on-the-food-chain organisms like plankton and algae can achieve sustainable growth.
NASA's CloudSat satellite noticed a drop in Typhoon Nida's cloud tops from over 9 miles high to around 8 miles high, indicating less powerful thunderstorms and weakening winds. The storm has zigzagged between 18 and 20 degrees North Latitude, moving west, then east, and now back in a westward direction.
Super Typhoon Nida has intensified to a category 5 storm with maximum sustained winds near 172 mph, causing extremely high waves. The storm is forecast to pass far south of the island of Iwo Two, posing no direct threat to landmasses but still impacting nearby islands.
A Yale geophysicist has found that the world's oceans are absorbing less carbon dioxide over the past 50 years. This reduced absorption rate could lead to faster climate change due to a longer lag time between temperature fluctuations and CO2 level changes.
NASA's Terra satellite captured an image of Tropical Cyclone Anja, strengthening into a Category Three cyclone on November 16. The storm had tropical storm-force winds extending out to 100 miles from its center, and is not threatening any landmasses.
The NASA GOES Project provides real-time satellite animations of the eastern Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, offering a panoramic view of hurricanes in HDTV wide-screen format. The animations display several weather regimes simultaneously, including easterly winds, daily thunderstorms, and prevailing westerly winds.
Tropical Storm Lupit is transitioning to an extra-tropical storm, while Tropical Storm 23W is approaching Saipan with sustained winds near 40 mph. The storms are being tracked by the US Navy's Joint Typhoon Warning Center.
Tropical Storm Nepartak is transitioning into an extra-tropical storm, developing frontal qualities in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. The storm's circulation will soon fade as it continues to speed northeast, with dry air in the mid-levels of the atmosphere contributing to its transformation.
Tropical Storm Henri has weakened to a depression due to battering winds and strong southwesterly shear. The National Hurricane Center confirmed the wind speed using NASA's QuikScat satellite imagery, with minimum central pressure near 1010 millibars.
Scientists at the University of Leeds discovered that acidic clouds can convert large particles of iron from dust into small, soluble nanoparticles that plankton can use. This finding highlights a previously unknown source of bioavailable iron delivered to the Earth's surface in precipitation.
Super Typhoon Melor's massive size was captured by NASA satellites on October 5, showing its strong winds and towering clouds. The storm is forecast to weaken as it interacts with cooler waters and a baroclinic boundary, before potentially affecting Tokyo and the surrounding region.
NASA's AIRS instrument detects towering pyrocumulus clouds formed from smoke and heat of California wildfires, while also capturing powerful Hurricane Jimena with sustained winds near 145mph. Tropical Depression Kevin appears weakened due to stable air entering its circulation.
NASA's GOES-11 satellite indicates two areas of showers and thunderstorms that may develop in the Eastern Pacific, potentially replacing Tropical Storm Ignacio. The storm is expected to weaken due to adverse conditions, including cooler waters.
The remnants of Typhoon Vamco are sweeping over Alaska's Aleutian Island chain, causing high wind warnings. The National Weather Service has posted warnings for gusts of 40-60 mph, with some areas reaching hurricane-strength winds.
Typhoon Vamco boasts an enormous 45-mile-wide eye with cold high thunderstorm cloud temperatures below minus 63 Fahrenheit. The storm is currently in the Northern West Pacific Ocean and will begin changing to an extra-tropical storm, moving into the North Central Pacific Ocean.
Tropical Depression 9E appears to be fizzling in the Eastern Pacific, while Tropical Storm Guillermo forms with sustained winds near 50 mph. The satellite imagery is being closely monitored for updates, with a 30-50% chance of TD9E strengthening back into a tropical depression.
The NOAA Integrated Ocean Observing System has awarded grants to support ocean observing activities from Long Island Sound to the Canadian Maritimes. The funds also support projects to improve ocean and coastal data, fisheries management, and ecosystem conservation.
The University of Puerto Rico's Caribbean Regional Association is receiving $899,826 in grant funding to continue supporting ocean observing efforts in the Caribbean. This project will contribute to improving safety, economic growth, and environmental protection by providing enhanced observation products for the region.
NOAA has awarded over $2.7 million in competitive grant funding to the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association to develop a comprehensive ocean observing system for the Mid-Atlantic region. The funding will support efforts to improve data coordination, forecasting, and regional data management.
The NOAA Integrated Ocean Observing System awards $973,083 to support ocean observing in the Gulf of Mexico. Three grants will enhance data portals and marine data delivery systems, making data easier to access for planners and policymakers.
NOAA's Integrated Ocean Observing System has awarded over $1.39 million to support ocean observing efforts in Alaska. The award will help develop a comprehensive ocean observing system using Prince William Sound as a test bed.
The NOAA Integrated Ocean Observing System has awarded grants totaling $21 million to support ocean observing efforts in the Southeast US. The funding will be used to develop and enhance data management and modeling systems for coastal flooding, storm surges, and other ocean-related hazards.
The NOAA Integrated Ocean Observing System has awarded grants to the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute to conduct long-term monitoring of environmental conditions in Central and Northern California. This funding will support protecting marine life and habitat, as well as provide easier access to regional real-time data.
The NOAA Integrated Ocean Observing System has awarded grants totaling $21 million to support ocean observing efforts in the Great Lakes. These grants will improve real-time data accessibility, facilitate environmental monitoring, and enhance decision-making for severe weather and emergencies.
Hurricane Felicia is weakening as it approaches Hawaii, with forecasters predicting landfall on Monday. The storm's minimum central pressure is rising, indicating a weakening storm, and cooler waters will continue to sap its strength.
Category 4 hurricane Felicia is currently near 140 mph sustained winds, while Tropical Storm Enrique maintains 50 mph sustained winds despite being close to Felicia.
Two areas of thunderstorms in the Caribbean are moving into the eastern Atlantic and southeastern Bahamas, but a low chance of development exists. The National Hurricane Center reports less than 30 percent chance of tropical formation within the next 48 hours.
The Maritime Aerosol Network (MAN) initiative uses portable photometers to measure aerosol concentrations over the oceans, contradicting satellite measurements at high latitudes. Researchers hope to improve confidence in aerosol measurements to better predict climate responses to global temperature increases.
Researchers have successfully measured marine phytoplankton physiology through satellite measurements of fluorescence, providing a reasonably accurate picture of the ocean's health and productivity. This will help evaluate the impact of global warming, climate change, and desertification on oceans.
Researchers at Rice University and Harvard University developed a new model to explain how noble gases are lost from the Earth's interior during mantle convection. The model suggests that both the upper and lower mantle are involved in convection, but they affect each other differently.
Researchers have documented the first known migration of blue whales from California to British Columbia and the Gulf of Alaska since commercial whaling ended in 1965. The whales' return suggests a re-establishment of historical migration patterns, possibly driven by changes in ocean conditions.
A new review reveals that global monsoons have been driving the long-term cyclicity of oceanic carbon reservoirs for at least 600 million years. The study found a 400,000-year cycle related to the 'long eccentricity' of Earth's orbit, which is linked to changes in oceanic carbon reservoirs and has implications for climate prediction.
A new study found that whale sharks from different oceans are genetically similar, indicating migration and interbreeding among far-flung populations. This suggests that conservation efforts must consider the sharks' global habitat usage to effectively protect them.
A three-year study shows that the reflection of light from the Earth's oceans and continents can be seen on the dark side of the moon, known as earthshine. The brightness varies with the Earth's rotation, highlighting the difference between intense ocean reflections and dimmer land reflections.
Recent research reveals a 'pacemaker' climate shift mode controlling global temperature changes. Meanwhile, natural ocean 'thermostats' for Pacific reefs are disputed, suggesting underreported bleaching events. Space dust also interacts with the atmosphere, vaporizing and leaving behind high-altitude metal ions and molecules.
The University of Miami's Rosenstiel School has received two grants totaling $101,000 from the Ocean Fund to support scientific research on cruise ships and graduate student scholarships. The funding will enable researchers to study climate change, coral reefs, and ocean health.
Researchers found diatoms in freshwater and marine environments have distinct size patterns due to nutrient availability, with larger sizes thriving in oceans. Climate change could alter mixing depths and nutrient delivery, potentially reducing carbon sequestration efficiency.
A new study identifies a hotspot for toxic harmful algal blooms (HABS) in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, which can trigger blooms and force shellfish bed closures. The research aims to provide early warnings to protect human health and reduce economic losses due to biotoxin accumulation.
Unchecked global warming would lead to a dramatic expansion of low-oxygen areas in the ocean, affecting fisheries and ecosystems for thousands of years. The team's projections show that these oxygen minimum zones could expand much more still and invade the deep ocean.
Researchers found that a magnitude 9.2 Indian Ocean earthquake triggered non-volcanic tremor at the Parkfield region of the San Andreas fault, approximately 125 miles away. This low-stress event sheds new light on seismic phenomenon and its potential role in releasing stress within an earthquake-producing fault.
NASA sold a portfolio of 11 patented technologies, including the Hilbert-Huang Transform method, to Ocean Tomo Federal Services LLC through a public auction. The sale demonstrated the government's ability to commercialize federally-funded technology and accelerate innovation.
A new study reveals that acidification of oceans from human CO2 emissions can worsen coral bleaching and death. Key findings indicate that coralline algae may be lost in near future due to increased CO2 levels. On the positive side, some coral species show ability to cope with ocean acidification by enhancing photosynthesis.
The IBEX spacecraft will conduct high-altitude orbits to investigate and capture images of the interstellar boundary, a region where the solar system meets interstellar space. The two-year mission will provide insights into the dynamic interactions between the hot solar wind and cold expanse of space.
The diatom genome provides insights into its ability to trap excess carbon in oceans, potentially reversing climate damage. The study suggests that diatoms can convert fat into sugar and store nitrogen, making them a key player in the ocean's carbon cycle.
The Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) mission will conduct extremely high-altitude orbits above Earth to investigate and capture images of processes taking place at the farthest reaches of the solar system. The spacecraft will provide scientists with a new understanding of the global interaction between our sun and the galaxy.
A new study by Peter K. Swart suggests that carbonate platform records are not reliable for tracking the global carbon cycle over the past 10 million years. This finding challenges widely-held ideas about CO2 levels during specific periods of Earth's geological history.
The National Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP) has funded two research projects at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School to study the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation. The three-year projects will focus on understanding the circulation's impact on climate and weather patterns.
Penguin populations are declining rapidly due to climate change, oil pollution, and habitat destruction. Conservation biologist Dee Boersma calls for regular monitoring of penguin colonies to understand the impact of environmental changes on the world's oceans.
Researchers found that diatoms store phosphorus in polyphosphate and apatite forms, and transport it to the ocean floor. This discovery sheds new light on the ocean's phosphorus cycle.
Phytoplankton in major oceans produce half the world's oxygen through photosynthesis, while cyanobacteria are infected by viruses that provide genetic material for photosynthesis machinery. This symbiotic relationship highlights the essential role of viruses in planetary processes and global cooling.
A research team led by Walter Dodds found that microorganisms in small streams filter out nitrogen, reducing its entry into larger rivers and oceans. The study, published in Nature, suggests that preserving small streams' natural filtration process is crucial for maintaining water quality.
Researchers at MIT demonstrated that marine bacteria, specifically P. haloplanktis, use their rapid swimming abilities to locate and exploit tiny nutrient patches in the ocean. This behavior has global implications for the oceans' health during climate change and could impact the carbon cycle.