Articles tagged with Oceans
Researchers from University of British Columbia and Strategic Salmon Health Initiative found Piscine orthoreovirus (PRV) originating from Atlantic salmon farms spreading to wild Pacific salmon through open-net farming. The study suggests a link between PRV transmission and increased disease severity in Chinook salmon.
A multi-national team of scientists discovers unprecedented mercury deposits in the deepest Pacific Ocean trenches, exceeding previous records and even higher than areas contaminated by industrial releases. The findings indicate a collective increase in anthropogenic emissions of mercury into oceans.
A new study reveals that fish biodiversity can provide benefits to mixed-stock fisheries, such as stabilizing catches, but comes with the cost of increased conservation risks. By targeting specific productive stocks and avoiding unproductive weak ones, fisheries can maintain high harvest rates while reducing these risks.
Scientists have found that the Earth's largest mass extinction event took place on land, occurring over a period of millions of years. Researchers analyzed fossil data from four-legged animals in what is now South Africa and discovered that life on land underwent a longer period of extinctions compared to the oceans.
Scientists discovered that the record-breaking rainfall was influenced by all three oceans, with the Atlantic playing a dominant role. The study found that positive SST anomalies in the western North Atlantic induced changes in atmospheric circulation patterns that led to the extreme rainfall.
The SIIOS team successfully tested its technology on Greenland's surface, detecting seismic waves comparable to those from ground-based seismometers. The findings could aid NASA's future missions to Europa and Enceladus, where subsurface liquid oceans are believed to exist.
The global ocean is expected to become a source of ozone-depleting CFC-11, reversing its longtime role as a sink. By 2075, the oceans will emit more CFC-11 than they absorb, with detectable amounts by 2130, and climate change accelerating this shift.
Researchers studied iodine oxoacid formation from ocean vapors, finding rapid conversion to aerosol particles that affect climate and human health. Iodic acid was identified as a key vapor, while iodous acid played a stabilizing role in neutral particle formation.
A global team of researchers found overwhelming evidence that human-made noise impacts marine life from invertebrates to whales, disrupting behavior, physiology, reproduction, and causing mortality. They identify actions to restore healthy ocean sounds and reduce noise levels in the shipping industry.
Research found that some fish species exhibit larger gonads and increased reproductive output under elevated CO2 levels, leading to more offspring. Males and females adjust their behavior to optimize reproduction, with males foraging more and investing energy in egg care.
A study has identified the Ocean 100, a group of 100 transnational corporations extracting majority of revenues from economic use of world's ocean. The largest companies in industries like offshore oil and gas, shipping, and cruise tourism dominate the market, taking an estimated 60% of all revenues.
A new study reports the highest ocean temperatures since 1955, with the upper 2,000 meters absorbing 20 more Zettajoules than in 2019. The researchers warn of severe consequences for ocean ecosystems and human societies, including increased extreme weather events and wildfires.
The Ocean 100, a group of 100 transnational corporations, dominated the ocean economy with $1.1 trillion in revenues in 2018. The top industries were offshore oil and gas, seafood production, and container shipping.
A new study reveals that mussels, oysters, and scallops have the highest levels of microplastic contamination among seafood. The research found an average microplastic content of 0-10.5 microplastics per gram in molluscs, highlighting the need for standardised methods to measure microplastic contamination.
Researchers used CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing to identify a gene responsible for regulating coral's response to heat stress. The study found that corals can die of starvation without the nutrients provided by photosynthesis, highlighting the importance of conservation efforts for fragile reef ecosystems.
A new study by Swansea University scientists has found that mycosporine-like amino acids, nature's UV sunscreens, are increased when exposed to far-red light. This discovery challenges current understanding of their role in temperature regulation and environmental balance.
Researchers discovered microplastics in Pacific razor clams from Washington's Olympic Coast, with an average of seven pieces per clam. Thoroughly cleaning clams reduced microplastic content by half.
A new study has revealed that the East African Rift System is slowly breaking away, with Madagascar splitting into pieces. The research, led by D. Sarah Stamps of Virginia Tech, found that the break-up process is more complex and distributed than previously thought.
A new study shows that warmer oceans cause hurricanes to weaken more slowly after making landfall, leading to more destruction inland. Researchers found that stored moisture is the key factor behind this phenomenon, allowing hurricanes to sustain themselves for longer.
Future emissions of greenhouse gases and aerosols will shift the North Atlantic's role in global ocean heat uptake, making it the main region of OHU by 2100. This is due to projected decline in anthropogenic aerosols, weakening the AMOC and diverging meridional ocean heat transport.
A new genus of chimaerid fish has been classified with the help of a Kazan University expert. The research provides significant insights into the late Paleogene chimaerid fauna in the Pacific Ocean.
A new study reveals the United States is a top source of plastic pollution in coastal environments, contributing up to 2.25 million metric tons of plastics. The country's high plastic waste generation and lack of effective recycling practices are major contributors to this problem.
A new model forecasts that strategically placing marine protected areas can improve fish populations and increase local catch. The research suggests that protecting an additional 5% of the ocean could boost future catches by 9-12 million metric tons.
Fossils found in Antarctica reveal the largest individuals of an extinct group of seabirds, which lived for up to 60 million years, dwarfing today's largest bird. The discovery sheds light on bird evolution and highlights the diversity of Antarctic birds during a warmer climate 50 million years ago.
The UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development has an ambitious agenda to transform ocean health. The initiative provides a non-prescriptive framework for transformational action across geographies, sectors, disciplines, and generations.
Tropical Depression 19E formed into Tropical Storm Norbert, while Marie weakened and declined. Norbert is moving northwestward with maximum sustained winds near 45 mph, while Marie will become a remnant low-pressure area within 48 hours.
Tropical Storm Dolphin is moving northward and is expected to weaken gradually before becoming extra-tropical near Tokyo. NASA's Terra satellite captured visible imagery of the storm on September 22, revealing strong storms and thunderstorms in its northeastern quadrant.
Tropical Storm Vicky is weakening due to strong southwesterly wind shear, with maximum sustained winds near 50 mph and higher gusts. The storm is expected to become a tropical depression in around 24 hours before weakening further.
Researchers estimate 5.6 million metric tonnes of synthetic microfibers emitted from apparel washing between 1950 and 2016, with half generated in the last decade alone. The fibers accumulate in wastewater treatment sludge, posing a terrestrial pollution issue.
Researchers tracked juvenile smooth hammerhead sharks for up to 15 months, revealing seasonal migration patterns and key habitats. The study provides critical information for targeting conservation efforts and protecting this near-endangered species.
Tropical Storm Karina became slightly better organized with deep convection near its center. The storm is forecast to move over cooler waters and into a drier atmosphere, leading to weakening trends and eventual dissipation. Maximum sustained winds were near 60 mph, with gusts expected to be higher.
NASA's Terra satellite captured a visible image of Post-tropical Storm Kyle on Aug. 16, revealing an elongated circulation and ill-defined center. The storm had become an extratropical low-pressure area attached to warm and cold fronts, leading to its dissipation by Aug. 17.
NASA-NOAA satellite imagery reveals the development of Tropical Storm Josephine, which formed from Tropical Depression 11. The storm is expected to continue moving west-northwest and strengthen over the next 48 hours.
Tropical Depression 06W has been persisting for days, with NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite capturing its visible image. The storm is expected to maintain intensity for another day and a half before weakening.
A team of researchers has tracked a rare 'boomerang' earthquake in the ocean for the first time, revealing how it can cause devastating effects on land. The study used underwater seismometers to monitor the Romanche fracture zone and recorded a magnitude 7.1 earthquake with a unique reversing rupture mechanism.
NASA's Aqua satellite detected remnants of tropical storm Douglas, weakened by strong wind shear, as it crossed the International Date Line in the Pacific Ocean. The post-tropical low-pressure area is expected to dissipate shortly after crossing the dateline.
A global survey of 371 coral reefs found that reef sharks are virtually absent from many ecosystems due to overfishing and destructive fishing practices. However, countries with strong governance and conservation efforts, such as Australia and the Bahamas, show promising results.
A team of global experts predicts that plastic waste flowing into the seas each year could more than double by 2040, with 710 million tonnes expected to be discarded into the environment. Improving waste collection services is seen as the single most effective step in reducing pollution.
A new relationship between humanity and the ocean is required to secure the continuity of the diverse life support roles provided by the sea. The paper proposes three key transition pathways to make complex ocean systems more resilient and ensure a more sustainable future.
Cristiana Stan and collaborators develop new diagnostic tools to forecast ENSO patterns. The tools aim to better understand the relationship between ENSO and the Madden-Julian Oscillation.
Tropical Storm Boris formed in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, with NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite providing visible imagery. The storm strengthened to maximum strength before weakening back into a depression over the next 12 hours.
A new study published in Nature Geoscience suggests that Pluto and other large Kuiper belt objects began with liquid oceans that have been slowly freezing over time. The 'hot start' scenario is supported by observations, which indicate expansion features on Pluto's surface rather than compression features.
Two new tanaid species were discovered by NUS researchers in the eastern Pacific Ocean, providing insights into biodiversity in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone. The discovery is significant for environmental management, as it sheds light on the ecosystems and potential resource areas of this understudied region.
Researchers analyzed atmospheric arsenic concentrations from 2005 to 2015, finding the highest levels in Chile and eastern China. The study highlights the growing health risks posed by airborne arsenic in India, surpassing China's levels by 2015.
Researchers found a 50% decline in North East Atlantic plankton over the past 60 years, with tiny picophytoplankton replacing more nutritious species. This shift affects fish, seabirds, and marine mammals, threatening shelf sea food webs.
Research reveals that rivers play a crucial role in transporting burned carbon from wildfires and managed burning to oceans, where it can be stored for tens of millennia. The study estimates that 18 million tonnes of dissolved burned carbon are transported annually by rivers.
Researchers analyzed sea-surface temperatures and planktonic foraminifer shells to determine that tropical ocean biodiversity started declining around 15,000 years ago, before the Anthropocene era. Continued global warming may further reduce biodiversity in tropical oceans.
Scientists propose integrating oceans into climate policies, highlighting four areas of investment: energy, transportation, food security, and habitat restoration. Aquaculture and sustainable fisheries also hold potential for reducing emissions and enhancing the food supply.
Researchers report that tsunami mitigation parks can effectively reduce damage from waves with amplitudes comparable to the hill height. The study highlights the need for buffer zones behind these hills to mitigate enhanced damage in their immediate vicinity.
Historical examples of sustainable and unsustainable fishing practices reveal common 'recipes for failure' that offer warnings for modern-day ocean management. Successful societies achieved balance between economic growth, social equity, and sustainability by managing resources fairly and responding to change.
Tropical Storm Jeruto was identified by NASA's Suomi NPP satellite on April 15, 2020, with a visible image showing elongated shape due to wind shear. Forecasters predict the storm will likely dissipate within a couple of days as vertical wind shear increases.
A new study outlines steps needed for marine ecosystems to recover from damage by 2050, citing examples of recovery following conservation interventions.
Tropical Storm 22S formed near northeastern Madagascar after being observed by NASA's Terra satellite, which captured strong thunderstorms and rainfall in the western quadrant. The storm is expected to strengthen to 90 knots (104 mph) before becoming subtropical and potentially pass between Mauritius and Rodrigues.
Researchers find historically rare events in Indian Ocean have become more frequent and intense, with potential dire impacts on Australia's climate. The study uses coral records to reconstruct variability over the last millennium, providing new insights into how the Indian Ocean interacts with ENSO.
New research reveals a worrying change in Indian Ocean surface temperatures, putting southeast Australia on course for increasingly hot and dry conditions. The study, led by Australian National University, suggests that historically rare events have become more frequent and intense during the 20th Century.
A new tool forecasts how marine microbes will adapt to warming seas, revealing two strategies: rapid short-term success and long-term evolution. The study provides valuable insights into the impact of climate change on ocean ecosystems and their role in regulating carbon cycles.
Research reveals over 8 million to 14 million tonnes of unreported fish catches are traded illicitly annually, costing the legitimate market $9-17 billion. The economic impact is felt heavily in Asia, Africa, and South America, affecting millions' nutritional food security and livelihoods.
The review highlights the global scope of microplastic pollution, affecting not just oceans but also land surfaces and the air. Researchers emphasize the need for holistic studies and improved analytical tools to understand microplastics' impacts on ecosystem health and human health.
A University of Queensland-led international study found that at least 26% of the world's oceans need urgent conservation attention to preserve Earth's marine biodiversity. The study identified a total ocean area required for conservation varying from 26-41%, depending on species range conservation proportions.
NASA's GPM satellite measures heavy rainfall rates of up to 1 inch per hour for both storms, with lesser amounts falling on surrounding areas. The National Weather Service has issued warnings for strong surfs and flash floods in American Samoa.