Articles tagged with Paleoceanography
A recent study found that tropical algae were largely unaffected by periods of global warming up to 1.5 degrees Celsius in the distant past. This resilience provides valuable insights into the potential consequences of climate change and supports the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees.
A new study reveals a surprising link between West Antarctic Ice Sheet retreat and algae growth over the past 500,000 years. Iron-rich sediments from icebergs stimulate algae growth, but in a less bioavailable form than previously assumed.
A new study in Geology suggests that massive undersea volcanism triggered at least four Triassic extinctions. Marine large igneous provinces were found to be a key driver of these events, accounting for half of the extinctions with an identifiable geological trigger.
A recent study published in Geology found that new single-celled marine species evolved rapidly, occurring in some places in under two thousand years. This rapid evolution helps scientists understand how ocean ecosystems respond to environmental changes and could provide insights into future mass extinctions.
New research reveals that North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW) was only about 1.8°C colder than today during the Last Glacial Maximum, contradicting previous assumptions of near-freezing conditions. The study supports climate model projections and suggests that weakening AMOC could have dramatic consequences for future climate.
A new study using fossil coccoliths suggests the North Atlantic was 9 degrees Celsius cooler than previously thought during the Miocene epoch. This finding challenges the extreme high-latitude warmth paradigm and aligns with existing climate models for this period.
Researchers used clumped-isotope palaeothermometry to reconstruct large temperature fluctuations at depths of up to 4,000 meters in the Southern Ocean. These fluctuations occurred simultaneously with changes in oxygen isotopes and Earth's orbital eccentricity, suggesting a climatic forcing.
A new study published in Nature Geoscience shows the key role of Antarctic Bottom Water in the transition from the last Ice Age. The expansion of AABW played a central role in releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which helped reduce atmospheric CO2 concentrations.
A new study reveals that Dunkleosteus was an oddball among ancient armored fishes, with a cartilage-heavy skull and unexpected feeding behavior. The research places Dunkleosteus in proper evolutionary context, highlighting the diversity of arthrodire groups.
A UAlbany researcher is leading a $1.2 million NSF project to integrate climate records from stalagmites, corals, lake sediments, and tree rings to understand past changes in monsoon rainfall patterns. The study aims to improve decadal predictions and risk management for societies vulnerable to climate change.
A new USF study suggests that nutrient upwelling and biological productivity remained stable despite higher global temperatures in the eastern tropical Pacific. The researchers found no evidence of reduced nitrate concentrations, a key nutrient for plankton, over the last five million years.
The 2026 Ocean Sciences Meeting will be held in Glasgow, Scotland from February 22-27, 2025. The event will bring together 6,000 scientists, students, and educators to discuss breaking research on the ocean sciences and critical issues affecting a sustainable future for our oceans.
The i2B Arctic Ocean Expedition will collect geological archives to shed light on past 'warmer-than-present-day' Arctic climate. The expedition aims to understand the impact of a 'blue' (free of seasonal sea-ice) Arctic Ocean during key interglacial periods, approximately 130,000 and 400,000 years ago.
Researchers used benthic foraminifera to study the link between Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) strength and oxygen content in the eastern tropical North Atlantic. The study found that weaker AMOCs are associated with more oxygen in the oxygen-minimum zone, which has implications for marine ecosystems.
Researchers from Utrecht University and colleagues have reconstructed sea level variations on thousand-year timescales over the past 540 million years. They used geological tree rings to estimate short-term variability, which proved consistent with fossil-based reconstructions.
The Global Declaration of Commitment for Scientific Ocean Drilling aims to promote global cooperation and collaboration in ocean science. The declaration sets out core principles for transparent access to data and samples, inclusive participation, environmental responsibility, and alignment with the UN SDGs.
Researchers uncover valuable insights into past climate scenarios and marine ecosystems through ancient sediment cores. The study highlights the need for more data to improve future climate models and transform our understanding of Earth's complex life systems.
The ECORD event will explore the importance of scientific ocean drilling in understanding Earth's systems and addressing environmental challenges. Key findings include the establishment of the new International Ocean Drilling Programme (IODP3) and its potential impact on global scientific cooperation.
A new study published in Marine Ecology Progress Series reveals that seagrass ecosystems along Florida's Nature Coast have remained relatively healthy over the last several thousand years. The research, conducted by conservation paleobiologists, used fossilized mollusk shells to infer ecosystem health and found that these communities a...
A global program called TIMES aims to synchronize age models for geological climate records, enabling the study of past warm climate stages and their impact on future climate pathways. The project is crucial for understanding the Earth's climate dynamics and obtaining reliable information about past climate events.
The Antarctic Canyon Experiment (ACE) aims to assess the causes and effects of turbidity currents, also known as underwater avalanches, in the Southern Ocean. Researchers hope to develop a better understanding of Antarctica's role in regulating Earth's climate and mitigating carbon emissions.
A new study reveals that Earth's surface temperature has varied more greatly over the past 485 million years than previously thought. The study, co-led by the Smithsonian and University of Arizona, confirms that carbon dioxide is strongly correlated with global temperatures across geological time.
A team of researchers discovered that a 'tag-team' between the oceans and continents led to severe environmental crises, causing mass extinctions of marine species. The study found that chemical weathering pulses disrupted the oceans, leading to anoxic events that had profound impacts on marine ecosystems.
Scientists at the University of Malaga have uncovered a natural quicksand trap in the 'elephant graveyard' of Orce, dated to over 1.4 million years ago. The discovery provides insights into human presence in Western Europe and competition with large carrion hyenas for meat resources.
A new study led by UCL researchers found that the Gulf Stream was stronger during the last ice age due to more powerful winds across the subtropical North Atlantic. If climate change causes a reduction in these winds, the Gulf Stream could weaken, potentially cooling Europe and causing higher sea levels in North America.
A study by Yuxin Zhou of UC Santa Barbara's Department of Earth Science found that Greenland's ice sheet retreat is not sufficient to completely derail the Atlantic circulation. The AMOC will be determined by a tug-of-war between decreasing ice flux and increasing freshwater runoff, which can disrupt the ocean current.
A newly published study provides a high-resolution climatic record for ancient Italy, revealing phases of climatic instability that overlap with periods of social and political crisis. The marine core record also shows a strong association between episodes of rapid climate change and epidemics of infectious disease.
A new study published in Palaeontologia Electronica shows the Megalodon was more slender than earlier studies suggested, changing our understanding of its behavior and impact on ancient ocean life. The revised model suggests a longer digestive canal, potentially leading to less predation pressure on other marine creatures.
Scientists discover new sulfur cycle mechanism in Lake Superior's ancient waters, highlighting the crucial role of organic sulfur compounds. The findings provide insight into how sulfur was cycled in Earth's oceans billions of years ago.
Researchers recreated ancient seawater to study nutrient availability, finding a preference for metals like manganese and molybdenum. Greenalite formation removed zinc, copper, and vanadium from seawater, matching the metal choices of early lifeforms.
Scientists have found evidence of past oxygen loss in the world's oceans during glacial periods, indicating that current climate change may not be permanent. The discovery was made by analyzing seafloor sediments from the past 145,000 years, which showed a build-up of cobalt during the last ice age.
Scientists from MSU have developed a new geochemical approach to studying phosphorus and its impact on oxygen accumulation in the past, shedding light on how life evolved on Earth. This research aims to better understand planetary conditions that sustain life, particularly in the context of searching for life beyond Earth.
Researchers reveal that Anomalocaris canadensis was likely a speedy swimmer targeting soft prey in the open water, rather than pursuing hard-shelled creatures on the ocean floor. The study's findings contradict previous assumptions about the predator's feeding behavior and highlight the complexity of Cambrian food webs.
New research from Rice University suggests that ancient microorganisms helped cause massive volcanic events by facilitating the precipitation of minerals in banded iron formations. The study provides insight into processes that could produce habitable exoplanets and reframes scientists' understanding of Earth's early history.
Researchers discovered that Obamus coronatus, a half-inch long Ediacaran animal, preferred to live on specific parts of the sea floor in the company of other Obamus. This finding shows that even without modern descendants, ancient animals could exhibit sophisticated behavior and habitat selection.
A dolphin-like species of kentriodontid, which lived in the western North Pacific, may have gone extinct 14 million years ago. Global cooling is thought to be a key factor in their extinction.
A new study reveals that climate warming can reduce the burial of organic carbon beneath the ocean, leading to increased atmospheric carbon release. Researchers analyzed over 50 years of seafloor sediment cores, finding a significant decrease in organic carbon burial during certain periods, particularly during the mid-Miocene era.
Researchers have developed a robot capable of sorting, manipulating, and identifying microscopic marine fossils. Forabot uses robotics and artificial intelligence to automate the tedious process of evaluating foram shells and fossils.
A recent study by researchers at MARUM and ICBM found that plankton communities have migrated to higher latitudes since the last ice age, leading to the formation of new species assemblages. These changes occurred even after ocean temperatures stabilized, suggesting a non-uniform response to global warming.
Scientists used 3D modeling to reconstruct the body of megalodon and estimate its weight, speed, and energy usage. The model suggests that megalodon was capable of eating prey up to 8m long and had a high energetic demand, likely feeding on whale blubber.
A new study reveals that subsurface ocean warming in the subpolar North Atlantic caused Heinrich Events, which led to ice sheet instability and disruption of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation. The warming facilitated melting of polar ice sheets from below, resulting in accelerated shedding of icebergs.
Researchers analyzed fossil corals to reveal changed ocean current circulation patterns. The data supports a scenario where the upper Pacific Ocean was more mixed during the last ice age, contributing to carbon storage and cooler climates.
Research by University of Texas Institute for Geophysics reveals how ancient global warming affected the Gulf of Mexico's marine life and chemistry. The study found that radiolarians thrived in the Gulf due to nutrient-rich river sediments, providing valuable lessons about current climate change.
Paleontologists discovered sets of fossils representing three new ichthyosaurs, including the largest ichthyosaur tooth ever found. The discovery includes a 15-meter-long ichthyosaur and the largest trunk vertebra in Europe, rivaling the 21-meter long Shastasaurus sikkanniensis.
A recent study reveals that Megalodon's body size was influenced by water temperature, with individuals growing larger in cooler waters. The research suggests that Bergmann's rule may have played a role in the shark's gigantism.
A new study by DePaul University researchers has found that all previously proposed body forms of the Megalodon shark are based on speculations. The lack of scientific evidence means that the public image of a massive, monstrous shark remains unchanged, while paleontologists continue to search for clues in the fossil record.
Researchers from Uppsala University found that ocean productivity declined rapidly 4.6 million years ago in tropical regions, likely caused by reduced East Asian monsoon intensity and decreased riverine nutrient supply, coinciding with changes in the Earth's orbit.
Scientists found that variations in Earth's orbit drive cycles of higher and lower diversity in coccolithophore size and shape, with rhythms of 100 and 400 thousand years. This influence may have played a role in ancient climates and climate variations during past warm periods.
Researchers have developed a database of parasite-host interactions among ancient ocean animals, shedding light on the evolution of biodiversity and the impact of parasitism on ecosystems. The study suggests that parasites can positively stabilize coastal ecosystems, making them more stable despite individual harm to hosts.
A new Stanford University study suggests that rising oxygen levels may have slowed down ancient ocean extinctions. The research found that oxygen levels beyond 40% of present atmospheric levels expanded viable ocean habitat and reduced extinction rates. This discovery has implications for understanding the fate of ocean creatures in to...
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.
Research from UBC and HKU Earth scientists reveals that massive volcanism played a key role in triggering oceanic anoxia, with CO2-induced environmental warming creating 'dead zones' over short timescales. The findings provide important insights into the sensitivity of the Earth system to global biogeochemical cycles and marine biology.
Boston College scientist Kevin G. Harrison proposes the Silica Hypothesis, which suggests that increasing ocean silica levels can remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, slowing global warming. This mechanism may be responsible for decreased atmospheric CO2 levels during glacial times and could be relevant to today's climate change.