Articles tagged with Sea Floor
Researchers at the National Oceanography Centre revealed a unique cold volcanic vent in Antarctica, differing from classic hydrothermal vents. The study used high-resolution camera platforms to image the seafloor and detected a low-lying plume of shimmering water, indicating hydrothermal fluid seeping through sediment.
A team of Max Planck researchers discovered that sunken wood can serve as a temporary habitat for rare deep-sea animals. The wood's degradation by bacteria produces hydrogen sulfide, attracting species that rely on these compounds for energy, such as cold-seep mussels.
A rapid response science team from the University of Texas at Austin will map the impact of Hurricane Sandy on Long Island's offshore barrier system. The study aims to restore sand and protect coastal residences, estuaries, and ecosystems affected by the storm.
Sebastian Valanko's PhD thesis investigates dispersal strategies and mechanisms of benthic invertebrates, shedding light on their importance for recovery after disturbance. Understanding dispersal patterns is key to interpreting changes in diversity across different spatial scales, enabling better conservation and management decisions.
Researchers have uncovered a system of active gas springs in the Haifa Bay seabed, at relatively shallow depths. The discovery poses significant ecological risks and highlights the need for thorough research to prevent infrastructure failures and mitigate climate change impacts.
Researchers at Aarhus University discovered bacteria that function as live electric cables, conducting electric currents over centimeter-long distances. These 'cable bacteria' contain insulated wires that transfer electrons, allowing them to thrive in oxygen-free parts of the seabed.
Biologists have recorded a significant increase in plastic litter on the seabed of the Arctic deep sea, with quantities doubling over the past decade. The main victims of this contamination are deep-sea inhabitants, which can suffer injuries, impaired breathing, and reduced reproduction due to contact with plastic.
A new fossil discovery provides evidence that simpler worm-like mollusks evolved from more complex shelled brethren, rather than the other way around. The find clarifies evolutionary relationships among mollusks, including oysters and mussels.
Recent studies in Lithosphere magazine reveal that vertical-axis rotations can significantly impact shortening estimates with potential errors of up to 14%. Additionally, researchers investigate non-Pratt component of oceanic isostasy, finding a dynamic response within the Earth's mantle necessary for equilibrium. Meanwhile, pulsed def...
Rhabdopleurids, tiny bottom-dwelling critters, have survived for over 500 million years by staying relatively unchanged. They predate ancient pelagic graptolites that went extinct 350 million years ago, highlighting the value of conservative evolution.
A study by University of Rhode Island oceanographers and colleagues found drastically lower values for total biomass in marine sediments, reducing the estimated mass of all life on Earth by about one-third. The researchers collected sediment cores from open-ocean areas to obtain more accurate data.
A recent study by a German-US science team estimates that there is about 4 billion tons of carbon stored in subseafloor microbes, reducing the total amount of carbon stored in living organisms by about one third. This new finding challenges previous estimates based on drill cores taken in nutrient-rich areas.
A new NOAA survey using the Seahorse instrument has confirmed high numbers of young sea scallops off Delaware Bay. The findings are promising for the future of the scallop fishery, with many juveniles showing potential to grow to commercial size in about three years.
Researchers will study Axial Seamount to understand subseafloor microbial processes, carbon cycle, and virus-microbe interactions. They aim to 'break open the black box' of deep-sea microbiology.
A Caltech-led team reports on the first high-resolution observations of the 2012 Sumatra earthquake, which ruptured along multiple faults at nearly right angles. The study provides fresh insights into the possibility of complex earthquakes occurring elsewhere, including California's San Andreas fault.
Researchers deployed a combined sonar system to monitor fish and diving seabirds interacting with tidal turbines. The study aims to understand how water flow and turbulence affect marine wildlife, informing the development of renewable energy structures.
Researchers at Oregon State University used data from underwater hydrophones and seismic analysis to detect an abrupt spike in energy about 2.6 hours before the eruption, suggesting a new method for predicting undersea volcanic activity. The study also revealed insights into the link between magma intrusion and seafloor deformation.
MoLab measures biological, physical, chemical, or geological parameters over several months and square kilometers. The system investigates the impact of climate change on corals and their ecosystems.
Research reveals histamine plays a central role in controlling purple sea urchin metamorphosis, regulating cell death and settlement. Histamine's presence inhibits programmed cell death, allowing larvae to mature into adult forms.
A team of scientists developed a new method to calculate the pace of life in deep sediments, using amino acid signatures to determine microorganism activity. They found that metabolism occurs at a much slower rate in the deep seabed compared to other ecosystems.
A team of researchers has developed a new method to calculate the activity level of microorganisms in the deepest layers of the seabed. The study reveals that these slow-growing bacteria play a crucial role in the global storage of organic carbon, affecting the oxygen content of the atmosphere.
Researchers have made significant discoveries about the New Madrid Seismic Zone, including its kinematics and potential for stepover structures. Additionally, studies on landslide prediction, gas domes in soft sediments, and regional moisture balance control offer new perspectives on geological phenomena.
Researchers found that organic matter from tree trunks, leaves, and kukui nuts supports abundant macro-invertebrates, which serve as food for bottom fish species. The 'canyon effect' is obliterated at intermediate depths due to oxygen minimum zones.
Researchers from UNH's Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping used multibeam echo sounders to map the entire Mariana Trench, discovering four bridges spanning its depth of 10,994 meters. The bridges are thought to be formed by the collision of tectonic plates, providing new insights into Earth's complex geology.
Researchers will monitor the Cascadia subduction zone's strain buildup using a new seafloor geodesy observatory. This data will aid in modeling fault slip and predicting tsunami heights, ultimately informing city planners and emergency response managers.
Scientists have found microbial succession in microbes on deep-sea hydrothermal vents, where life adapts to replace extinct communities with iron and sulfur-rich environments. Researchers at USC uncovered evidence of ecological succession on dormant vents, replacing heat-dependent microbes with new species.
Scientists have revealed the world's deepest known 'black smoker' vents, which may be hotter than 450 °C and are home to thousands of a new shrimp species. The discovery suggests that deep-sea vents may be more widespread around the world than previously thought.
Genoveva Gonzalez Mirelis analyzed over 2 million map tiles in Kosterhavet National Park to create a spatial distribution of benthic communities, including deepwater corals and Norway lobster. This method can help preserve environments and species for future generations by informing marine planning and regulations.
New calculations by Rice University researchers suggest that the ocean may have stored as much methane hydrate 56 million years ago as it does today. This could have released massive amounts of carbon, causing drastic climate change. The discovery challenges previous assumptions about the impact of methane hydrates on global climate.
The November GSA Today science article explores why the Southern Gulf of California ruptured so rapidly, attributing it to an oblique divergence across a thin and hot, weak lithosphere. This process allowed for rapid deformation and stretching of the crust, resulting in new sea floor formation in just 6-10 million years.
Researchers from UNH and NOAA successfully mapped over 17,000 square kilometers of the Gulf of Mexico using multibeam sonar technology. The technology detects gas seeps in the water column with remarkable accuracy, providing essential data for understanding ocean environments and regulating oil-drilling activities.
Researchers have found numerous channels allowing methane to reach the seafloor, and discovered solid hydrate formations that can release gas as the ocean warms. This study aims to improve understanding of methane origins, escape routes, and potential impacts on global climate change.
A team of scientists, including students from the University of Miami Rosenstiel School, studied the sounds of California mantis shrimp to understand their communication methods. They found that males made rhythmic 'rumbles' in groups of three to attract females and defend territories.
Researchers found diverse mineralogies in two troughs of Noctis Labyrinthus, Mars, indicating a potentially habitable environment and liquid water presence. Additionally, studies on EarthScope seismic observations and the formation of high delta18O fayalite-bearing A-type granite reveal key factors for these unique rock types.
A recent study discovered a large, reproductive population of king crabs in the Palmer Deep along the west Antarctic Peninsula. The species is now established on the continental shelf in West Antarctica and has the potential to drastically reduce seafloor biodiversity. This finding highlights the invasive nature of the king crab popula...
A team of scientists successfully forecast the eruption of Axial Seamount, an undersea volcano located off the Oregon coast. The eruption, which began in April, is believed to be at least three times larger than the previous 1998 eruption.
Research off the Crozet Islands found that natural iron fertilisation boosts organic matter supply to the seafloor, supporting a larger abundance of deep-sea animals. This contrasts with areas limited by iron availability, resulting in distinct differences in species composition and community structure.
A new study reveals that Antarctic krill feed on iron-rich fragments from the sea floor, releasing it into the water and stimulating phytoplankton growth. This process enhances the ocean's natural storage of carbon dioxide, with implications for managing commercial krill fisheries.
A thick plateau of hard, compacted sediments helped spread the rupture from tens of kilometers below to just a few kilometers below, unleashing larger tsunami waves. The study suggests locations with large thicknesses of sediments may promote more significant tsunamis during great earthquakes.
Researchers discovered a unique sequence of geologic events that triggered Japan's devastating tsunami, including an unusual 'two-faced' rupture on the fault plane and extreme dynamic overshoot. This finding highlights the need to better understand similar earthquakes in other subduction zones around the world.
A team of researchers deployed an observatory system to study microbial life in the ocean crust, revealing a large reservoir of seawater that supports a dynamic ecosystem. The study provides insights into hydrogeology, geochemistry, and microbiology, with potential applications for understanding earthquakes and carbon storage.
In a 26-year study, marine invertebrates in Port Valdez have stabilized to resemble an undisturbed glacial fjord. This recovery was facilitated by the dominant species Capitellidae, known for their opportunistic nature.
The UK's first fully protected marine reserve is already providing positive results for both fishermen and conservationists after only two years in operation. The reserve has seen a significant increase in commercially valuable scallops and several species of algae promoting biodiversity.
Marine scientists compiled a directory of life on Australia's continental shelf, identifying 37 environmental factors shaping seabed life. The new maps and knowledge highlight complex patterns of biodiversity across the country's shelf habitats.
Researchers used fossil coral reefs and sediment slides to detect historic earthquake patterns, creating an underwater map of the Red Sea floor. This method can be applied anywhere, including Japan and the west coast of the U.S., helping city engineers pinpoint high-risk locations ahead of potential earthquakes.
Researchers studied earthquakes, volcanoes and land use in North America. They found evidence of localized active extension in Italy's central Apennines and a unique rare earth element signature in hydrothermal systems.
A team of researchers from MBARI and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary will use a robotic submarine to study the biological impacts of a shipping container on the seafloor. The goal is to determine what effects, if any, the container has had on seafloor life.
Researchers studying historical collections found that a marine bryozoan's growth doubled between 1990 and the present, indicating an increase in polar carbon sinks. The shift is likely due to ozone losses and increased wind speeds, which boost plankton production.
Researchers collected ancient rock samples from underwater volcanoes, shedding light on the formation of hotspots and volcanic trails. The expedition aimed to determine if hotspots are stationary or move over time.
Researchers have discovered four new deep-sea vents in the Southern Ocean, challenging previous assumptions about their distribution and evolution. The vents, found near the South Sandwich Islands, support unique microbial communities and are part of a larger project to study ocean chemistry and life diversity.
Researchers are developing new tools to analyze vast amounts of data from ocean sensors, cameras, and sonar. The collaboration aims to integrate and enhance this data to make it more easily consumable by scientists and the public.
A comprehensive database analysis found a strong positive relationship between surface production and organic matter export, driving predicted patterns of seafloor biomass. Seafloor biomass is highest around the poles and equator due to nutrient-rich upwelling waters, while central abyssal plains exhibit consistently low values.
Researchers have found a vast microbial ecosystem in the porous basalt rock of the upper oceanic crust, producing organic matter and exporting carbon to other systems. The discovery may influence astrobiological thinking about life on Europa and expand our understanding of the oceanic carbon cycle.
Scientists are using Alvin and Sentry to explore the ocean floor in the Gulf of Mexico, searching for signs of impact from the 2010 oil spill. The expedition aims to map the seafloor, collect samples, and document the effects on deep-ocean communities.
This special issue explores the geological changes in the southern margin of Laurentia using Magnetotelluric Transportable Array data, discovering a Jurassic backarc basin in the Gulf of Mexico and revealing new insights into Monterey Submarine Canyon's axial channel. 3D petrography techniques also shed light on pumice clast size distr...
Researchers observe sills forming at shallow depths in sediment layers, releasing nutrient-rich fluids and significant amounts of CO2 and methane. This novel mechanism may influence ocean cycles and climate.
The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution will collaborate with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to develop new tools for analyzing underwater imagery data sets, enhancing scientific knowledge of marine ecosystems. The project aims to address challenges in converting large datasets into actionable insights.
Research finds that tsunamis can be triggered by moderate earthquakes on strike-slip faults, posing a significant threat to coastal cities. In Haiti's case, three-quarters of tsunamis are generated by submarine landslides, unlike the previously estimated 3% globally.
A team of scientists, led by URI oceanography professor Steven D'Hondt, will embark on a nine-week expedition to the South Pacific Gyre to drill into the basaltic basement and search for evidence of life. The team aims to test whether microbial communities can be sustained by hydrogen released from radioactive water decay.
A new study estimated human activities' impact on the North East Atlantic deep seafloor, finding bottom trawling has a greater physical footprint than other major activities. The research highlights the need for better data collection and management to protect seafloor ecosystems.