Articles tagged with Sea Floor
The Nereus hybrid remotely operated vehicle successfully reached the deepest part of the ocean, the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench. The dive demonstrates the vehicle's capabilities for exploring the world's last frontiers and gathering images, data, and samples from extreme depths.
Researchers found that oil spills from petroleum seeps in the Santa Barbara Channel are mostly deposited on the ocean floor, with most of it being biodegraded. The study provides insights into the life cycle of oil spills and their impact on the environment.
A new study by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the University of California, Santa Barbara, has quantified oil residue in seafloor sediments from natural petroleum seeps off Santa Barbara. The oil content decreases with distance from the seeps, creating an 'oil fallout shadow'.
Studies investigate the relationship between mantle cooling, crustal thickness, and sea-level rise. Researchers also explore the impact of tectonic stretching on fault formation and the behavior of Earth's plates.
Researchers confirm that major methane increases near the end of the last Ice Age were due to wetland growth and associated methane releases, not sudden bursts of seafloor methane. The study's findings provide a significant relief as they largely rule out massive seafloor hydrate deposits as a source of methane.
Scientists discovered dynamic microbial communities in deep-sea mud volcanoes and brine pools with harsh conditions, supporting life processes on early Earth, Mars, and moons like Jupiter's Europa. These findings provide new insights into microbial adaptation and the potential for life beyond Earth.
Elgar, an oceanographer at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, was chosen from 468 nominees to conduct long-term research on challenging technical issues underpinning the DoD. He will investigate rip currents and their impact on public safety and defense interests.
The newly-laid MARS cable enables the use of MOBB's broadband seismometer data in real-time with other land-based stations to determine earthquake locations and mechanisms. This improvement aims to enhance understanding of the San Andreas fault system and provide early warnings for ground shaking.
Scientists use Autosub, a robot submarine, to map the seabed and underside of Pine Island Glacier in Antarctica. The mission aims to understand why the glacier is thinning and accelerating over recent decades.
Researchers used computer modeling to reconstruct a 1100km subducted tectonic plate and found a connection between New Caledonia and northern New Zealand. The discovery provides evidence of a geographical link between the two islands at that time, shedding light on evolution in the region.
Researchers found black gold bubbles in sunlight reflections on the ocean's surface, revealing a new technique to detect oil seeps. This method could provide timely and cost-effective means to survey oceans for oil spills and monitor human-induced releases.
Research on seamounts reveals that many animals are not exclusive to these underwater mountains and can be found in other deep-sea areas. The study identifies distinctive groups of corals and sponges, as well as sea cucumbers, which are rare or absent on other seafloor areas.
Scientists discovered 70-million-year-old tubular escape hatches in a formation near Denver, Colorado, which were previously identified as fossilized tubeworms. The findings reveal the potential for methane gas to seep out of geologic seals, impacting petroleum reservoirs and CO2 injection.
A new study reveals diatoms' diversity peaked at least 10 million years before grasslands became common, suggesting a sudden drop in species numbers around 33 million years ago. This trend coincides with severe global cooling, casting doubt on the theory that nutrient influx from grasslands drove diatom success.
The MARS Observatory is a deep-sea ocean observatory that allows researchers to continuously monitor the dark world of the deep sea. It enables real-time data and video transmission from instruments installed on the seafloor.
Researchers found Hurricane Ike significantly reshaped the seafloor, erasing shell-gravel ridges and creating 'erosional pits' up to five feet deep. The storm also mobilized sediments over large regions, with most movement associated with the back surge.
A team of earth scientists found ocean floor geysers in the Pacific Ocean that warm flowing sea water. This discovery suggests possible marine life in a previously barren area.
Researchers have successfully selected two sites for a pioneering seafloor laboratory off Washington and Oregon, thanks to the help of Sentry, an autonomous underwater vehicle. The lab will explore the ocean's ability to absorb greenhouse gases and study seafloor stresses that cause earthquakes and tsunamis.
Researchers discovered that microbes beneath the sea floor are genetically distinct and dominate life's biomass, with a unique metabolism and slow growth rate. The study found that these microbes could survive major Earth impacts and potentially be a reservoir of novel genetic material.
Researchers discovered 90 billion tons of microbial organisms living in the deep biosphere, with Archaea making up 87% of the biomass. The microorganisms thrive in extreme conditions, such as high pressure and low energy supply.
A new study suggests that iceberg scouring in Antarctic waters is increasing, posing a significant threat to marine life. The duration of winter sea ice has dramatically declined over the past few decades, leading to more frequent iceberg disturbances on the seabed.
Massive underwater volcanic eruptions occurred 23 thousand years before a global oceanic anoxic event, leading to the extinction of ocean life. The eruptions released nutrients and oxygen-depleting gases, causing a chain reaction that ultimately led to the mass extinction.
A new study suggests that undersea volcanic rocks could be used to store huge amounts of carbon dioxide, potentially capturing up to 150 years of U.S. emissions. Scientists have identified a vast basalt formation off the West Coast that could be suitable for carbon sequestration through natural chemical reactions.
An international team of researchers has discovered extensive layers of volcanic ash on the seafloor of the Gakkel Ridge in the Arctic Ocean, indicating a gigantic volcanic eruption. The find challenges previous assumptions that explosive volcanism cannot occur at great water depths.
Researchers found pyroclastic deposits, glassy rock fragments, and talus blocks at 4,000 meters below sea surface. The discovery suggests that deep-sea volcanic eruptions are possible due to high CO2 buildup in magma.
A recent study reveals thousands of times more bacteria on the seafloor than in the water above, with higher diversity and abundance compared to hydrothermal vents. This discovery has significant implications for our understanding of the deep-sea carbon cycle and the emergence of life.
Scientists from CSIRO tracked and mapped the habitats of 50 gulper sharks, swellsharks, and green eye dogfish near Port Lincoln, South Australia. The research aimed to evaluate the conservation value of closed areas designed to protect vulnerable shark species.
Bottom trawling stirs up sediment plumes that can be seen from space, causing widespread damage to corals, sponges, and other animals. New satellite images reveal the extent of this destruction, highlighting the need for alternative fishing methods.
The expedition's data indicates the foot of the continental slope off Alaska is over 100 nautical miles farther from the U.S. coast than previously thought, supporting U.S. claims to natural resources in the area. The findings also shed light on the geological history and bathymetry of the Arctic region.
A geologist at the University of Leicester has proposed an enormous exhibition to showcase the Earth's 64-million-year history, highlighting the brevity of human civilization. The massive core would measure 1.5km long, with key events marked along its length, including the evolution of humans and past climactic upheavals.
Researchers have discovered a unique hydrothermal vent system, defying long-held assumptions about volcanism-driven vents. The system involves cold water descending through buried chimneys and emerging at the surface through numerous vents.
Researchers at University of California, Santa Barbara study ocean floor seeps and find that only 1% of dissolved methane escapes into the air, with most transported below surface where it's oxidized by microbial activity. This discovery offers a potential solution to mitigating climate change.
The GITEWS consortium has finalized key components, including automatic data processing software SeisComP3 and underwater communication systems. The ocean modeling calculations are also complete, enabling the system to be set into operation at the end of 2008.
Researchers found strong variation in tectonic stresses in the Nankai Trough, a region notorious for generating devastating earthquakes and tsunamis. The study used advanced drilling technology to collect data on rock and sediment density, porosity, and other geological properties.
A 60,000-year-old submarine landslide produced the longest recorded flow of sand and mud on Earth, spanning 1,500 kilometers. The massive event transported sediment volumes equivalent to 10 times those carried by all Earth's rivers annually.
Scientists have identified a major fault and recent fault activity that contribute to massive tsunamis in the Nankai Trough. The research provides insights into the risk of giant tsunamis in other regions, allowing for better assessments and mitigation strategies.
The new dredge, which uses jets of water to lift scallops off the seafloor without physically contacting it, caught 50-60% of a normal catch rate in field tests. This technology has the potential to reduce damage to marine habitat and catch essential fish species.
Researchers have discovered large colonies of glass sponges thriving on the seafloor off Washington state, extending the range of reef-building species into open ocean. The sponge reefs support a dense ecosystem of sea life, including zooplankton, fish and crustaceans, in a previously sparsely populated area.
Researchers found that fragmented structure of seafloor faults and volcanic activity dampen the effects of earthquakes. This contradicts conventional wisdom about transform faults, which should be longer and more brittle.
A University of Utah study reveals that temperature differences within Earth's crust and upper mantle explain about half of North America's elevation. Coastal cities, including New York City and Boston, would be underwater if not for the buoyant effect of heat on rock, with elevations ranging from 1,427 to 3,756 feet below sea level.
A multidisciplinary research team, including experts from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, will conduct the first search for life on the seafloor of the world's most isolated ocean. The team uses three new autonomous underwater vehicles to sniff out chemical and temperature signals of hot fluids venting out of the ocean floor.
A new study warns that massive sulphide deposits near hydrothermal vents could smother and contaminate rare organisms, potentially threatening the origins of life on Earth. The mining process could also raise nutrients in the ocean, causing algal blooms and disrupting food chains.
The Medusa hydrothermal vent field, discovered off Costa Rica, features hot iron-darkened water attracting unusual marine life. Researchers have found pink jellyfish, spiky tubeworm casings, and heat-tolerant organisms thriving in extreme conditions.
Researchers completed laying a 52 km cable for the Monterey Accelerated Research System (MARS) observatory, providing power and data connectivity to deep-sea instruments. The MARS system will enable continuous monitoring of ocean conditions, allowing scientists to track changes over time.
A team of geoscientists has discovered physical evidence of ancient plate tectonics in southern Greenland, dating back to 3.8 billion years ago. The finding suggests that seafloor spreading and oceanic crust formation occurred as far back as the early history of Earth.
Deep-sea hydrothermal vents are found above volcanoes where upwelling of the mantle and spreading of the plates are aligned, allowing magma to breach the crust. In contrast, non-aligned zones lack hot smokers due to cooling and volatiles loss as magma moves laterally.
A recent study found that a magnitude 8.0 earthquake in Tonga was likely a slab-tearing event, which explains why the resulting tsunami was relatively small and caused no damage. The researchers deployed seven seismograph stations to record aftershocks beneath the surface, providing insights into the nature of earthquakes in the region.
Researchers propose an alternative hypothesis for pingo-like features forming underwater: methane hydrate decomposing beneath the seafloor releases gas, squeezing up sediments. Geologic fieldwork and chemical analysis suggest warming seafloor sediment triggers decomposition of buried hydrates.
A University of Missouri-Columbia researcher is deploying sensors on a mid-ocean ridge to capture rare underwater data, providing valuable insights into volcanic activity and its effects on ocean chemistry. The project aims to improve our understanding of the Earth's oceans, which cover over 70% of the planet.
Scientists discover that seismic data cannot reliably map boundaries between rock units in young oceanic crust, altering views on new crust formation and life deep below the seafloor. Despite this limitation, seismic data holds keys to understanding fluid circulation and subsurface biosphere.
Scientists study Arctic sea floor composition and ocean characteristics to better understand climate change impact.
Researchers captured an unprecedented view of an underwater volcanic eruption using instruments on the seafloor. The discovery revealed new information about the geological and biological processes at play in deep-sea environments.
Maya Tolstoy and colleagues were thrilled to discover that two-thirds of their ocean bottom seismometers were trapped in fresh lava flows, giving them a unique opportunity to study the process of seafloor spreading. Preliminary analysis reveals signs of recent volcanic eruptions and suggests that future eruptions may be forecastable.
Researchers from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution successfully anticipated and chronicled a seafloor eruption along the global mid-ocean ridge, providing a rare opportunity to observe what happens in the immediate aftermath of an event. The study has added substantially to our understanding of how mid-ocean ridges work.
Researchers at Brown University and Columbia's Earth Institute recovered two lost ocean-bottom seismometers, providing unprecedented insights into the process of seafloor spreading. The data from the instruments reveals increasing seismic activity before a major episode of seafloor creation, offering a unique 'ear to earth's belly'.
A team of scientists has observed bizarre deep-sea communities living around methane seeps off New Zealand's east coast, including tube worms, shell beds, and coral. The expedition discovered four types of chemosynthetic habitats in close proximity, providing valuable insights into the distribution patterns of biological life.
A German-French research team found specialised microorganisms thriving in the ice-cold Arctic deep-sea, which feed on methane and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The study showed that high flow velocities of mud volcano water reduce the efficiency of natural gas filters by 60%.
The University of Victoria-led NEPTUNE Canada observatory will receive a significant boost in funding, allowing for expansion of its scope and scientific impact. The additional $20 million will enable more comprehensive studies on ocean-climate interactions, fisheries, gas hydrate deposits, and seafloor ecology.
Scientists have documented unprecedented warmth in the Arctic Ocean, with recent surges of warm water from the North Atlantic Ocean continuing to pulse into the region. This increase in warm water could lead to a warmer state in the Arctic Ocean, affecting global climate patterns.
The invasive Didemnum species continues to thrive on Georges Bank, with colonies found in two areas where they were also detected in previous years. Scientists are concerned about the impact on local fisheries and shellfish aquaculture industries.