Articles tagged with Sea Floor
Recent URI study reveals two oceanic provinces of deeply buried microbial activity, with high activity found along continental margins where methane and sulfate intersect. Microbial respiration rates differ vastly between open-ocean and continental margin environments.
Geologists at Rice University have located the intersection of the Nubian, Somalian and Antarctic plates within a 100-kilometer-wide region known as the Andrew Bain Fracture Zone Complex. The research provides new insights into the relationship between African plates, including the tectonic processes that created the East African Rift.
Researchers from Texas A&M University embark on a voyage to understand the abundance and diversity of deep-sea microbes, estimated to number between 10-30% of Earth's biota. The JOIDES Resolution drillship samples cores containing these microbes from previously drilled sites in the eastern equatorial and southeast Pacific.
Researchers propose that the continents emerged suddenly over 200 million years ago, coinciding with the formation of supercontinent Rodinia. This theory suggests that changes in plate tectonics may have triggered evolutionary activity and influenced life's evolution.
Researchers found that shipping-related imposex substances are not always transported to the seabed in stratified water. Instead, the harmful substance TBT, which causes imposex, is unable to sink through the boundaries between seawater layers.
A study suggests that a massive release of frozen methane from ocean sediments may have warmed the prehistoric Earth around 55 million years ago. The researchers propose that similar scenarios could occur in the future if oceans warm substantially, highlighting the importance of considering multiple greenhouse gases beyond carbon dioxide.
The Antarctic seafloor core suggests that Earth's orbital oscillations may be the key to controlling ice ages. The core shows regular intervals of ice sheet advances and retreats during a 400,000-year period, matching Milankovitch cycles.
A team of scientists will explore the Gulf of Mexico's extreme environments, including brine pools and cold seeps, to better understand their role in global warming. They will collect samples and study microbial processes to gain insights into methane oxidation and nutrient concentrations.
A meta-analysis of 39 impact studies reveals that bottom fishing gear types significantly affect sediment organism disturbance. Inter-tidal dredging causes the most negative impact, followed by scallop and inter-tidal raking.
University of Delaware scientists, including Craig Cary, embark on the first deep-sea dive of the new century to explore extreme organisms and understand life's origins. They will collect samples of toxic chemicals, organisms, rocks, and minerals using special instruments like deep-sea sensors.
Scientists at Oregon State University have found evidence of rock-eating microbes living nearly a mile beneath the ocean floor, which could suggest similar life on Mars or other planets. The discovery suggests that conditions similar to those on Mars exist beneath the ocean floor and could support life.
Researchers have developed a system that detects trace amounts of TNT in seafloor sludge, enabling the identification of unexploded bombs. This technology could save time and resources in cleaning up sites contaminated with live explosives.
Seismologists capture detailed images of deep underground processes at mid-ocean ridges, revealing melting rock flows up in a broad zone rather than a narrow plume. This new data represents a major step forward in understanding Earth's crust formation and volcanic activity.
A zone of high-grade copper ore has been found on the Pacific floor, a discovery that could lead to similar valuable deposits on land. The finding is attributed to a deep-sea exploration project led by UC Davis geologist Robert Zierenberg.
Scientists have mapped a previously uncharted area of the Southwest Indian Ridge, revealing a steepest underwater cliff ever recorded. The discovery may shed new light on the origins of primitive life forms, with some biologists suggesting that hydrothermal vents could hold the key to life's beginnings.
A revised ocean depth model developed by Northwestern University geologists significantly better fits observed data, correcting inconsistencies in existing models. By adjusting the assumed thickness of the lithosphere to 95 kilometers, the new model accurately predicts ocean depths surrounding the Hawaiian Islands.
A significant reservoir of methane and hydrocarbons has been discovered in rock beneath the ocean floor, potentially supporting a wide range of microorganisms. The findings, presented by University of Washington oceanographer Deborah Kelley, suggest that these microbes may thrive on chemicals toxic to other life forms.
A recent National Science Foundation-funded research expedition discovered two new hot springs on the seafloor, reactivating an ancient hydrothermal system. The site provides an unprecedented opportunity for scientists to study the life cycle of a seafloor hot spring and its associated biological community.