Articles tagged with Sea Floor
Researchers from the University of Plymouth discovered coral reef bleaching at depths previously thought to be resilient, highlighting the vulnerability of mesophotic coral ecosystems to thermal stress. The study suggests that climate change is causing a deepening of the thermocline, leading to increased bleaching in the deeper ocean.
Researchers at Kyoto University have found three new species of animals living together in harmony with worms in dead coral rocks. The discovery highlights the importance of community structure and biodiversity patterns in cryptofauna, suggesting that symbiotic relationships are omnipresent in the ocean.
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.
The expedition aims to study the geological system and evolution of hydrothermal ecosystems in the Red Sea. The team will use modern seafloor observation systems and instruments like the ROV Kiel 6000 to locate and map hydrothermal habitats.
New study uses flume-tank experiments to observe changes in sediment deposits and current velocities, revealing insights into past ocean currents. The findings have huge application potential for understanding climate, pollution transport, and benthic ecology.
A recent study has discovered over 300 species of annelid worms in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, a critical area for deep-sea mining. The findings highlight the need for better biodiversity knowledge to inform environmental management and policy decisions.
The discovery of rare fossils in 130-million-year-old rocks reveals the earliest evidence of deep-sea fishes, dating back to the Early Cretaceous period. The findings shed light on an obscure chapter in the history of life on Earth, forcing scientists to reconsider factors that triggered vertebrate colonization of the deep sea.
Researchers have found large amounts of labile dissolved carbon stored in sediment interstitial water, indicating active organic carbon remineralization. The discovery suggests that earthquakes play a key role in the trench's carbon cycle and deep biosphere metabolisms.
A research team led by the University of Göttingen has discovered fossil spines that indicate the existence of irregular echinoids in the deep sea for at least 104 million years. The study provides insights into the past, including a mass extinction event that caused smaller species to thrive and changes in spine morphology.
A 2020 excavation at Auckland's Mangere Wastewater Treatment Plant yielded an unprecedented 266 fossil species, including the world's oldest known flax snails and extinct sawshark spine. The discovery provides valuable insights into New Zealand's geological history.
Sperm and northern bottlenose whales frequently feed on live halibut escaping from a deep-sea trawler net. The study found that these whales were only spotted when the catch was Greenland halibut, not redfish or thorny skate.
Researchers found that deep-sea octopus gather at the Octopus Garden to mate and nest, with warmer waters accelerating egg development and reducing incubation time. The shorter brooding period boosts reproductive success and increases offspring survival rates.
A new study led by Brown University researchers provides unprecedented insights into the forces influencing Arctic sea ice motion. The analysis reveals how local tidal currents affect sea ice movement and highlights the crucial role of the seafloor in causing abrupt changes.
A new study reveals how Aulacopleura, an ancient sea-dwelling trilobite, developed variable mid-section segments to tolerate dips in local oxygen levels. This adaptation allowed the species to thrive despite being preyed upon by larger predators.
Research reveals Kama'ehu volcano in Hawaii has erupted five times in the past 150 years. The new study uses mass spectrometry to measure radium-226 in lava samples, revealing a frequency of eruptions around 30 years. This slower rate is linked to sluggish mantle upwelling on the margin of the Hawaiian plume.
A chemical process used by cooks to create flavors and aromas is believed to have helped create conditions for complex life to evolve on Earth. The Maillard reaction, also known as the browning of food, converts small molecules into larger ones that are harder for microorganisms to break down.
Researchers found a 43% drop in fish and shrimp density around the mining zone and a 56% decrease in surrounding areas. The study suggests that sediment plumes from deep-sea mining can contaminate food sources for ocean animals.
A new discovery of ancient stone artefacts at an underwater spring off the WA Pilbara coast has confirmed the location is a submerged archaeological site with more artefacts likely hidden beneath the sea. The findings call for protection in line with UNESCO Convention on the protection of underwater cultural heritage.
Researchers have found evidence of 20 million years of 'hot spot' magmatism under the Cocos plate, with a long-lived melt channel that originated from a mantle plume. The study suggests that this channel is regionally extensive and may be a widespread source for intraplate magmatism.
Researchers at the University of Tokyo have developed a new navigation system using cosmic-ray muons, which can accurately determine position in underground environments. The MuWNS system uses time synchronization to achieve accuracy comparable to single-point GPS positioning aboveground.
The InVADER Mission successfully deployed a high-tech laser laboratory on the ocean floor, marking a paradigm shift in ocean research and exploration. The Laser Divebot collects compositional data without disturbing the environment, removing the need for physical samples.
A multidisciplinary team of scientists conducted a comprehensive study to understand the sources and sinks of plastic debris in the Southern North Sea. Local citizen scientists played a crucial role in tracking the distribution pathways of plastic particles, revealing that two-thirds were washed ashore within 25km of their release site.
Archaea of the genus Candidatus Alkanophaga use variants of methyl-coenzyme M reductase to degrade liquid petroleum alkanes at high temperatures. Bacteria of the genus Thermodesulfobacterium form consortia with archaea, facilitating degradation and contributing to the global carbon cycle.
Scientists discover hydrothermal deposits at a 5.7 km depth in the Japan Trench, indicating low-temperature hydrothermal activity and elevated CO2 and methane levels. The findings highlight the need for further studies on petit-spot volcanoes and their potential impact on global biogeochemical cycles.
A previously unidentified marine reptile fossil from Svalbard has been classified using X-ray analysis, providing unique insights into ancient life in the Norwegian archipelago. The study's findings suggest that fossils from this formation are particularly well-suited for radiographic imaging due to the presence of sulfur minerals.
Researchers have created a detailed map of the geology beneath Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica, showing that only about a fifth of the ground is sedimentary rock. This finding could affect how the glacier behaves as it retreats due to climate change, with potential implications for ice flow and loss from other glaciers.
The Clarion-Clipperton Zone is home to an estimated 5,578 different species, with 88-92% of them entirely new to science. Researchers have discovered a variety of unique species, including sea cucumbers, nematodes, and sponges.
Researchers from CSIC successfully mapped Cala Millor's shallow seabed in the Mediterranean using satellite images, highlighting the potential of this methodology in diverse ecosystems. This study contributes to improved coastal monitoring and adaptation measures against global change.
Scientists have discovered weak, fossilised sediments beneath the seafloor of Antarctica's eastern Ross Sea, which led to massive underwater landslides. These layers made the area susceptible to failure due to past climate change.
Researchers from the University of Gothenburg found that replanted eelgrass meadows can restore biodiversity rapidly, with up to 80% of invertebrates returning after just three months. The study's findings suggest smaller plot sizes can be used, saving money on restoration efforts while maintaining ecosystem health.
A Bangor University paper quantifies the carbon benefits of ending bottom trawling, finding only a small fraction of seabed carbon reacts to disturbance. The study challenges the validity of previous claims and suggests using 'carbon credits' for banning trawling may actually increase overall CO2 emissions.
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 multidisciplinary team discovers three new active hydrothermal vent fields over a 434-mile stretch of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, revealing rich biological communities and vast marine life. The discovery highlights the need for more research to understand the effects of deep-sea mining on these unique ecosystems.
Researchers confirm that water causes incipient melting, leading to reduced S-wave velocity and enhanced electrical conductivity. The presence of low-velocity zones in continental China is attributed to basal hydration weakening the lithosphere, converting it into asthenosphere.
A recent study published in Nature Communications reports finding Poly-Chlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) at the bottom of the Atacama Trench in the Pacific Ocean. The discovery highlights the persistence of PCBs, a toxic substance banned globally since the 1970s, in deep-sea environments.
Researchers have discovered a unique underwater spring in the Pacific Northwest that could provide insights into earthquake hazards. The Pythia's Oasis seep is sourced from water 2.5 miles beneath the seafloor at the plate boundary, regulating stress on the offshore fault.
Researchers analyzed concentric terraces around the Santorini caldera to better understand massive underwater volcanic eruptions. The study found that sedimentation waves can impact the sea surface, creating tsunamis and scouring the seafloor during shallow submarine eruptions.
The University of Texas at Austin is helping the Port of Corpus Christi determine if it can permanently store greenhouse gas emissions from industrial operations beneath the seafloor of the Gulf of Mexico. The project aims to store carbon dioxide emissions in geological formations deep beneath the seafloor, reducing atmospheric emissions.
Researchers developed a new method to monitor methane releases in deep-sea sediments, showing that small-scale dissociation events are occurring more often than previously detected. Fossils of benthic foraminifera from the order Miliolida have been found to record these smaller-scale events.
Research at KAUST demonstrates that most of the Red Sea is underlain by oceanic crust, overturning the assumption that it's an extended rift basin. The team mapped the transition from a rift to seafloor spreading and found approximately two-thirds of the Red Sea is currently covered by oceanic crust.
Researchers found that petroleum production from Platform Holly reduced methane seepage into the waters, confirming earlier regional studies. The study suggests harnessing gas could reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the South Ellwood Oil Field.
A research team led by Britney Schmidt deployed an underwater robot, Icefin, to explore the Kamb Ice Stream in Antarctica. The robot's findings reveal unprecedented views of ice, ocean, and sea floor interactions, which can improve models of sea-level rise.
A new UCLA-led study explains that tidal heating in Enceladus' rocky core creates currents that transport silica particles to the surface. The research suggests that these flows can pick up materials from the seafloor and bring them to the ice shell, providing evidence for hydrothermal activity at the ocean floor.
A team of researchers has identified the importance of rifted margins in the transition to a green economy. These continental margins harbor vast accumulations of rocks and hydrocarbon reserves, making them a potential location for new resources needed for a carbon-neutral economy. The study provides an overview of the processes that s...
Researchers warn of significant risks to ocean ecosystems and cetaceans from commercial-scale deep seabed mining. The study highlights the need for urgent research to assess potential impacts on cetaceans, which are highly sensitive to sound and already facing multiple stressors like climate change.
David Kohlstedt's lab recreated the mantle's conditions, observing microscopic changes and scaling up results to real-world size. This work underlies modern geophysics and has improved our understanding of earthquakes, volcanoes, and the planet's surface.
A new study reveals that changing ocean circulation strengthens precipitation patterns in the Indian Ocean, leading to more intense flood events and droughts. The research suggests a mutual amplification of these effects due to global warming and weakened ocean circulation.
Researchers found that microplastic mass sequestered in seafloor sediments mimics global plastic production from 1965 to 2016. The study revealed a tripling of microplastics deposited on the seafloor since 2000, with accumulation rates mirroring global use of plastics.
Researchers found that deep-sea trenches store 500,000 to 1.5 million tonnes of black carbon annually, which is a significant contributor to the global carbon cycle. This organic material can also support microbial life forms, counteracting the rate of CO2 accumulation in the atmosphere.
A new analytical method has been developed to map climatic and environmental processes at high temporal resolution, revealing an abrupt intensification of seasonality in the tropical ocean during the last period of global climate change. This provides evidence of how global climate changes affect local, seasonal temperature variations.
Researchers have developed a low-cost staining method to track coral larvae as they disperse and settle in coral reefs. The method uses colored dyes to differentiate between groups or species, facilitating conservation planning, behavioral ecology, and reef restoration experiments.
A new study reveals that global warming and ocean acidification are threatening marine organisms with calcium carbonate skeletons, such as corals and sea urchins. The researchers found a clear pattern showing that species with high levels of magnesium in their skeletons become more common with warmer seawater temperatures.
A recent study found that most Antarctic species' chemical compounds can repel amphipod predators but are ineffective against hermit crabs, which could decimate local populations. This highlights the vulnerability of Antarctic ecosystems to invasive species and underscores the importance of long-term research on the seafloor.
Researchers found a significant hydrothermal vent site in the Arctic Ocean's Aurora system, which could expand estimates of seafloor mineral deposits rich in copper and gold. The discovery also has implications for understanding ultra-slow spreading mid-ocean ridges and the search for extraterrestrial life.
A new study found that offshore mussel farms can increase species abundance, including Atlantic horse mackerel and European lobster, on degraded seabed habitats. The research suggests that this practice could have wider environmental benefits, supporting the national and international Blue Growth agenda.
Researchers have discovered that reef halos, visible from satellite imagery, can provide insights into coral reef health globally. These bands of bare seafloor surrounding coral patch reefs are more common and dynamic than expected, with the potential to serve as a window into reef health.
Researchers at Hokkaido University have discovered the importance of Frazil ice in producing dense cold water, which is a key component of global ocean circulation. This finding has significant implications for understanding the impact of global warming on this process.
New research from the University of Rochester and others finds that ocean methane hydrate reservoirs in mid-latitude regions will not be released to the atmosphere under warming conditions. This means that ancient methane is being stored safely on the seafloor, reducing concerns about climate change.
Researchers found that subsurface warming in the North Atlantic precedes the release of massive icebergs from Canada and the US, leading to a reduction in surface salinity and AMOC collapse. This finding sheds light on the sequence of events responsible for the collapse of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation system.
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.