Articles tagged with Sea Floor
The 'MiningImpact' project monitors the first in-situ test of a prototype collector vehicle, assessing environmental impacts of deep-sea mining on ecosystems. The study aims to inform improved standards for mining codes, focusing on ecosystem health and biodiversity loss.
Deeply subducted serpentinite rocks are found to carry surface water as far as 700 kilometers into the mantle, allowing scientists to trace material exchange. The presence of these rocks confirms a long-suspected pathway for deep-Earth recycling.
Researchers investigated methane hydrate deposit in deep-sea fan of Danube in western Black Sea, finding dynamic situation related to Black Sea development since last ice age. The study suggests gas hydrates decompose due to salinity, pressure, and temperature changes, with implications for climate change
Fish can have scaled, armoured or naked skin; researchers found that only naked fish can develop a bony armour. The protective state of their skin influenced their choice of open water or sea floor habitats.
Researchers developed a new method to model complex earthquake rupture processes affecting systems of multiple faults. The approach was applied to the magnitude 7.9 Gulf of Alaska earthquake, revealing irregular behavior linked to pre-existing ocean floor features, including fracture zones and plate-bending faults.
A new study published in Geology indicates that Arctic ice melt can trigger methane releases from buried reserves. Researchers measured carbon isotopes in ancient shells and found evidence of violent methane spurts during past sea-ice melt events, suggesting similar releases may occur again. The findings highlight the importance of con...
Iron, a micronutrient crucial for phytoplankton, is being released from deep ocean sediments, providing a new source of nutrition for drifting marine organisms. This finding challenges previous expectations and has significant implications for studying the ocean carbon cycle and managing the marine environment.
An international team of researchers has discovered a new type of basalt beneath the Pacific Ocean, which was formed during large and exceptionally hot volcanic eruptions. The discovery suggests that ocean floor eruptions sourced in the Earth's mantle were even hotter and more voluminous than previously thought.
A groundbreaking global study maps ocean areas that, if strongly protected, can help solve climate, food and biodiversity crises. The research identified specific regions that could provide multiple benefits, including safeguarding nearly 80% of marine species and preventing the release of one billion tons of CO2 into the ocean.
A new study published in Nature reveals that transform faults are actively involved in shaping the ocean floors, contradicting a previous assumption. The research found that these faults cause extension of the seafloor and magmatism at their outer corners.
An international study has identified a new fossil record of giant predatory worms in marine sediments from Taiwan, revealing they inhabited the seafloor until 5.3 million years ago. The worms, similar to today's Bobbit worm, lived in burrows and had strong jaws to capture prey.
Fossil burrows from northeast Taiwan reveal that giant ambush-predator worms, possibly ancestors of the 'bobbit worm', colonized the seafloor around 20 million years ago. The L-shaped burrows, reconstructed by Ludvig Löwemark and colleagues, provide a rare glimpse into these creatures' behavior beneath the seafloor.
The ocean floor is accumulating marine litter, with plastics and fishing gears dominating seafloor litter hotspots. The study highlights the need for new methodologies and tools to quantify litter occurrence and distribution.
A recent study found that ancient oceans were more resilient to climate change than previously thought, with limited expansion of seafloor anoxia during the Paleocene Eocene Thermal Maximum. However, current human activities are expected to drive more rapid and expansive oxygen loss due to higher carbon emissions and nutrient pollution.
Researchers developed a state-of-the-art model that revealed high complexity in rupture processes even in simple oceanic faults. The study used seismic data from around the world to build a model of the 2020 Caribbean earthquake, finding variations in rupture speed and direction.
Scientists at University of Sydney discover volcanic activity along Australia's east coast is caused by a special volatile mix of molten rock bubbling up from the younger, thinner crust. The findings, published in Science Advances, suggest there could be more volcanic activity in the future.
Researchers at RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research use electric rays and sting rays to create maps of the seabed, collecting data on ocean wildlife and resources. The method is cost-effective and has been shown to be accurate, with positioning errors within 10cm of existing seabed maps.
A team of researchers from the University of Rhode Island discovered single-celled microorganisms living in sediments at 120 degrees Celsius, where they didn't expect to find them. The study found evidence of metabolism and temperature regimes that make these environments habitable.
At a depth of 1,180 meters, temperatures of up to 120 degrees Celsius were reached, but microbial populations collapsed at around 45 degrees. Endospores, dormant cells of certain bacteria, increased rapidly and persisted in hot zones.
Researchers have found that frozen hydrate formations can facilitate the release of methane gas from deep-sea environments. By creating channels and directing flow, hydrate formation enables the gas to persist in its gaseous form for longer periods.
Research reveals that 14 out of 18 species observed suffered damage from pot fishing, including indicators of general health in the marine environment. The study highlights the need for authorities and fishing communities to balance ecology with social and economic considerations.
The deep-sea food web is significantly disrupted by deep-seabed mining, especially the microbial part of the carbon cycle. Microbes are found to be more than one-third less active in cycling carbon.
A recent study used OBS data to clarify the formation mechanism of the Double-peak seamount in the Northwest Sub-basin (NWSB) of the South China Sea (SCS). The survey revealed a high velocity layer at the bottom of the crust, indicating possible in-situ mantle serpentinization or lower crust magma underplating. The study enriches the d...
A study published in Coral Reefs finds that materials in seawater affect light availability and wavelength on coral reefs, impacting photosynthesis and ecological zonation. Researchers used an instrument called a profiling reflectance radiometer to collect data profiles across Hawaiian and Bermudian reefs.
Researchers have discovered deep seabed channels beneath Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica that may be the pathway for warm ocean water to melt the underside of the ice. The findings suggest that these channels could play a critical role in contributing to future global sea level rise.
Scientists have discovered that hydrogen depletion at hydrothermal vent fluids is not caused by microorganisms, but rather by non-biological processes. This finding has significant implications for understanding the global hydrogen budget and constraining the extent of a deep biosphere.
A new study warns of the potential harm of deep-seabed mining on seabed ecosystems, highlighting a need for better understanding of their sensitivity and biodiversity. The researchers emphasize that many deep-sea ecosystems will be highly sensitive to seafloor mining and are likely to be impacted over larger scales than predicted.
A new study reveals that microbes in the seabed can survive on extremely low levels of energy, with some using methane and sulphate as alternative sources. This discovery challenges our understanding of life's limits and has significant implications for Earth's carbon and nutrient cycles.
A recent study found that coastal cities' street lights can permeate all areas of the water column, posing a significant threat to coastal species. Biologically important artificial light pollution reached 76% and 70% of the seafloor in green and blue wavelengths, respectively.
Scientists revive ancient deep-sea microbes from 100 million-year-old sediment, showing life can persist in nutrient-limited environments. The findings suggest that microorganisms can survive for geological time scales and even multiply under the right conditions.
The IBCAO 4.0 bathymetric chart provides a detailed map of the Arctic Ocean with higher and better resolution data than previous versions. The new chart reveals a great variety of glacial origins and helps to reconstruct geological processes in arctic latitudes.
Researchers discovered 67% of examined sharks contained microplastics and man-made fibers, emphasizing the widespread nature of plastic pollution. The study highlights potential sources of microplastic contamination, including fishing lines and textile waste.
Researchers found that certain species of foraminifera can survive and thrive in anoxic environments with high levels of toxic hydrogen sulfide. The organisms exploit soluble organic material as a source of carbon and energy, playing a crucial role in anaerobic nutrient cycles.
After the Chicxulub asteroid impact, life on the seafloor recovered with some changes to community structure within 700,000 years. The diversity and abundance of trace fossils responded primarily to variations in organic matter flux.
A new study highlights the need for further assessment of ecological impacts from deep-sea mining, which could harm vast midwater ecosystems and affect fisheries, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity. The International Seabed Authority must consider midwater research efforts to minimize environmental harm.
An international research group has demonstrated a mechanism for explosive disintegration of magma under water pressure. The team used a diving robot to examine ash deposits on the seabed and conducted experiments in a laboratory setting, revealing processes similar to those that occurred at a depth of 1,000 meters on the sea floor.
A remote at-sea science expedition has completed a first look at the deep waters of the Coral Sea, discovering new corals and possible species never before seen. The team mapped over 35,500 square kilometers of seafloor, creating detailed maps that will be available for scientific research and management.
Scientists have discovered four new genera and four new species of giant single-celled xenophyophores in the Pacific Ocean. The newly described species provide insights into the ecology and importance of these organisms in deep-sea ecosystems, which could be impacted by seafloor mining.
The deep seafloor is a largely unexplored habitat that plays a critical role in the Earth's carbon cycle. Long-term studies at Station M have dramatically changed marine biologists' perceptions of life in the deep sea, revealing dynamic changes and connections between surface and seafloor conditions.
A study published in Scientific Reports reveals that plastic objects found in the deep sea, such as a plastic bag and curd box, show no signs of degradation after 25 years. The findings indicate that microbial communities on plastic surfaces differ from those in surrounding sediments, suggesting a potential impact on marine ecosystems.
A recent study has mapped the geological structures underlying massive methane craters in the Barents Sea, shedding new light on their formation and potential risks. The research suggests that deep cracks in the bedrock, which date back 250 million years, control the size and shape of the craters and are the source of the leaking methane.
Researchers from Cardiff University have identified specific conditions along the ocean floor where tectonic plates creep past each other instead of generating catastrophic earthquakes. This discovery could help scientists better understand stress at fault lines and improve earthquake forecasting.
A study by the University of the Basque Country reveals 12 former coastlines under the sea off the Basque coast, formed due to major climate changes and fluctuations in sea levels. The researchers used advanced technology to create 3D maps of the seabed, showing irregularly distributed rocky platforms that had not been predefined.
Researchers used seismic data to calculate the maximum speed at which an ice sheet can retreat, revealing historic retreat rates that are almost ten times faster than those observed today. The study found that the ice sheets surrounding Antarctica's coastline retreated at speeds of up to 50 meters per day during regional deglaciation.
New study reveals Antarctica's ice sheets retreated at a rate of over 10 kilometers per year, much faster than current rates. High-resolution seafloor mapping allows researchers to uncover the complex history of glacial dynamics and provide insights into past sea-level rise.
The benthic biomass on the continental shelf of the Antarctic Weddell Sea declined by two-thirds between 1988 and 2014, with a drastic change in composition. The study's findings indicate that increased sea-ice cover and thicker snow cover have concrete negative effects on benthic organisms and ecosystem productivity.
Scientists have discovered a 200-million-year-old fossil showing a squid-like creature attacking its prey, including a herring-like fish. The fossil, dated to the Sinemurian period, suggests a violent predation event that ultimately led to the death and preservation of both animals.
Scientists have found life bubbling up from deep beneath the ocean floor along with petroleum fluids, diversifying microbial communities and impacting carbon cycling. The study reveals a two-way street between sedimentation and microbial exchange, offering insights into the vast subsurface realm.
Scientists have discovered the highest levels of microplastics ever recorded on the seafloor, with concentrations concentrated by powerful deep-sea currents. Microplastics are mainly comprised of fibres from textiles and clothing, and their distribution is linked to sediment-transport processes.
A new study reveals that slow-moving seafloor currents near the bottom of the ocean direct the flow of microplastics, creating hotspots in sediments. These currents supply oxygen and nutrients to deep sea creatures, increasing the chance of ingestion by toxic microplastics.
Deep-sea mining disturbs seabed ecosystems, affecting microorganisms and their biogeochemical functions for extended periods. The study found that even after 26 years, disturbance effects persisted, highlighting the need for sustainable technologies to avoid removing densely populated surface layers.
A new study reveals that plant materials from Arctic sea ice are incorporated into marine food webs, indicating the importance of sea ice ecosystems. The research shows a transition to more dependence on sea ice materials as coverage decreases, with long-term reserves of organic matter remaining accessible to seafloor animals.
Researchers discovered a community of bacteria as dense as the human gut living in tiny clay-filled cracks in solid rock millions of years old. The bacteria's presence suggests that life can thrive in conditions similar to those on Mars, where nutrient availability may be limited.
Researchers found high concentrations of microplastic particles in Fram Strait's water column and sediment. The deep sea is a major sink for microscopically small plastic particles, with sediments containing up to 13,000 particles per kilogramme.
Researchers have documented seasonal migrations of deep-sea fish across the seafloor, linking surface-ocean productivity to observed behavioral patterns. This study provides evidence of cycles of movement in deep-sea fish and suggests reasons for their behaviors, potentially mirroring great migrations on land.
Researchers found that the angle at which the ocean plate dives under the continental plate may have gradually shallowed out over millions of years, leading to the formation of an extensional fault that could have magnified the tsunami. The study used computer models and various data sets to support its findings.
Researchers found a diverse community of microbes that efficiently recycle and store organic compounds to survive in hostile environments far beneath the ocean floor. The study reveals genetic material suggests many lower crust microbes rely on carbon from their surroundings to obtain energy.
Researchers found fossilized thread-like filaments connecting organisms across nearly 40 sites in Newfoundland, Canada. The discovery may have revealed ancient social networks and challenged earlier studies of Ediacaran organisms' interactions.
Researchers have found that ocean warming is melting Greenland's ice sheet from beneath, causing rapid melting and accelerating sea level rise. The study identified a bathymetric sill near the seafloor that accelerates warm water toward the glacier, resulting in significant heat transfer and melting.
The robotic underwater vehicle, Icefin, captured unprecedented images of the grounding line, a critical area for Thwaites Glacier's stability. Researchers hope to gain a clearer picture of its condition, as it contributes significantly to global sea-level rise. The data collected will help predict future changes with more certainty.