Articles tagged with Sea Floor
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A new study has found that smaller-scale processes in the Earth's mantle have a more significant impact on plate tectonics than previously thought. The research used high-resolution imaging to map the flow of the mantle beneath the ocean's tectonic plates, revealing that convection channels play a crucial role in driving plate movement.
Researchers from AWI deploy ocean bottom seismometers to record earthquakes on Southwest Indian Ridge, revealing unique insights into ocean floor formation. Water circulation up to 15km deep leads to aseismic areas with soft soap-like rock that moves without jerking.
A team of LLNL researchers developed a system using shaped charges to sever an offshore drilling rig from the seabed, solving a critical challenge after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Their experiment validated their model and provided insight into effective experimental design.
Scientists have developed an algorithm to characterize ripples on the ocean floor, which can help understand storm behavior. The algorithm uses fingerprint analysis to measure ripple parameters, such as wavelength and orientation, allowing for more accurate predictions of erosion, storm surge, and overwash.
Researchers found that an underwater site off the coast of Greece was actually a natural geological formation, not the ruins of a lost civilization. The site's unique structure was created by mineralization at hydrocarbon seeps, with microbes using methane as fuel to form a type of natural cement.
A new study found that contaminants from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill persisted in the subsurface water for months, eventually accumulating on the seafloor as a 'dirty blizzard' of marine debris. The remnants of oil and drilling mud combined with microscopic algae to descend to great depths, affecting deep-sea fish and corals.
Research from UiT The Arctic University of Norway suggests that methane emissions from the seabed in the Arctic Ocean do not significantly affect the atmosphere. Scientists performed measurements near the seabed, in the ocean and atmosphere, to determine if methane is being released into the air.
Researchers found that methane release from the ocean floor followed ice sheet retreats, but the process occurred over a prolonged period. The study used radiometric dating to determine the timing of the releases, which were too slow to impact atmospheric methane concentrations.
A team of researchers from Cardiff University has provided new evidence on how deep sea creatures survived the asteroid strike that wiped out the dinosaurs. The study found that some forms of algae and bacteria were living in the aftermath of the disaster, providing a slow trickle of food for creatures near the seafloor.
A research team captured unique video of thousands of red crabs swarming in low-oxygen waters just above the seafloor off Panama. The crabs were identified as Pleuroncodes planipes and represent a new southernmost range for the species.
Researchers have found that the flux of organic matter to the seafloor was reduced for a shorter time than previously thought, with evidence suggesting that some food must have reached the seabed despite mass extinctions. The study used foraminiferal isotopes from a deep-sea core in the South Atlantic to investigate this paradox.
Researchers pinpoint stress factor behind 2011 Tohoku-oki earthquake by analyzing geological rock formations offshore of Japan. The study provides new insights into the hazard potential of large earthquakes at subduction zones.
Researchers discovered intense deep-ocean turbulence in the equatorial Pacific that plays a crucial role in driving global ocean circulation. The study, published online in Geophysical Research Letters, suggests that this mixing can be simulated using computer models to improve future climate forecasts.
Researchers found that a 100,000-square-mile section of the Ross Ice Shelf broke apart within 1,500 years during a warming period after the last ice age. The study provides clues about how Antarctica's nation-sized Ross Ice Shelf might respond to a warming climate.
Scientists used clam shells to calculate that methane had persisted for approximately a thousand years at a specific site in the Arctic Ocean. This finding provides insight into the duration of ancient methane seeps and their impact on the environment.
Research from the University of Southampton found that man-made sounds can alter the behavior of seabed creatures, impacting nutrient recycling and carbon storage. Exposure to certain sounds can cause species to reduce irrigation and sediment turnover, leading to reduced oxygen levels and potentially affecting seabed productivity.
An international team of scientists has collected unprecedented rock samples from the shallow mantle of the ocean crust that bear signs of life and unique carbon cycling. The discovery may provide insights into how life developed on Earth and potentially exist elsewhere in the Universe.
Researchers developed soft robotic grippers that can collect delicate underwater specimens without destroying them. These grippers are designed for use in deep-sea exploration and could enhance biodiversity research by allowing scientists to sample largely unexplored habitats.
A recent study discovered that West Antarctic seabed life is a significant carbon sink, removing excess CO2 from the atmosphere. This finding suggests that maximizing natural carbon capture by seabed life could help reduce global CO2 levels.
Scientists at the National Oceanography Centre have discovered a new type of hydrothermal vent system, which could improve understanding of how the Earth's interior cools. The unique system, driven by hot rock and faults, was found to release significant amounts of heat and chemicals into the crust.
Researchers at UCSB decipher the history of paleoclimate change, revealing an abrupt warming in sea surface temperatures and simultaneous releases of methane that accelerated climate shift. The discovery sheds light on potential processes behind rapid climate changes.
Researchers have found distinctive rocks formed when the Pacific plate changed direction and plunged under the Philippine Sea Plate 50 million years ago. The discovery sheds new light on the formation of copper and gold deposits, as well as the mechanism behind massive earthquakes and volcanoes.
A team of scientists has discovered the first oceanic microplate in the Indian Ocean, helping identify when the initial collision between India and Eurasia occurred. The collision is believed to have led to the formation of the Himalayan Mountain Range at a precise age of 47 million years ago.
A team of scientists has mapped the mantle under the Juan de Fuca plate, a key step in understanding the forces behind large earthquakes and tsunamis. The map reveals segmentation of the subduction zone, which could help explain why Pacific Northwest megaquakes don't always break along the entire length.
The Coordinated Canyon Experiment is an international effort to study sediment movement in Monterey Canyon. Researchers will place dozens of instruments on the seafloor to measure currents, sediment concentrations, and physical properties of seawater, as well as track underwater avalanches and turbidity currents.
Researchers at the University of Washington found bubble plumes off the coast of Washington and Oregon, suggesting that warmer ocean temperatures are releasing frozen methane. This process could contribute to climate change by amplifying environmental changes already impacting local biology and fisheries.
A team of marine scientists discovered four new deep-water coral reefs in the Atlantic Ocean using predictive mathematical models. The reefs were identified at depths of up to 1.2km west of Ireland and confirmed during a two-week expedition using an underwater robot.
A team of geologists from GEOMAR and Spanish institutions presented an explanation for the smaller-than-expected 2014 Iquique earthquake. Seamounts in the region, which subduct under the South American plate, actively deformed the interface and reduced stress buildup, resulting in a smaller earthquake.
CAGE has deployed two methane observatories on the ocean floor in the Arctic Ocean, monitoring methane and CO2 releases, ocean acidification, and circulation. The observatories will collect crucial data for a full year, helping to understand processes related to climate change.
A recent study reveals that life on the seafloor in Antarctica is acting as an important carbon sink, absorbing nearly 2.9 ? 106 tons of carbon per year. This discovery suggests a new and unexpected way to combat climate change, with the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 50,000 hectares of tropical rainforest.
A recently discovered deep-sea methane seep off the San Diego coast has revealed a unique ecosystem with diverse habitat types and adapted creatures. The site, which produces methane as it sinks to the ocean floor, supports a community of organisms that consume and convert the gas.
Researchers found fossilized microbes in ancient rock samples from the Iberian continental margin, confirming a long-standing hypothesis that interactions between mantle rocks and seawater can create conditions for life. The discovery provides important insights into the possibility of 'intraterrestrial' life in rocks below the seafloor.
Researchers used computer models to simulate a tsunami generated by an earthquake in the Ventura basin, finding that it could inundate parts of the regional coastline several kilometers inland. The study highlights the potential for significant tsunami hazards in the area and emphasizes the need for full hazard assessments.
A new digital seafloor geologic map created using artificial intelligence reveals that deep ocean basins are more complex than previously thought. The map shows diatom accumulations on the seafloor are nearly entirely decoupled from diatom blooms in surface waters, highlighting a key link in the carbon cycle.
The University of Sydney has created a digital map of the seafloor's geology, covering 70% of the Earth's surface, after 40 years without update. The map provides key findings on diatom accumulations and their relationship with ocean carbon cycle.
Researchers investigate granitic rocks in El Capitan using field mapping, rock climbing, and geochemical analyses. They found no systematic patterns in rock composition, challenging models of granite formation that rely on magma chambers.
The International Seabed Authority is poised to set the groundwork for future deep-sea environmental protection and mining regulations. Researchers recommend establishing networks of Marine Protected Areas to balance economic interests with conservation benefits, potentially benefiting both mining and biodiversity interests.
A new study provides evidence that evaporation combined with sinking of heavy components explains the presence of oil on the sea floor after a spill. The research, published in Environmental Engineering Science, offers a critical proof-of-concept for future oil slick modeling and clean-up strategies.
Researchers at National Oceanography Centre discovered that abyssal sea anemones can consume animals weighing up to six times their own weight, taking up to 80 hours to digest. The study used time-lapse photography and technology from UK's deepest diving robot-sub to observe behaviors.
A new study by UC Santa Cruz scientists reveals the 'hydrothermal siphon' drives global ocean water circulation through the seafloor. The process is sustained by fluid flow and heat transfer through thousands of extinct underwater volcanoes, with smaller seamounts favored as sites of discharge.
Researchers from UiT The Arctic University of Norway have imaged deep Arctic Ocean methane seeps for the first time using a custom-designed system. The images reveal over 1000 active seep sites at depths of over 1000 m, providing valuable insights into gas hydrate and climate change.
A team of geologists measured and simulated a complete seismic cycle at Isla Santa María, Chile, revealing a 10-20% permanent vertical uplift. The cycle was triggered by the 1835 earthquake, which caused an initial uplift of 2-3 meters.
Researchers discovered a large field of deep-sea hydrothermal vents, the Pescadero Basin vents, which are the deepest high-temperature vents ever observed in the Pacific. The vents emit superheated fluids rich in hydrocarbons and support unique animal communities.
A team of scientists has tracked the development of Galapagos volcanoes over 8-16 million years ago, discovering highly explosive eruptions that deposited ash layers 1200km away. The study sheds new light on Earth's volcanic history and climate evolution.
A beached iceberg in Antarctica has provided a unique natural experiment to study the effects of sea-ice changes on marine ecosystems. The study found that seaweed on the sea floor had decomposed or become discolored due to lack of light, while darker-adapted animals started to colonize the area.
Scientists at UiT The Arctic University of Norway have discovered a new source of methane in the Arctic Ocean, abiotic methane formed by chemical reactions in the oceanic crust. This finding challenges previous assumptions about the origin of methane and suggests vast systems of methane hydrate throughout the Arctic.
A team of Brown University engineers found that the unique internal structure of sea sponge spicules contributes to their remarkable anchoring ability. The pattern of decreasing layer thickness from center to edge enhances the spicule's strength and stability, potentially inspiring new engineering designs.
Researchers at UC Riverside found that certain Dickinsonia fossils are incomplete due to ancient currents lifting them from the sea floor. The team measured the direction of missing parts and showed they aligned with features formed under wave action, indicating the fossils were not 'missing' but rather not preserved.
A new study by UC Davis researchers finds that ocean ecosystems can take thousands of years to recover from rapid climate change, with the recovery period being on a millennial scale. The study analyzed fossilized ocean fauna and found that even minor changes in oxygen levels could result in dramatic changes for seafloor communities.
A massive 30-foot-long core sample of Pacific Ocean seafloor has shown that marine ecosystems can take thousands of years to recover from climate-related upheavals. The study analyzed over 5,400 invertebrate fossils and found that ecosystem recovery from climate change and seawater deoxygenation might take place on a millennial scale.
Unaweep Canyon, the only canyon with two mouths, formed in multiple stages ~300 million years ago. The inner gorge was incised by the Gunnison River as part of the incision of the Colorado Plateau, linking events on the northern and southern Plates. This study highlights the preservation of ancient landscapes from Earth's deep-time past.
Methane seeps, natural gas leaks in the sea floor, host unique microbial communities distinct from other seafloor ecosystems. These microbes control methane emissions, preventing gas from reaching the atmosphere.
A research team found oxygen in the entire thickness of nutrient-poor seafloor areas, contrary to previous beliefs that only surface layers contain oxygen. The findings have significant implications for our understanding of microbial life, geochemical processes, and Earth's interior composition.
A new biophysical model developed by Claire Paris reveals that tiny ocean organisms, known as foraminifera, can drift significantly before falling to the seafloor and being fossilized. This study aids in improving our understanding of past global climate conditions.
Scientists have analyzed seabed sediments to reconstruct past climates in the Mediterranean basin over 20,000 years. The study found reliable markers for wind patterns, fluvial cycles, and oxygenation conditions, shedding light on climate change.
Male and female Hoff crabs lead separate lives at volcanic vents due to conflicting demands of feeding and raising young. Females migrate from warm mineral-rich fluids to cold waters with fewer predators for their offspring's early development.
A Scottish community-led marine reserve has shown benefits for both fisheries and conservation, with juvenile scallops thriving in a protected area. The reserve has boosted the size and reproductive capacity of adult scallops, potentially seeding surrounding fishing grounds.
Researchers from University of Southampton develop new automated method for classifying hundreds of miles of the deep sea floor, creating broad-scale maps to estimate biodiversity hotspots. The maps cover approximately 125 miles across, using information on topography and sediment type to identify distinct 'geomorphological terrains'.
A team of scientists has found evidence of methane seepage from the Arctic seabed dating back 2.7 million years, tied to tectonic plate movement and potentially influenced by past temperature fluctuations. The study suggests that the release of methane gas hydrates in this region may have contributed to climate change.
A new FSU study finds that 6-10 million gallons of oil are buried in the sediment on the Gulf floor, contaminating the food web and affecting marine life. The researchers used carbon 14 as an inverse tracer to determine the oil's distribution, revealing a significant amount still lingering on the seafloor.