Research on the ocean's chemistry and ice. Covers ocean carbon capture, forever chemicals in sea spray, Antarctic change, and sea-ice clouds.
University of Hawaii researchers demonstrate a new method to detect freshwater plumes using surface-towed marine controlled-source electromagnetic (CSEM) imaging. The study reveals substantial volumes of freshwater present in the ocean column, with one plume estimated to be equivalent to four Olympic-sized swimming pools.
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
A new study suggests that early Earth's hotter mantle could have stored more water than today, leading to a larger global ocean. The findings challenge previous assumptions about the size of the ocean and offer clues to its evolution over time.
Scientists predict ocean currents on Enceladus, driven by salinity variations like those in Earth's Southern Ocean. The research suggests a pole-to-equator circulation influencing heat and nutrient distribution.
Research conducted by CNRS and international collaborators reveals that climate change has made the ocean six times stabler over the past 50 years. This increased stability limits oceanic mixing, making it harder for marine organisms to access light and for the ocean to function as a global thermostat.
The discovery of 522-million-year-old cephalopod fossils in Newfoundland, Canada, could rewrite the evolutionary history of invertebrate organisms. If confirmed, these ancient fossils would indicate a 30-million-year earlier origin for modern cephalopods.
Researchers have developed smart buoys using seawater batteries to monitor various marine data, including salinity, pH, and water temperature. The buoys utilize a naturally-abundant sodium source in seawater to charge and discharge electricity, enabling scalable energy storage.
A new species of manta-like planktivorous shark, Aquilolamna milarcae, was discovered in northern Mexico, revealing an unexpectedly early evolutionary experimentation with underwater flight. The ancient shark's unique features included long, slender pectoral fins and a wide mouth adapted for filter-feeding.
Researchers suggest that worlds with interior water ocean worlds (IWOWs) are more habitable due to protection by layers of ice and rock, shielding life against threats. This concept expands the search for life beyond Earth-like planets.
A new study suggests that up to 99% of Mars' initial water was incorporated into minerals and buried in the planet's crust, not lost to space. Researchers used observational data and modeling to resolve long-standing contradictions about Martian water loss rates.
A study using a scale model of a cylindrical fish cage found that artificially maintaining gentle currents inside the cage can suppress violent sloshing motions caused by ocean waves. This innovation aims to improve fish health and reduce environmental damage in sea-based fish farming systems.
A significant portion of Mars's water is still present on the planet, with estimates suggesting 30-99 percent is trapped within minerals in the crust. This discovery challenges the current theory that the Red Planet's water escaped into space due to low gravity.
Researchers analyzed fossilized shells to reconstruct Earth's climate during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, a period of abrupt global warming and ocean acidification. The study found that foraminifera consumed less alkalinity from seawater to buffer increasing ocean acidity.
A new aquaculture technique using a kelp elevator increases kelp growth by four times, yielding more biomass than natural processes. The technique shows promise as a low-carbon biofuel crop alternative to corn and sugarcane, with potential environmental benefits.
Scientists found microplastics ranging from two-hundredths of an inch to less than a tenth of an inch long, with polyethylene being the most commonly observed polymer. The study suggests stormwater could be an important source of plastic pollution in oceans and waters.
Researchers studied sea star shapes and found that their unique shape creates a
Scientists have found consistent evidence that the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation has weakened unprecedentedly in over 1000 years. The slowdown is linked to human-caused global warming, which disrupts the deep convection mechanism driving the ocean current.
A record-high amount of Arctic freshwater is expected to flow into the Labrador Sea, impacting local marine environments and global ocean currents. The freshwater, which has increased by 40% over the past two decades, will travel through the Canadian Archipelago rather than traditional marine passageways.
Climate researchers at the Alfred Wegener Institute have developed a new method to reconcile sea-level height and glacier thickness, advancing our understanding of past climate history. By analyzing sediment cores and geological conditions, they found that glaciers were larger than previously thought, resolving the 'missing ice problem'.
Researchers have successfully resolved the 'Missing Ice Problem' by including crustal, gravitational, and rotational perturbations in their model. The new reconstruction reveals that the total mass of Last Ice Age glaciers was 20% smaller and accumulated faster than previously thought.
Researchers found that zooplankton grazing on phytoplankton results in higher DMS concentrations, allowing marine predators to track their prey. The study suggests that large marine animals use DMS concentration gradients to find food sources.
A team of researchers developed a three-dimensional crystallizer to treat waste brine using solar power, offering an eco-friendly solution for seawater desalination. The device achieves efficient evaporation rates even in the presence of salt crystals, paving the way for zero liquid discharge and sustainable agriculture.
A new UCF study examines the connection between saltwater leeches and a major disease of sea turtles, fibropapillomatosis. The researchers found a significant association between leech presence and FP tumor development in green turtles but not in loggerhead turtles.
Researchers used non-invasive microscopy to study coral-algal symbiosis, tracking changes in algal concentrations and biomolecules under varying environmental conditions. Shallow water corals produce more algae to compensate for reduced sunlight, while deeper waters rely on algal partners for photosynthesis.
Scientists from Alfred Wegener Institute found Arctic Ocean was filled with freshwater due to floating ice shelves. Freshwater inputs explained rapid climate oscillations.
New analysis of satellite data reveals Antarctica's ice melts at different rates each year, affecting sea level rise predictions. The study suggests that models used to predict sea-level change should reflect the dynamic nature of ice sheet changes.
A University of Washington study identifies four main groups of photoreceptors, many of them new, that marine organisms use to detect and respond to light. This discovery could aid in the field of optogenetics and provide insights into how marine life responds to changing ocean conditions.
Research on tsunami generation, propagation, inversion, and warning has made significant progress since the 2004 Sumatra tsunami. Tsunami buoys remain the most reliable way for early warning, while new probabilistic methods offer improved hazard assessments.
A new study from the University of Colorado Boulder reveals that the ocean's surface layer is becoming shallower, making it easier to warm and increasing the likelihood of extreme marine heatwaves. This thinning can lead to drastic swings in ocean temperatures, threatening sensitive marine ecosystems.
Researchers found that 74 glaciers in deep valleys accounted for nearly half of Greenland's total ice loss between 1992 and 2017. Warming coastal waters accelerate undercutting, a process where warm water melts the ice from below, causing glaciers to break apart more quickly.
A new desalination membrane was developed by laminating graphene oxide nanosheets on a porous polymer membrane, enabling highly efficient desalination with controlled ion-blocking functionality. The membrane can block around 95% of NaCl ions, making it suitable for producing freshwater from seawater.
Researchers used phreatic overgrowths on speleothems in Mallorca caves to determine past sea levels, providing a way to precisely measure sea levels. The study's results show that sea level dropped significantly after the Pliocene period and fluctuated during warm periods.
The study reveals a rapid warming of Southern Ocean waters to 800m depth, with temperatures increasing by 0.04°C per decade around the polar ice cap. Meanwhile, warm water is rising rapidly to the surface at a rate of 39m per decade, outpacing previous estimates.
The study examines the spatial distribution of planktonic ciliates in the western Pacific Ocean, focusing on a transect from Shenzhen to Pohnpei. Ciliate abundance is positively correlated with phosphate and pico-sized pigmented eukaryotes, while biomass is related to heterotrophic nanoflagellates and chlorophytes.
Scientists have developed a method to track marine life in the Arctic using water samples, revealing insights into climate change impacts on bowhead whales and biodiversity. By analyzing environmental DNA in water bottles, researchers can monitor population diversity and patterns of migration.
A global assessment reveals that groundwater discharge plays a significant role in ocean chemistry, with elements like lithium and barium entering the sea from underground sources. The study suggests that groundwater inputs can account for up to 16% of river contributions to ocean chemistry.
Gills can't keep up with fish bodies as they grow, leading to oxygen limitation. This constraint affects fish reproduction and fisheries, particularly in warm waters with low oxygen levels.
A new study finds that soil moisture exerts a negative feedback on surface water availability in drylands, offsetting some of the expected decline. This means that as soil moisture decreases, it can reduce evapotranspiration and enhance surface warming, leading to more frequent droughts and floods.
The study confirms that nutrient imbalance in northeast Asian waters is disrupting phytoplankton species and marine ecosystems. Nitrogen pollutant inflow since the 1980s has led to changes in oceanic conditions, particularly near Ieodo Ocean Research Station.
The study highlights a significant difference in ice shelf collapse between two glaciers in Greenland. Warming subsurface ocean water may be the culprit behind the rapid mass loss of the Zachariae Isstrøm glacier.
A new study has found small microplastics in the ocean surrounding Okinawa, with over 75% made from polyethylene. The plastics correlated more with population density than industrialized areas, highlighting potential leaching from fishing equipment and road dust.
The Caspian Sea is shrinking due to climate change, with water levels falling by 9-18 meters in the coming century. This has significant consequences for biodiversity, species habitats, and bordering countries' economies.
The Caspian Sea is projected to lose over a third of its surface area due to accelerating sea level drops, posing significant threats to unique ecosystems and millions of people living near the sea. Researchers urge immediate action to mitigate this problem, which could have devastating consequences like global sea level rise.
A new study provides the first-of-its-kind model for how massive icebergs from Antarctica decay and affect ocean currents. The research found that these icebergs deliver freshwater to the Southern Ocean, influencing climate patterns.
A new study by MIT researchers reveals that Arctic eddies are driven by ice friction and ocean stratification, leading to a seasonal shift in their activity. The findings suggest that as the Arctic loses summertime ice, waters will become more turbulent, with implications for climate change predictions.
Researchers found that unusual warm Pacific seawater and sustained high air pressure over the Bering Sea led to delayed sea ice formation in the Pacific Arctic region. This study improves Arctic sea ice forecast and benefits global weather forecasting and local ecosystem health.
A new study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests that climate change, not Genghis Khan, led to the decline of Central Asia's medieval river civilizations. The research found that decreasing river flow due to drought was equally important for the abandonment of these city-states as the Mongol invasion.
Scientists have shown that abrupt climate change in the past was closely linked to rapid sea ice decline. The study documents how sudden warming of the climate occurred when sea ice cover changed from year-round to seasonal ice cover in Nordic seas.
A new study reveals that floating DNA bits in seawater can reveal the relative abundance of fish species, allowing for an inexpensive and harmless way to monitor fisheries and track shifting marine life. The technique, known as eDNA, has vast applications in ocean conservation and research.
New research finds that plastics in seawater can cause deformities and developmental problems in sea urchin larvae due to chemical leaching. The study highlights the importance of reducing plastic pollution and finding alternatives to replace harmful additives.
A new model suggests that warm waters may limit the active metabolism of large fishes due to reduced aerobic capacity. The study indicates that oxygen availability constrains metabolic demands in fishes, particularly in larger species.
Researchers discovered that high seawater temperatures caused sponges to die and disappear from Israel's shallow waters. The study found that prolonged exposure to high temperatures led to multi-system damage in sponges, making them unable to recover and survive.
Researchers discovered moulins in Greenland ice sheet are much larger than previously thought, with extra volume influencing the ice sheet's stability and movement towards the sea. The study's findings add to knowledge of how meltwater interacts with the base of the ice sheet.
Recent measurements reveal a surprise increase in dense water sinking near Antarctica, following 50 years of decline. Changes in bottom water formation can impact global climate and deep ocean ecosystems. The study documents an increase in supply of bottom water to the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Researchers discovered a large amount of water in the upper atmosphere of Mars, rapidly destroyed by ions, explaining part of the planet's mysterious dryness. This process contradicts the classical picture of water escape from Mars, suggesting it is incomplete and influenced by seasonal and dust storms.
A team of researchers has discovered more about the grain-scale fluid connectivity beneath the earth's surface, shedding new light on fluid circulation and seismic velocity anomalies in subduction zones. The study found that fluids with minor components, such as CO2 and NaCl, can have a significant impact on the dihedral angle between ...
The study reveals rare behavior of the Bigfin Squid in the Great Australian Bight, providing new insights into its distribution patterns. Multiple observations suggest a deeper understanding of this deep-sea species can be gained through further research.
Researchers at Stanford University and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory propose a new explanation for the source of powerful eruptions on Europa's icy surface. The model suggests that water pockets embedded in the ice shell itself could be the origin of these eruptions, rather than the subsurface ocean.
A new study has identified the coral skeleton growth mechanism, revealing that controlling water temperature is crucial for restoring reefs. The research suggests that corals regulate their internal ion concentrations by pumping calcium and carbonate ions from seawater through coral tissue.
A new study reveals that Arctic rivers contribute significantly more heat to the Arctic Ocean than in 1980, leading to up to 120,000 square miles of sea ice melt. This warming effect is accelerated by global air temperature rise and positive feedback loops.