Articles tagged with Seawater
A group of seven snorkelling grandmothers has helped scientists document a large and previously underestimated population of venomous greater sea snakes in the bay. The project revealed over 249 individual snakes, with new information on breeding patterns and numbers of young.
New research reveals that warm ocean water is attacking the undersides of Antarctica's ice shelves, weakening their edges and making them more vulnerable to breakup. This process can lead to increased rates of sea-level rise, as ice on land flows quickly into the ocean.
Scientists have identified proteins that allow archaea to adapt to extreme water temperatures, providing a new method for estimating historic ocean temperatures. The discovery resolves uncertainties in the use of archaeal lipids as paleotemperature proxies.
Tardigrades' protein Dsup protects cells from X-rays and hydroxyl radicals by binding to chromatin and forming a shield. This mechanism may help develop animal cells that can live longer under extreme conditions.
A recent study on the Great Barrier Reef found that living coral cover can slow future reef dissolution due to ocean acidification. The experiment used a controlled system to simulate high CO2 conditions and showed that living corals were more resilient than dead ones, which would dissolve earlier.
A new satellite mission, SWOT, will enhance flood modeling globally, even in extensively studied regions. It will provide more accurate floodplain maps and predictions for areas affected by snowmelt, hurricanes, and ice jam breakup.
The 'Flying Fish' robot uses a water-reactive chemical reaction to create gas, which propels it out of the water and into a glide of up to 26 meters. The robot can travel long distances without additional power, making it suitable for collecting water samples in hazardous environments.
New research reveals that microorganisms in the Pacific Ocean's oxygen-free zone remove up to 80% of the methane produced, reducing its release into the atmosphere. The discovery has significant implications for understanding the ocean's role in regulating greenhouse gas emissions.
A study published in Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science found that high-tide water in Willapa Bay's tidal flats takes multiple tidal cycles to fully replace, leading to differences in oyster growth. This slower turnover affects the quality of oyster beds, with regions having 'old' water showing lower levels of nutrients.
Changes to environmental conditions may be causing corals to lose their synchronized mass-spawning strategy, which could drive aging populations to extinction. This desynchronization poses a previously unnoticed threat to coral survival, with implications for global reef health.
A rapid-response oceanographic expedition studied the Kilauea Volcano's impact on marine ecosystems. High concentrations of nitrate in seawater triggered a strong phytoplankton bloom, contrary to expectations that lava would contain little nitrogen.
Scientists have found that the blue-banded sea snake uses a vascular network in its head to absorb oxygen from the surrounding water, allowing it to stay submerged for longer periods. This unique adaptation enables the snake to thrive in tropical waters with minimal surface exposure.
Research reveals that horizontal and vertical circulation of carbon-rich ocean water in the subpolar Southern Ocean work together to control carbon storage and release. The study found that large gyres, such as the Weddell Gyre, play a key role in transporting carbon-containing phytoplankton out of the region.
Scientists have discovered fresh water leaking from the seabed in the Norwegian Sea, similar to a large underwater aquifer found in the Atlantic Ocean along the US East Coast. The aquifer could be a potential resource for areas with no drinking water on land.
A new study reveals that biological processes in the polar Southern Ocean are the key drivers of carbon dioxide absorption, challenging existing assumptions. This finding has significant implications for understanding past and future climate change.
Researchers found that a dramatic increase in North Atlantic salinity caused the Arctic-Atlantic gateway to close, preventing ocean-sinking and kickstarting the modern circulation. The study suggests that changes in the Atlantic conveyor belt could dramatically alter Europe's climate in a future warm world.
A new study has found that Atlantic coccolithophores are surprisingly scarce in fertile equatorial waters, despite being abundant in subpolar and temperate regions. This discovery sheds light on the inner workings of the ocean carbon cycle and raises questions about the impact of coccolithophore populations on global productivity.
Researchers discovered abiotic methane in fluid inclusions worldwide, potentially as a major source of methane on Earth. The finding suggests that micro-inclusions may also provide hydrogen and methane elsewhere in the Solar System.
New research reveals that bacteria in coastal mud produce vast amounts of dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP), a climate-cooling gas. This finding challenges the long-held assumption that DMSP is mainly produced by photosynthetic algae in ocean surface waters.
A world-leading team reveals ice sheets are no longer passive parts of the Earth's carbon cycle, but reactors that process rock and boost nutrient release. Ice sheets store vast amounts of organic carbon, fuel marine food webs, and influence global carbon sinks.
Sunscreens release aluminum, silica, and phosphorous into seawater after UV treatment, potentially harming marine ecosystems. On a typical summer day at the beach, beachgoers could increase coastal waters' aluminum levels by 4% and titanium by almost 20%
Researchers found that stony corals Porites astreoides grow more slowly under acidic seawater conditions, indicating a limit to their adaptation to climate change. The study used natural laboratory settings off the east coast of Mexico to investigate coral growth in response to low pH and high dissolved carbon content.
Researchers tracked blue sharks using satellite tags and found they spent most of their days diving into warm-water eddies to forage for small fish and squid. The study suggests blue sharks prefer warm-water eddies due to their inability to regulate body temperature, shedding light on their unique feeding behavior
Tropical Storm Wipha has filled the Gulf of Tonkin with clouds, according to NASA satellite imagery. The storm is expected to make landfall in northern Vietnam and then weaken as it moves west-southwest, dissipating over north Vietnam.
Researchers used krypton-81 to trace groundwater origins, finding two sources: one from the Mediterranean (38,000 years ago) and another from the Atlantic Ocean (361,000 years ago). The results demonstrate how old groundwater can serve as a proxy of paleoclimate and subsurface water storage.
A recent study found that shark hotspots, crucial for multiple species, overlap with longline fishing vessels at alarming rates. This poses a 'double whammy' for sharks, accelerating declines in abundance and potentially threatening their survival.
Researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology have found that electricity-driven reactions in deep-sea hydrothermal environments can reduce metal sulfides to native metals, promoting the reduction of organic compounds and potentially facilitating prebiotic chemistry. This discovery has implications for understanding the universality and...
A solar steam generation system has been developed to produce clean water from salty ocean water with almost 100 per cent salt removal, providing a solution to water shortages in regional areas. The technology uses photothermal materials and the power of the sun, achieving efficient and continuous clean water production.
A new study reveals the Ross Ice Shelf's stability is influenced by local weather processes, with sunlight and fresh water from melting ice shelves contributing to rapid melting. The findings refine predictions of sea level rise in the future.
Researchers found that a global cycle of matter underpins modern plate tectonics, with excess water in the transition zone of the mantle originating from an ancient ocean on Earth's surface. Komatiitic magma samples revealed significant quantities of water and chlorine in minerals, indicating a 'pumping' of water into the planet's inte...
A team of scientists suggests pumping ocean water onto glaciers in West Antarctica to prevent long-term sea level rise. The plan involves distributing the water with snow cannons, but poses significant environmental and engineering challenges.
A new study suggests that artificially pumping ocean water onto coastal regions surrounding the West Antarctic ice sheet could stabilize it, but at great cost. The approach would require a minimum of 7,400 gigatons of artificial snowfall over 10 years to achieve a two-to-five-centimeter sea level drop.
Researchers discovered thriving bacterial communities in ancient, isolated brine samples from an Alaskan cryopeg. The findings provide insights into the potential for life on Mars and other planetary bodies.
Paleoproterozoic dolomites confirm direct sea water deposition and dominate Proterozoic oceans, revolutionizing our understanding of Precambrian marine systems. Researchers at Kazan University used various methods to study sedimentation, finding preserved ooids and bacterial structures supporting primary dolomite formation.
A study by Georgia Institute of Technology researchers suggests that instability within Antarctic ice will accelerate its flow into the ocean and push sea levels up at a more rapid pace than previously expected. This 'instability' makes forecasting more uncertain, particularly relevant to engineering against flood dangers.
A NUS study found that corals in Singapore's waters typically don't extend beyond eight metres, reducing the impact of rising sea levels. The research highlights the resilience of coral reefs in Singapore and informs conservation efforts.
A new study explains why salt crystals are piling up on the Dead Sea's floor by proposing a 'salt fingering' process where tiny disturbances create channels for salt to flow down. This finding helps understand the formation of massive salt deposits found in Earth's crust, including those beneath the Mediterranean Sea.
Researchers collected continuous time series of water temperatures near glaciers in Svalbard, revealing subsurface temperatures exert the greatest influence on mass loss. The study provides valuable data to improve numerical models estimating future sea level rise.
The Exploring Ocean Worlds project aims to determine the potential of ocean worlds to harbor life, focusing on Europa and Enceladus. A new Network for Ocean Worlds will facilitate nationwide research coordination.
Researchers have mapped a gigantic underwater freshwater aquifer off the US Northeast coast, spanning from Massachusetts to New Jersey, and extending far out into the continental shelf. The aquifer holds an estimated 670 cubic miles of fresh water, potentially providing a vital resource for arid areas worldwide.
Researchers have documented surprising amounts of coral living in areas with less than 1% of the surface light, shedding light on deep-sea life and strategies for survival. The study found different corals use varying strategies to deal with low light levels, including changing pigments or symbionts.
Researchers used high-resolution microscopic techniques to fine-tune climate records, revealing a correction factor for coral-based sea-surface temperature measurements. The study improves the accuracy of global climate predictions.
The first mission involving 'Boaty McBoatface' has shed light on the connection between increasing Antarctic winds and rising sea temperatures. The data collected will help build more accurate predictions of climate change's impact on sea levels.
Researchers have tweaked a nearly 100-year-old physics model to replicate modern Arctic ice melt patterns. The study captures the essential mechanism of pattern formation and demonstrates how melt water is distributed over sea ice, impacting albedo and light penetration.
Scientists warn that Antarctic species are at risk due to declining oxygen levels in the ocean, which could lead to extinction for larger marine invertebrates and fish. The study found that some species have evolved mechanisms to compensate for reduced oxygen, but many large species will likely be impacted by climate change.
A new study published by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution found that major currents in the North Atlantic do not directly cause changes in sea levels along the New England coast. Instead, both are controlled by variability in weather patterns over the North Atlantic, such as the North Atlantic Oscillation.
A study by Universitat Rovira i Virgili researchers found that up to 57% of plastics in Tarragona sea water are microscopic fibers from clothes, which come from treatment parts and can block digestive tracts. The presence of these microplastics poses a health risk due to their potential to absorb toxic heavy metals and organic molecules.
A new study led by the University of Washington reveals that mysterious holes in Antarctic sea ice are caused by a combination of factors, including unusual ocean conditions and intense storms. The research sheds light on the role of these polynyas in global ocean currents and carbon cycles.
Researchers found that changes in Asian dust input induce nutrient fluctuations in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre ecosystem, affecting biological productivity.
Researchers found that eukaryotic microorganisms, such as dinoflagellates like Pfiesteria piscicida, thrive on microplastic particles, reaching densities 50 times higher than in surrounding water. This discovery highlights the potential for microplastics to transport microorganisms over long distances.
Researchers at Ohio State University have created a near-global map of fresh submarine groundwater discharge, showing that nearly half of groundwater flows into tropical regions. The study also found that areas with active fault lines send more groundwater to the ocean than stable regions, and dry arid regions have limited discharge.
A recent study published in Nature Geoscience reveals an ancient geologic structure beneath the Ross Ice Shelf that restricts ocean water flow, suggesting local currents will impact ice shelf retreat. The discovery highlights the need for models to consider changing conditions near the ice front.
A new study from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution has discovered distinct microbial communities surrounding Caribbean corals. The research found that different types of coral have unique microbial communities living near them, with some species showing enriched presence in the seawater closer to corals.
Researchers have discovered a new mechanism for the formation of strontium-rich barite in seawater, which could lead to more efficient methods for removing toxins from water. The study found that organic matter can create conditions that promote the nucleation and incorporation of strontium into barite precipitates.
Scientists developed a reverse-engineered computer model to describe microscopic marine larvae behaviors, providing new insights into their dispersal and distribution. The approach abandons previous methods, revealing realistic patterns observed in nature, enhancing understanding of the marine environment.
Researchers developed a novel material inspired by siderophores to selectively bind uranium in seawater, offering an eco-friendly alternative to land-mining. The new adsorbent shows promising performance, increasing storage space for uranium and allowing for recyclable reuse.
Researchers at HKU Earth Sciences have discovered multi-century-scale abrupt deep-water warming events that likely caused by reduction in deep-water circulation. These deglacial-Holocene dynamics are important for understanding present and future trends in the climatic system, which can impact global ecosystems and society.
Scientists have developed a novel mission to collect year-round measurements of the ocean near Antarctica, revealing that deep water driving melting at the Totten Glacier is warmer and thicker in winter than summer. The study suggests the glacier might melt more rapidly in winter, with potential implications for future sea level rise.
Researchers have designed a new power generator that uses Prussian blue to extract electricity from seawater. The system can switch between two modes of operation, providing both long-term steady power and high power density for tasks such as underwater device operation.
A new ocean climatology reveals the global ocean is warming due to changes in atmospheric conditions, with temperatures increasing by 0.05°C over the past 25 years. The study provides valuable background information for various applications and highlights the importance of periodic updates to ocean climatologies.