Articles tagged with Seawater
The Beaufort Gyre's speed is controlled by the Arctic ice cover, which acts as a natural governor to slow down the gyre. As the Arctic ice melts, the gyre speeds up, gathering more fresh water from the Arctic's river runoff and melting ice.
A new study found that Arctic shrubs can lead to significant degradation of the permafrost layer, creating pathways for increased water and carbon flow. The interactions between shrubs and snow are driving increases in discharges of fresh water into rivers, lakes, and oceans.
Researchers discovered that the Gilthead sea bream was extensively traded from Egypt to Canaan over 2,000 years, with the majority coming from a hypersaline waterbody like the Bardawil lagoon. This ancient trade indicates an early form of commercial fish exploitation.
Scientists have discovered that westerly winds strengthen ocean acidification in Southern Ocean, which is critical for predicting its impact on marine life. The study sheds light on the mechanisms driving this process and provides insights into improving prediction models.
The study reveals that the islanders used coastal groundwater discharge as their main source of drinkable water, making it possible for humans to collect freshwater directly at the coast. This finding is crucial in understanding how the island's large population was sustained.
Researchers at Oregon State University discovered a novel filtering mechanism in manta rays that could improve commercial applications. Manta rays filter zooplankton and microcrustaceans using arrays of leaf-like lobes, allowing them to retain smaller particles while avoiding clogging.
Researchers have developed a solar steam generator that approaches 100% efficiency for producing clean water from seawater. Inspired by origami, the device uses a 3D photothermal material to capture sunlight and evaporate water more efficiently than traditional flat devices.
A new study links rapid deoxygenation in Canada's Gulf of St. Lawrence to large-scale climate change, specifically the shift of the Gulf Stream and Labrador Current. The research confirms that warmer water from the Gulf Stream is entering the St. Lawrence Seaway, causing oxygen levels to drop.
Dr. Annick Bricaud received the 2018 Jerlov Award for her pioneering work in ocean optics, covering experimental and theoretical studies on seawater optical properties. Her research has been widely cited with over 11,400 citations, and she is a pioneer among female researchers in optical oceanography.
The Suomi NPP satellite observed Mangkhut's clear eye, enabling scientists to track the storm's movement. The typhoon is expected to make landfall in the northern Philippines and potentially affect Hong Kong, China.
A new NOAA report finds that 49 million adults participated in ocean and coastal recreation, spending $141 billion and supporting 3.1 million jobs. The Pacific region had the largest participation, with nearly 14 million participants spending over $39 billion.
A study of fossilized teeth shows that marine predators thrived as sea levels rose during the Jurassic Period, while species in shallower waters declined. The research also found that the food chain structure beneath the sea has remained largely unchanged since the Jurassic era.
A new study has found that warmer water from hundreds of miles away is penetrating deep into the Arctic's interior, leading to a two-fold increase in heat content over the past 30 years. If this 'archived' heat reaches the surface, it could melt the entire sea-ice pack covering most of the region for most of the year.
Researchers discovered that microplastics form stable aggregates with biogenic particles, such as plankton and faecal material, which can sink into deeper water layers. The presence of biofilms on microplastics also facilitates aggregation, potentially affecting the transport and distribution of microplastics in the oceans.
Researchers found rapid changes in deep-sea fauna and biodiversity in the region during a global climate event known as the Younger Dryas. They also identified significant environmental overturn around 7,000 years ago due to mixing of different deep-sea waters.
Researchers at USC have found that the Southern California coast has some of the world's highest concentrations of domoic acid, a neurotoxin produced by microscopic algae. The study suggests that man-made sources of nutrients and environmental conditions contribute to the formation of algal blooms.
Scientists at the University of Nottingham have found a way to produce Bioethanol using seawater and a novel marine yeast strain, reducing the need for freshwater resources. This breakthrough could help alleviate concerns over food crop and water usage, making it a more sustainable fuel alternative.
A team of scientists has found direct evidence for surface-exposed water ice on the Moon, with patchy distribution and smaller abundance compared to other planetary bodies. The discovery was made using data from the Moon Mineralogy Mapper onboard India's Chandrayaan-1 mission.
Researchers at the University of Connecticut developed a new method to produce reverse osmosis membranes with controlled thickness and roughness, leading to improved efficiency and reduced fouling. The ultra-thin membranes exhibit high salt rejection and robust performance under various operating conditions.
Researchers used data from robotic floats to find that open water near Antarctica releases more carbon dioxide than thought, contradicting previous studies. The study aims to improve our understanding of the Southern Ocean's role in regulating the global climate.
A recent study by the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel found that glacier depth has a significant impact on plankton blooms off Greenland. The team discovered that as glaciers retreat, summer plankton blooms decrease due to reduced nutrient input from meltwater.
A new study using data from diving robots reveals that Antarctic winter seas exhale significantly more carbon dioxide than previously believed. The Southern Ocean is currently near neutral with respect to removal of carbon from the atmosphere, contrary to previous studies.
Tropical Storm Leepi is weakening as it moves northwest, with maximum sustained winds near 63.2 mph. The storm's interaction with nearby System 98W is contributing to its decline.
A study by Simon Fraser University aquatic ecologists reveals that young salmon may leap out of water to remove sea lice, which can reduce growth and competitive ability. The researchers found that on average, leaping salmon had 22% fewer sea lice than non-leaping fish.
Researchers found that iron-silica particles in ancient seawater helped cyanobacteria survive and thrive, paving the way for oxygenation. However, UV stress still limited their growth, contributing to the slow accumulation of atmospheric oxygen.
A NASA-NOAA satellite has captured images of Tropical Depression 16W transitioning into a subtropical system, characterized by strong winds and cold dry air from the northwest. The storm is moving north-northwest, with maximum sustained winds near 25 knots (28.7 mph/46.3 kph).
Researchers found that seagrass meadows can buffer ocean acidification in short-term periods, particularly during low tide and daylight hours. While limited, this effect could benefit marine life and aquaculture endeavors, but long-term solutions rely on reducing carbon emissions.
Researchers found that coralline algae, often considered a canary in the coal mine for ecosystem changes, are responding to ocean acidification by altering their chemical cues. This shift could impact the overall ecosystem as species interact differently with each other.
Tropical Depression 15W formed on July 22 and continued to consolidate despite disorganized appearance. The depression is expected to strengthen over open waters of the Northwestern Pacific Ocean and move just north of Iwo To Island, Japan by July 27.
A team at NYU Tandon School of Engineering made surprising findings about the physics of water entry, particularly with solid objects in the water. The study revealed unexpected effects, including a decrease in pressure near a solid cylinder and an increase in pressure towards the keel of a wedge.
The Atlantic Ocean circulation is slowing down due to natural fluctuations, but this slowdown will lead to more rapid surface warming in coming decades. The study suggests that the current's speed determines how much surface heat gets transferred to the deeper ocean, and a quicker circulation would send more heat to the deep Atlantic.
Researchers at Harvard University have developed an origami-inspired device, RAD, that can capture delicate sea creatures like jellyfish, squid, and octopuses without harming them. The device uses a folding polyhedral enclosure to trap organisms, allowing scientists to collect data and then release them unharmed.
Researchers successfully quantify hormone levels in whale breath for the first time, providing a new non-invasive method to study whale health. The technique allows for rapid and short-term acute responses to stressors, such as entanglement hazards and vessel strikes.
A recent study reveals that a massive influx of freshwater into the North Atlantic led to intensive glacier melting in the North Pacific, thousands of kilometers away. This process highlights the alarming consequences of modern ocean warming on polar ice sheets and sea level rise.
Researchers found that stronger westerly winds near Antarctica led to massive CO2 releases in the past, similar to current human-caused climate change. This contraction and strengthening of winds can significantly impact atmospheric CO2 concentrations and future climate.
A research team from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution found the fingerprint of a massive flood of fresh water in the western Arctic, which is believed to have caused an ancient cold snap around 13,000 years ago. The cause of this event, known as the Younger Dryas, has remained a mystery for decades.
A new study by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution reveals a significant link between river outflow and coastal sea level change. The model predicts that variations in annual river flow can raise or lower coastal mean sea level by several centimeters.
Researchers from ETH Zurich have found that cold, iron-rich seawater from the North American continental slope is captured by meanders of the Gulf Stream and carried out to the North Atlantic Gyre, enriching it with iron. The study suggests that this source may deliver up to 15% of the iron delivered by Saharan dust.
Scientists at Southwest Research Institute found large, carbon-rich organic molecules emanating from Enceladus' subsurface ocean. The discovery indicates the moon's rocky core and warm water interact to form complex molecules, satisfying key requirements for life as we know it.
Researchers at UChicago developed a new model of water behavior under extreme temperatures and pressures using quantum simulations. The model provides insight into the properties of water deep inside the Earth's mantle and has implications for understanding life on exoplanets.
Researchers found that adult female great white sharks spend more time in warm-water eddies than cold-water eddies, particularly at depths of 450 meters. These preferences may be driven by the abundance of fish and squid in the warmer eddies.
Researchers investigated Halocynthia roretzi tunic's mechanical properties, finding that mass transferred and deformed in response to temperature and mechanical stimuli. The tunic's composition varied by position, with larger layer thickness linked to reduced mass increments.
Geologists analyzed 135 Mississippi River water samples, revealing that 75% of sulfate comes from pyrite mineral rusting, a process enhanced by human activities. This finding highlights the magnitude of human impact on natural chemical cycles and potential effects on ocean acidification.
Decades of satellite monitoring reveal Antarctic ice loss, with glaciers and ice shelves thinning due to warm ocean water, leading to increased sea level rise. The continent's ice cover has been impacted by climate variability, atmospheric, and ocean circulation changes.
Researchers investigated how boron evaporates in seawater to produce higher-quality drinking and irrigation water. They found that both multi-stage flash and air-gap membrane distillation technologies were effective in reducing boron concentrations below the Saudi standard of 0.5mg/l.
Researchers found an increase in high waves and winds in the Arctic Ocean due to melting sea ice. This increase poses a significant threat to safe navigation and coastal populations.
A new MIT system captures water evaporating from cooling towers, reducing water loss and providing clean drinking water for coastal cities. The system's efficiency is improved by using ion beams to charge water droplets, allowing them to be drawn toward a mesh of wires.
Tropical Storm Maliksi forms in the Philippine Sea with sustained winds of near 40 knots (46 mph), moving north towards Japan. The storm's circulation center is over open waters, extending bands of thunderstorms over northern and central Philippines.
Research led by the University of Sydney found that warm water events decrease the ratio of healthy oils to protein in fish and squid, while cold water events increase their nutritional quality. This has implications for marine life, including humans, who consume similar foods.
Tiny dinoflagellate fossils discovered in Jurassic rocks of south-western Queensland suggest a short-lived precursor to the Eromanga Sea. The fossils date back 148 million years, providing evidence of rising sea levels and incursions of saltwater inland.
A new study by California Sea Grant reveals that even small amounts of running water can make a big difference for juvenile coho salmon in coastal California streams. The research found that pools interconnected by water can help young salmon survive through hot, dry summer months.
Researchers from OSU and NOAA have mapped over 1,000 underwater methane seep sites off the Oregon coast, finding that much of the methane is solidified as hydrates beneath 500 meters. The discovery raises concerns about environmental impact and potential energy sources.
A new species of microcrustacean, Stygiopontius senokuchiae, was discovered in a Japanese deep-sea hydrothermal vent. The species has distinct morphological differences from other Stygiopontius copepods found in the Atlantic and East Pacific Oceans.
Scientists documented dozens of dolphins and pilot whales, as well as rare Sowerby's beaked whales, endangered sperm whales, and giant ocean sunfish. The aerial survey revealed an incredible abundance of marine life in the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument.
Researchers at the University of East Anglia used satellite-tagged seals to collect data on water temperature and salinity in West Antarctica. The study found that warm, salty deep water is more common during winter months, suggesting increased ice sheet melting.
A new analysis found that record-breaking ocean heat fueled Hurricane Harvey, with the Gulf's waters being warmer than any time on record. The hotter-than-normal conditions supercharged the storm, fueling it with vast stores of moisture, resulting in devastating flooding.
Researchers found that the Baltic Sea is experiencing extreme changes, such as warming and oxygen-free zones, which can be used to predict future global ocean changes. The region's unique characteristics make it an ideal model for studying coastal ocean management and sustainable development.
Research from Hokkaido University reveals that low rises on the ocean floor regulate surface flows, creating sharp SST fronts with significant impacts on climate and marine resources. The study found that Rossby wave propagation is deflected by eddy-driven flows over bottom rises, leading to thickness jumps and jet formation.
Researchers discovered significant reduction in Holocene intermediate water ventilation from the Sea of Okhotsk, likely caused by elevated sea surface temperatures and reduced sea ice. This finding has implications for future climate warming, suggesting similar reductions in ventilation and oxygenation may occur.
Researchers found that the Ediacara Biota, soft-bodied ocean dwellers, lived off bacterial primary production and organic matter. This suggests they inhabited oligotrophic regions with sufficient nutrients for feeding.