Research on the ocean's chemistry and ice. Covers ocean carbon capture, forever chemicals in sea spray, Antarctic change, and sea-ice clouds.
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.
The Thwaites glacier, part of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, is under study due to its potential impact on sea levels. Researchers will use radar and seismic sensing to investigate the glacier's response over decades and centuries.
Research found that freshwater systems process excess carbon and nitrogen through photosynthesis and burying phosphorus, reducing ocean pollution. The effectiveness of these processes depends on water residence time in rivers and lakes.
The International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration aims to improve understanding of global sea-level rise by studying the glacier's past behavior. By analyzing sediment cores and geophysical data, scientists can better predict ice melt and sea-level rise in the future.
Researchers at University of Southern Denmark found that flooding coastal land can create well-functioning marine ecosystems, attracting visitors and wildlife. The Gyldensteen Coastal Lagoon, a 214-hectare area in Denmark, has shown promise as a carbon sink and is developing into a diverse ecosystem.
A new study by Georgia Tech and Georgia Aquarium explores the diverse community of marine microorganisms living in the aquarium's water, revealing dynamic changes over time. The research aims to improve our understanding of these tiny organisms and their impact on aquatic ecosystems.
A team of researchers discovered that deep ocean aquifers can break down more refractory carbon than previously thought. Microbes in the aquifer consume carbon, changing the composition of the surrounding seawater. This finding has the potential to reshape our understanding of carbon cycling in the deep ocean.
Scientists discover small microbes removing nitrogen from seawater in microenvironments with low oxygen levels, expanding the nitrogen cycle beyond previously thought regions. This finding changes our understanding of ocean responses to climate change.
A new study reveals a previously undocumented process where melting glacial ice sheets further accelerate ice melt and sea level rise by making the ocean's surface layer less salty and more buoyant. Fresh glacial meltwater prevents deep mixing in winter, allowing warm water at depth to retain its heat and cause further glacial melting.
The Technical University of Munich (TUM) has developed an adaptive algorithm called ALES+, which can accurately measure sea levels in both open and ice-covered ocean areas. This improvement enables researchers to track changes in sea level and ocean currents, crucial for understanding climate change.
The Atlantic overturning has slowed down by 15% since the middle of the 20th century due to human-caused global warming. This weakening causes widespread cooling in the northern Atlantic and shifts the Gulf Stream northwards.
New research shows Atlantic Ocean circulation has weakened by 15-20% since the mid-1800s, posing a threat to weather patterns and sea levels. The weakening of the Global Ocean Conveyor Belt could disrupt climate regulation and lead to more rapid sea level rise on the US East Coast.
A team of researchers found that changes in sea levels during the Early Triassic period were caused by variations in the Earth's tilt, affecting ocean and groundwater volumes. The study suggests that this natural process may contribute significantly to future sea-level rise.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have developed a new technology using combined gel-polymer hybrid materials to produce clean drinking water from any source. The system uses ambient solar energy to power evaporation, reducing energy consumption and increasing water volume.
New research suggests that high sea levels in the Mediterranean Sea may have triggered the formation of Mount Etna's distinctive cone structure. This theory proposes that changes in the volcano's magma behavior coincide with periods of rising sea levels, which could also explain similar changes at other volcanic sites worldwide.
A study by GEOMAR and international colleagues reveals a 4-fold reduction in Pb concentrations in European surface waters since the phasing out of leaded gasoline. However, legacy Pb from Mediterranean sources persists, suggesting sediments are now a new source of Pb to the environment.
A long-term field study in a Swedish fjord found that herring larvae can survive and thrive in acidified seawater due to increased phytoplankton growth. However, this finding does not necessarily apply to other fish species, which may be negatively affected by ocean acidification.
Researchers at Aalto University found that El Niño and similar climate oscillations impact crop production worldwide, particularly in South Asia, Latin America, and Europe. The study highlights the potential of improved forecasting skills to improve agricultural resilience and food security.
Researchers analyzed sedimentary rocks and found light lithium isotopes in South China's seawater, potentially linking terrestrial and marine ecological crises. The findings suggest a connection between the Siberian Traps' eruptions and the Permian-Triassic mass extinction event.
A new scenario proposes that Mars' oceans formed several hundred million years earlier than previously thought, linking their existence to the rise of the solar system's largest volcanic system, Tharsis. The model suggests that global warming and volcanic eruptions played a key role in allowing liquid water to exist on Mars.
Researchers found that methane in sea ice is transported thousands of kilometers across the Arctic Ocean and released months later, influencing climate change. The phenomenon has not been reflected in current climate models.
Researchers discovered crystallized water trapped in diamonds formed at extreme depths, challenging previous assumptions about diamond origins. The study suggests water may exist in the lower mantle, potentially affecting ocean water recycling and Earth's internal dynamics.
Researchers at UCI created new maps of glacier bed topography in southeast Greenland, gaining insight into rapid retreat and stability. The maps demonstrate the role of ocean temperature and water depth in glacial evolution.
A new study published in Nature shows that ocean acidification caused by carbon dioxide emissions will severely slow coral reef growth. The research team manipulated seawater chemistry to reflect end-of-century projections, finding that increased acidity hinders calcification and reef growth.
Ocean microbes produce at least fifty percent of the oxygen in our atmosphere while removing large amounts of carbon dioxide. The new LRAUVs can transit for over 600 miles and use their own 'eyes and ears' to detect important oceanographic events like phytoplankton blooms.
A new study by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution researchers found that the Bay of Bengal's monsoon runoff generates a layer of fresh water on its surface, suppressing nutrient mixing and preventing upwelling. This phenomenon can lead to colder waters in winter, contrary to expectations.
Researchers at KAUST found that high salinity can protect corals from heat stress by increasing the levels of antioxidant floridoside. This compound helps regulate osmotic pressure and prevent severe bleaching in coral model organism Aiptasia.
A large-scale research analysis found that sea bathing doubled the odds of reporting general ear ailments and increased the risk of gastrointestinal illnesses by 29%. The study suggests pollution is still an issue affecting swimmers in high-income countries like the UK.
Researchers found significant variations in high-frequency oscillation periods across different sea areas in the Western North Pacific. In the South China Sea, these oscillations occur at shorter intervals than in open water areas.
Researchers discovered that cyanobacteria, crucial to ocean life, can change color to adapt to different light conditions. This ability allows them to photosynthesize and thrive in various parts of the world's oceans.
A new study suggests that increased precipitation in the East Asian region led to erosion and the transport of dust into the North Pacific Ocean, which in turn fertilized the ocean surface waters, pulling carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. This process may have contributed to a cooling of the Earth's climate 2.7 million years ago.
Researchers discover a previously unknown connection between seafloor weathering and the slow carbon cycle. The study reveals that fluctuations in seafloor spreading rates drive changes in ocean crust capacity to store carbon dioxide.
A research team detected an acceleration in global sea level rise over the last 25 years, with a potential doubling of total sea level rise by 2100. The rate is increasing by about 0.08 mm/year every year, driven mainly by accelerated melting in Greenland and Antarctica.
Scientists have discovered a novel method for filtering salt and metal ions from seawater using MOFs, which has significant potential for the water and mining industries. The technology could reduce energy consumption by up to 2-3 times compared to current methods.
Research by University of Delaware oceanographer Wei-Jun Cai and colleagues reveals that coastal water is taking up a larger portion of atmospheric carbon dioxide. The study's findings, published in Nature Communications, may have important implications for understanding the global carbon budget and predicting greenhouse gas emissions.
A new study identifies the details of how ocean acidification affects coral skeletons, allowing scientists to predict where corals will be more vulnerable. The research found that ocean acidification particularly impedes the thickening process, decreasing the skeletons' density and leaving them more vulnerable to breaking.
Oceans contained plentiful oxygen long before its accumulation in the atmosphere, providing energy-rich habitat for early life. Researchers used computer models to simulate chemical reactions in ancient ocean sediments and compared results with data from ancient rocks and seawater.
Researchers at MIT and Albert Einstein College of Medicine isolate and study a new group of viruses that lack tails and can infect dozens of different types of bacteria. The Autolykiviridae provide key insights into viral evolution, bacterial populations, and the ocean's ecosystem.
A new study by Stanford researchers found that a large and unstable Antarctic glacier may be melting farther inland than previously thought, posing a threat to global sea levels. The Pine Island Glacier's Southwest Tributary could trigger or accelerate ice loss in Thwaites Glacier, potentially speeding the rate of sea-level rise.
Researchers found that ancient methane from ocean sediments is being released into the ocean, but only a small amount survives to be emitted to the atmosphere. The study suggests that catastrophic emission of methane from degrading hydrates may not be an inherent outcome of climate change.
Researchers used drones to count olive ridley sea turtles in Costa Rican waters, estimating densities of up to 2,086 animals per square kilometer. This method provides a safe and cost-effective alternative to traditional methods, revealing crucial insights for conservation and research.
Scientists studying seawater's viscosity are investigating its impact on marine life. The two-year project aims to improve understanding of nutrient cycling and food webs in the oceans.
Researchers found that emperor penguins from colonies close to the sea-ice edge can dive before laying eggs, suggesting shorter fasts compared to inland birds. They also observed these penguins feeding during pre-nuptial activities.
Researchers find uplift of sea floor in region caused by ice melting to be primary cause of methane hydrate dissolution. The process, ongoing for thousands of years, is not linked to climate change.
The ocean is losing its breath, with low-oxygen sites increasing fourfold in the open ocean and tenfold in coastal waters since 1950. Climate change and nutrient pollution are driving this decline, which can stunt growth, hinder reproduction, and lead to disease or death.
Scientists warn that the world needs to address climate change and nutrient pollution to halt the decline of ocean oxygen. Low oxygen levels can stunt growth, hinder reproduction, and lead to disease or death in animals, while also triggering toxic chemical releases.
Scientists have observed increasing fluxes of shelf-derived materials to the central Arctic Ocean, altering its composition and potentially harming biological productivity. The study provides an estimate of Arctic shelf flux and sheds light on understudied transport processes in the region.
Researchers have developed a new method to measure the average temperature of the global ocean using noble gases in the atmosphere. By analyzing air bubbles trapped in ice cores, scientists can calculate the average global ocean temperature with high precision, providing insights into past climate cycles and modern ocean changes.
Researchers developed a quantum sensor that mimics the ampullae of Lorenzini found in sharks to detect small electrical signals. The sensor performed well in ocean-like conditions and maintained its functionality despite being immersed in saltwater, making it suitable for various applications.
Researchers have developed a novel photovoltaic-powered electrolysis device that can operate as a stand-alone platform on open water, producing hydrogen fuel from sunlight and water. The device separates gases using buoyancy-driven product separation, resulting in high product purity without actively pumping the electrolyte.
A 1996 paper by Robert Howarth and John A. Downing quantified the relationship between human activities and nitrogen entering coastal oceans, identifying fertilizer and atmospheric deposition as key contributors. The study's findings have had long-lasting relevance, driving future research directions in nitrogen biogeochemical cycling.
Scientists at the University of York have developed a technology that can trap over 850 million tonnes of unwanted carbon dioxide in the atmosphere using North Sea water and recycled metal. This process uses low-energy processes and environmentally friendly tools, making it highly scalable and sustainable.
Princeton researchers studied the formation of layers in cafe lattes, discovering that double-diffusive convection is the primary mechanism behind this phenomenon. The study's findings have implications for industrial flows and mixing procedures, as well as understanding heat- and salinity-dependent flows in oceans.
Researchers at Duke University have developed a water cloaking concept that uses electromagnetic forces to eliminate an object's wake and drag. By matching the acceleration of the surrounding water to an object's movement, it is theoretically possible to greatly increase propulsion efficiency while leaving the surrounding sea undisturbed.
Ocean researchers discovered 'smoke rings' that can transport small marine life at high speeds across vast distances. These linked eddies are ten times faster than regular ocean currents and were found in the Tasman Sea and South Atlantic.