Research on the ocean's chemistry and ice. Covers ocean carbon capture, forever chemicals in sea spray, Antarctic change, and sea-ice clouds.
Researchers have discovered that a high concentration of coccolithophores and diatoms thrive in the Great Calcite Belt, driven by nutrient levels, sea surface temperature, and carbon dioxide concentration. The bloom plays a crucial role in global carbon cycle models and highlights the complexity of phytoplankton ecology.
The lack of sea snakes in the Atlantic Ocean is attributed to geographical barriers such as the Isthmus of Panama blocking access to the Caribbean. Additionally, cold water temperatures and freshwater scarcity in the Eastern Hemisphere hinder their survival.
Researchers have found that comb jellyfish can adjust their regeneration mechanisms based on environmental nutrients. In nutrient-rich environments, the larvae can fully regenerate, while in areas with fewer nutrients, they survive but cannot fully heal.
A new analytical method developed at GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel shows that water penetrates significantly deeper into the Earth's crust than previously assumed. This finding is crucial for understanding the ocean's heat budget and volatiles in the crust.
Researchers discovered that alkali flies have developed a dense hair layer to reduce water loss in the highly alkaline environment. The flies' cuticular hydrocarbons also play a crucial role in protecting them from dehydration.
A scientific team, led by geologist Rebecca Dorsey of the University of Oregon, theorizes that the river's route off the Colorado Plateau was influenced by a combination of tectonic deformation and changing sea levels. The research challenges long-held conventional thinking on river connection to ocean.
Researchers have discovered a 'shadow zone' around 2km below the sea surface where ancient water has remained isolated for centuries. This region's unique shape and geothermal heat sources trap ocean water, suspended in an area with minimal vertical movement.
Research published in Science shows climate warming reduced the mass of the Cordilleran Ice Sheet by half in 500 years, indicating a similar fate for the Greenland Ice Sheet. The study suggests that once ice sheets start to melt, they can do so quickly, causing significant sea level rise and changes in ocean circulation.
Research led by the University of Texas at Austin found that strong winds over the Southern Ocean bring warm water to East Antarctica's Totten Glacier, causing it to melt from below. The glacier's contribution to global sea level rise will likely increase as winds intensify.
A new study found that future volcanic eruptions could lead to surface cooling of up to 40% due to the oceans' decreased ability to moderate the climate impacts. The increased cooling would disrupt the water cycle, decreasing global precipitation.
A new study using citizen science data predicts that warmer waters will cause fish to extend their ranges further from the equator, leading to a decline in the diversity of invertebrates such as crabs and lobsters. This change is expected to affect food webs and ecosystems worldwide.
Tropical Storm Lan was formed on October 15 and is moving west-northwest over open ocean. The storm's maximum sustained winds reached 35 knots (40 mph) near Palau.
Ocean data from Northeast Greenland reveals long-term impact of ice sheet melting on freshwater content, affecting fjords and global ocean circulation. The study finds that increased freshwater input reduces plankton algae production, impacting fish stocks and potentially European climate.
Researchers have developed a new hybrid nanomaterial that can efficiently extract hydrogen fuel from seawater using solar energy. This breakthrough could lead to a new source of clean-burning fuel, reducing demand for fossil fuels and boosting the economy of Florida.
Researchers found high levels of radioactive cesium-137 in beach sands and brackish groundwater beneath beaches up to 60 miles away from the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant. The study suggests that this new pathway for radionuclide release should be considered in managing coastal areas near nuclear power plants.
Researchers found that species adjusted to new environments, with some thriving and others struggling, but also discovered vulnerabilities to climate change and fishing pressure. The study highlights the need for further research to safeguard these complex ecosystems and their role in supporting marine life.
Tropical Storm Lee strengthened into a tiny hurricane after being forgotten following Hurricane Irma and Maria's impact. It is expected to move west and northeast over open ocean waters, with maximum sustained winds near 90mph.
The Global Precipitation Measurement mission found extreme storms within Hurricane Maria's feeder bands were dropping rain at an hourly rate of greater than 5.4 inches. The hurricane made landfall on Sept. 20 near Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, with maximum sustained winds reported to be 149.5 mph.
A new study from the European Commission Joint Research Centre found no significant long-term trend in the Black Sea's average surface water temperature. However, there was a positive trend at 50 meters below the surface, suggesting warming of deeper waters.
A new study found that climate change will impact fish survival globally, with sensitivity varying between ocean-dwelling and freshwater fish. The analysis predicts breaking-point temperatures for over 3,000 species, highlighting the urgent need for conservation strategies to support fish adaptation and migration.
Researchers detect tell-tale differences in sea level rise around the world due to changes in continental water and ice sheet mass. The study uses time-variable gravity data from NASA's Gravity Recovery & Climate Experiment satellites.
Quantitative analysis reveals that dark ocean surfaces absorb more light than white ice surfaces, leading to accelerated sea ice melt. The study found a significant correlation between solar heat input and ice melt volume, suggesting that heat input is a major causative factor of melting ice.
The Gulf of Maine is warming at a rate of 0.4 degrees Celsius per decade, with summer temperatures increasing by two months in the last three decades. This has significant implications for marine species such as lobster and herring, which are shifting their distribution patterns in response to the changing climate.
Researchers measure exceptionally high oxygen absorption in the Labrador Sea during winter 2014/2015. The study suggests that while this region may absorb more oxygen than lost, the global decrease in surface water oxygen content due to climate change cannot be compensated.
A new study predicts that 79% of species native to the region will lose out due to warming, with more animals losing suitable habitat than gaining it. The average warming of 0.4 degrees predicted by 2099 will cause unique local species to change their distribution.
A new study found that underwater plants can positively affect water quality in bays along the Baltic Sea coast. The plants take up nutrients, slow down water movement, and stabilize the soft bottom, leading to clearer water and improved living conditions for marine life.
Researchers found evidence of sea ice at the North Pole during the last interglacial period, contradicting previous hypotheses. The study suggests that the Arctic Ocean may be free of ice in summer within 250 years if CO2 levels rise, highlighting the complexity of climate change processes.
The Caspian Sea has been slowly evaporating over the past two decades, with water levels dropping nearly 7 centimeters per year from 1996 to 2015. This increase in evaporation is linked to rising surface air temperatures associated with climate change.
A new study predicts that rising ocean temperatures will exclude sardines from the Galápagos Islands' ecosystem, leading to a decline in Nazca booby populations. The bird's reproductive success has already been affected by the absence of sardines, which were replaced by flying fish over 30 years ago.
Lawrence Livermore scientists developed carbon nanotube pores that can exclude salt from seawater, exceeding water permeability of wider CNTs by an order of magnitude. The super smooth inner surface and tiny pore size enable efficient transport of water while blocking larger salt ions.
Scientists use computer simulations to analyze the evolution of plate tectonics on Earth over the past 3 billion years. They demonstrate that continents have been recycled and transformed throughout history.
A Rice University study reveals that flowing liquid water below the Antarctic ice appears to play a pivotal role in determining the fate of Antarctic ice streams. The research used sediment cores and precise seafloor maps to uncover an extensive, uncovered, water-carved channel connected to subglacial lakes.
A new gene catalog of ocean microbes has revealed nutrient limitation as a central driver in the evolution of their genomes. The study found that microbial genomes change drastically with depth, adapting to varying levels of nitrogen availability.
A team of scientists from the University of Plymouth is developing potential new antimicrobials produced by the microbiome of deep-sea sponges. They have already cultured over 100 novel bacterial strains, some of which can kill MRSA, and are on the lookout for other applications in cancer, immune deficiency, and wound healing.
A new study by MBARI researchers reveals that giant larvaceans collect and consume microplastic particles in the deep sea. These particles accumulate in the animals' cast-off filters and are passed into their fecal pellets, which sink rapidly to the seafloor, potentially carrying microplastics to the deep seafloor.
Scientists use radioactive 129I to track ocean currents in the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. The tracer's long half-life allows precise tracking of water circulation patterns, including the 'Arctic loop' and deep-water flows southward to Bermuda.
Researchers found high sodium and selenium levels in soil and airborne particulate matter from the Salton Sea, posing negative ecological and health risks. The study highlights the need for monitoring and remediation efforts to mitigate dust emissions from the shrinking lake.
Analysis of caves in Israel reveals they formed through dissolution by rising groundwater, originating from highlands and deep faults. The findings have implications for understanding far-field groundwater systems and the possible circulation of fluids, dating back to the Oligocene-early Miocene periods.
NASA's Suomi NPP satellite captured an image of Tropical Storm Kulap, revealing a spiral of thunderstorms forming a clenched fist shape. The storm was moving west-northwest at 17.2 mph with maximum sustained winds near 51.7 mph.
Researchers at Caltech and USC identified how to accelerate calcite dissolution in seawater, enabling the ocean to safely lock away carbon dioxide. By adding a common enzyme, they increased the reaction rate by 500 times, opening up new possibilities for mimicking natural processes.
Researchers found unusual coral reefs in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, defying expectations of inhospitable conditions. The discovery suggests that factors such as abundant food and unique chemistry may contribute to their existence.
A new study published in Nature Communications has found that the hygroscopicity of inorganic components in sea spray is significantly lower than previously thought. This discovery could alter our understanding of how sea spray affects global climate patterns, as it influences cloud formation and solar radiation interaction.
Scientists detect methanol around Saturn's moon Enceladus using a ground-based telescope, suggesting complex chemical reactions occur in the plume once it's ejected into space. This finding highlights the need for further direct observations by future spacecraft to understand the chemistry of subsurface oceans.
Researchers studied 2,000-year-old Roman concrete using X-rays and electron microscopy, discovering a natural chemistry that strengthens the material over time. The findings suggest a recipe for modern concrete with less environmental impact could be inspired by the ancient Romans' use of volcanic ash, lime, and seawater.
Researchers found that seawater's interaction with Roman concrete leads to the growth of rare minerals, increasing its cohesion and strength. The unique pozzolanic reaction and interlocking mineral crystals provide a system contrary to modern cement-based concrete.
Researchers from Stockholm University found that the inorganic component of sea spray particles takes up less water, resulting in smaller particle size and reduced sunlight reflection. This discovery challenges existing climate models and highlights the importance of understanding sea spray's role in the atmosphere.
Scripps researcher Nick Pizzo found the exact location on a wave where a surfer gains maximum speed, enabling better forecasting of weather and climate. The study also sheds light on the energy transfer between waves and the atmosphere.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab found a way to pack more data in single acoustic beams for underwater communications, increasing information transmission rates. They demonstrated this by encoding binary data onto an acoustic signal, effectively increasing the amount of information that can be transmitted.
Researchers propose a new theory on how waves mix and stir the ocean, bringing cold water to the surface. The study explains how internal waves direct themselves based on topography, shedding light on climate-dependent ocean circulation patterns.
Researchers from AWI demonstrated how the Arctic Ocean transformed into a saline body after the land bridge between Greenland and Scotland submerged, enabling Atlantic circulation. The study found that changes occurred when the ocean passage reached a depth of over 50 meters below the surface mixed layer.
NASA has adopted a 'sneaker depth' method to visualize and communicate water clarity, inspired by Bernie Fowler's data. The algorithm relates satellite measurements of red light reflection to physical measurements of shoe visibility.
A new study published in Nature Communications estimates that the ancient network of valleys on Mars required at least 10 times more water than previously thought to carve out. The research suggests that Mars once had a warmer climate and active hydrologic cycle, with an ocean playing a key role in shaping the planet's landscape.
Researchers identified dissolved barium as a tracer to quantify the extent of Kuroshio's impact on the East China Sea. The study found that Kuroshio subsurface water forms an intrusion current by climbing northwest along the bottom, with nearly 65% of its volume entering the Qiantang Estuary.
Corals in peril at Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve on O'ahu, Hawai'i are facing increased risk due to global climate change, with temperature being the most influential factor in coral bleaching. Researchers have documented high levels of bleaching and mortality, highlighting the need for continued conservation efforts.
The 2015-2016 El Niño event was characterized by warmer ocean temperatures in the Pacific, with blue regions representing colder and red regions warmer temperatures. The El Niño-inducing westerlies caused eastward currents to occur in pulses.
University of California, San Diego researchers found that phytoplankton and bacteria in the water affect sea spray aerosol's atmospheric-changing properties. This influences cloud formation and climate change.
A Hokkaido University researcher found a correlation between high tropical Pacific seawater temperatures and increased ice breakup in East Antarctica. The study suggests that warmer seawater triggers atmospheric waves, leading to large ice breakups at Syowa Station.
Climate researchers predict an irreversible inflow of warm water under the ice shelf due to rising air temperatures above the Weddell Sea. The resulting meltwater feedback cycle could lead to dramatic melting and collapse of the second-largest ice shelf in Antarctica.
A new analysis of decades-long ocean data reveals a troubling oxygen decline, with oxygen levels dropping in the 1980s as temperatures rose. The rate of global oxygen loss exceeds natural variability, impacting marine habitats and leading to frequent 'hypoxic events' that kill or displace fish populations.
A new study found the Antarctic Peninsula's glaciers are losing ice at a rate of 15 cubic kilometers per year, not three times as much as previously reported. The glacier speed increase is attributed to ocean melting and warming, causing dynamical imbalance in Western Palmer Land.