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 Hawaii have found that man o' war sting first aid should be based on evidence, not traditional practices. Vinegar rinses and hot water treatments are effective in neutralizing venom and reducing pain, while seawater rinses can worsen stings.
A study by Kansas State University ecologists found that leaf litter decomposition rates are less than half of what the metabolic theory predicts, even at higher temperatures. This suggests that warmer temperatures may not accelerate decomposition as much as expected.
Researchers examined rock samples from the Earth's mantle and found that water penetrated deep into the crust and upper mantle, cooling almost instantly. The discovery supports one side of a long-standing debate on crust formation and could have implications for fighting climate change.
A study published in Science finds that rising carbon dioxide levels and ocean acidity can hinder the functioning of Trichodesmium cyanobacteria, a key process for nitrogen fixation. This could have significant effects on marine ecosystems and food webs.
A new study from the University of Georgia finds that increasing water temperatures are responsible for the accumulation of nitrite in marine environments, disrupting ocean food webs. Nitrite can alter single-celled plants, affecting animals that feed on them, and lead to toxic algal blooms.
A University of Georgia study predicts that 13.1 million people could be displaced by rising ocean waters, with Atlanta, Houston, and Phoenix as top destinations for those forced to relocate.
The Cassini spacecraft detected molecular hydrogen in the plume of Saturn's moon Enceladus, suggesting hydrothermal reactions between hot rocks and water. This finding indicates that Enceladus' sub-surface ocean may support life, making it a promising candidate for astrobiological research.
Researchers suggest ancient ocean had green rusty mineral, green rust, which could have delivered substantial proportion of iron to early ocean sediments. Green rust forms under low oxygen conditions and can transform into iron oxides over time.
A University of Alaska Fairbanks study found that warmer Atlantic water is a significant contributor to Arctic sea ice loss. Increased mixing in the Eastern Eurasian Basin allows heat from the warmer water to reach the surface, causing sea ice to melt.
Scientists have discovered that sea urchins extract calcium ions from seawater through a process where they drink in water and manipulate the ions within their cells. This method is more energy efficient than previously thought, but presents new challenges for understanding how these cells concentrate and expel ions.
Researchers from the University of Geneva linked marine biological aerosols to ocean water characteristics, enabling indirect study through water analysis. This discovery simplifies aerosol characterization and enhances climate models' accuracy.
Researchers found that melt ponds in Arctic waters provide a nutrient-rich environment for algae and bacteria to grow, supporting marine life. This increase in productivity could lead to more food available for creatures such as seals, sea cucumbers, and fish in the polar seas.
Scientists have discovered novel viruses in oceanic basement fluids, infecting microorganisms and influencing the chemical balance of oceans. The study provides insights into the origins of life and the role of viruses in shaping life on Earth.
Scientists have found evidence of severe droughts in the Mideast during past warm periods, with rainfall plummeting to a fifth of modern levels. The findings suggest that the region is already experiencing dire drought and may become even drier as climate warms.
New study reveals commonly recommended first aid actions for jellyfish stings can actually increase venom injection, leading to more severe pain and scars. The team recommends rinsing with vinegar or plucking tentacles off with tweezers as alternative treatments.
Marine biologists quantify the carbon consumption of bacterioplankton to better understand the ocean carbon cycle. The study found that increased CO2 levels stimulate bacterial respiration, converting organic carbon back to CO2 and limiting the ocean's ability to store it.
Researchers identified short DNA segments influencing tilapia's internal body chemistry in response to salinity stress, paving the way for targeted studies on gene regulatory networks. This discovery may help enhance stress tolerance in fish, critical for management practices preventing species extinction.
Scientists have identified a mechanism by which deep waters may rise to the surface through turbulence generated by underwater topographic features. This finding could help estimate how long the ocean stores carbon in its deepest regions before returning it to the surface.
Researchers found the average temperature of Earth's mantle beneath ocean basins is about 60 degrees Celsius higher than previously thought, thanks to water in deep minerals. This discovery may change our understanding of tectonic plate movements and mantle viscosity.
Researchers report rapid expansion of ocean acidification in the western Arctic Ocean, with waters becoming more acidic and extending deeper. This phenomenon threatens marine life, including clams, mussels, and pteropods, which are crucial to the diet of salmon and herring.
A new study by Australian National University has found evidence of seawater cycling as deep as 2,900km into the Earth's mantle, raising questions about how the atmosphere and oceans formed. The research suggests alternative theories, such as icy comets or meteorites bringing water to Earth, could be plausible.
The deep ocean floor may experience drastic changes in biodiversity by 2100 due to warming temperatures, increased acidification, and reduced food supply. This will lead to the dominance of smaller organisms, with some species thriving while others die or migrate to other areas.
Tropical Cyclone 8P was quickly dismantled by strong wind shear, with its maximum sustained winds near 40 mph. The storm's journey was marked by rapid movement and shifting winds, ultimately leading to its transformation into an extra-tropical system.
A recent study found that massive warm-water eddies in the Caribbean Sea contribute to intense hurricanes like Matthew. The research team measured ocean temperature, salinity, and currents to better understand these oceanic features.
Researchers confirm that the floating ice shelf is strongly coupled to the ocean below and Nares Strait, with temperatures changing with seasons and tides. Temperature data shows warming of ocean water at an average rate of 0.03 degrees Celsius per year, consistent with adjacent studies.
The study reveals that the ocean's oxygen content has decreased by more than 2% over the last 50 years due to global warming. This decrease can have far-reaching biological consequences for marine life, particularly large fish species.
A NASA study reveals that meltwater from the Greenland Ice Sheet can drain through aquifers and fractures in the ice, reaching the ocean. This discovery could significantly impact computer models of sea level rise, providing new insights into the Greenland contribution.
Scientists discover Quaternary ruptures along the Leech River fault, capable of producing earthquakes MW >6, highlighting seismic risk exposure. A new continent, Zealandia, geologically separate from Australia and Antarctica, is identified as a major geological entity.
Researchers found that diatoms' rapid growth creates algal blooms that deplete nutrients in the upper water layer, which then affect global ocean currents. Diatoms absorb zinc and silicon to form shells and transport these trace elements through deep ocean currents.
The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan has achieved positive results, with more water flowing through the system than before. However, the plan's failure to account for climate change poses a significant challenge, and future updates are needed to incorporate rising sea levels and changing rainfall patterns.
Researchers have discovered that geostrophic balance becomes invalid at smaller scales, making sea level data unreliable for calculating ocean circulation. At high resolution, sea level can accurately calculate circulation in areas with persistent eddies, but not in areas dominated by internal waves.
Researchers found that Earth's rotation affects meltwater behavior, keeping it at depths of several hundred meters. The team measured turbulence in meltwater as it flowed out of a cave beneath the Pine Island Glacier and used a VMP23 to detect subtle fluctuations in water.
A Japanese research group used a new DNA analysis technology to detect 128 fish species in Maizuru bay, Kyoto prefecture. This method, known as eDNA metabarcoding, allowed them to survey fish in multiple areas during a short time period, detecting nearly 80% of the species present.
Foraminifera, tiny unicellular organisms, produce better shells in acidic water due to a self-regulating biochemical mechanism. This discovery challenges the prevailing theory and could lead to increased CO2 levels in oceans, resulting in more rapid global warming.
A team of researchers at New Jersey Institute of Technology has developed spectral and co-spectral techniques to measure changes in subsurface water temperature and salinity. The methods, validated with a year's worth of data from two beaches in Alaska, can help coastal scientists anticipate changes in coastal ecosystems.
A new study from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution reveals that Antarctic Bottom Water has freshened at an unexpected rate between 2007 and 2016, potentially altering ocean circulation and contributing to sea level rise. The researchers hypothesize that a recent landscape-changing event may be responsible for the shift.
A new electrochemical technique can remove nickel from contaminated seawater by trapping it in calcareous deposits within a week. This cost-effective method uses galvanized steel electrodes and does not deplete calcium and magnesium levels in the water.
Researchers from Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology create a precise method for measuring ocean temperature using Raman spectroscopy, enabling accurate tracking of thermal energy flows in the Arctic. The technique's accuracy is comparable to current direct measurements, opening up new possibilities for monitoring sea surface te...
Two new phytoplankton groups have been found to favor warmer oceans, defying the expectation that eukaryotic species decline in these conditions. The discovery was made using over 6,000 RNA sequences and time-series sampling, providing insight into future ocean ecosystems.
A VIMS research team has deployed a high-tech mooring beneath the Antarctic ice to monitor CO2 levels in the Southern Ocean year-round. The study aims to improve understanding of global climate change and its impacts on marine life.
The Arctic coast's thawing permafrost leads to increased erosion, releasing greenhouse gases and nutrients into the sea. This alters ecosystems, affects traditional fishing grounds, and impacts the Arctic population's way of life.
A new study confirms the steady warming of oceans over the past 75 years, with a rate of 0.12 degrees Celsius per decade since 1997, contradicting claims of a global warming 'hiatus'. The research uses data from buoys, satellites, and Argo floats to support the NOAA findings, providing accurate measurements of ocean temperatures.
A recent study suggests that warmer oceans and increased rainfall will lead to more intense typhoons in the western Pacific. The research found that a lack of ocean water mixing, caused by freshwater from increased rainfall, can increase storm intensity.
Research from the University of Southampton found that the world's wet regions are getting wetter and dry regions are getting drier, with a change of about 2% over the last 60 years. This process is called amplification of the water cycle, which is happening at a slower rate than previously predicted.
Scientists at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center are developing a new method to track ocean heat using satellite magnetic field observations. The approach relies on the electrical conductivity of seawater and its temperature fluctuations, which can be detected from subtle changes in Earth's magnetic field lines.
Researchers have developed a catalyst that accelerates sodium-air reactions in seawater batteries, achieving an average discharge voltage of 2.7 volts over 100 cycles.
Researchers built a marine archive by analyzing annual growth increments in clam shells from the North Icelandic Shelf. The study found that ocean variability played an active role in driving major pre-industrial climate fluctuations.
A University of Miami research team analyzed sea spray droplets generated from breaking waves and found that the amount of large droplets is 1000 times more than previously thought. This information can be applied to hurricane models to improve intensity predictions, aiding in people's safety.
Sea urchins and microorganisms have been found to 'drink' seawater, extracting calcium ions through a network of bubbles within their cells. This method may be more energy-efficient than previous theories, but also presents challenges in manipulating ions in the sea water.
The deep meridional overturning circulation (MOC) in the South China Sea has made significant progress, driven by the Luzon Strait overflow and enhanced cyclonic circulation. The study reveals an unclosed 'sandwich' structure with upwelling areas primarily located in slope regions.
Research reveals that the grounding line of Pine Island Glacier retreated from a prominent seafloor ridge by 1945, with final ungrounding occurring in 1970. The team's findings suggest that ice-sheet retreat continued even when climate forcing weakened.
Researchers have developed a new method to track ocean temperature changes using internal tidal waves, which can be detected through satellite data. This approach is cheaper and more reliable than existing methods, allowing for long-term monitoring of ocean warming without harming marine mammals.
Research from Oregon State University reveals that rockfish larvae stick together in sibling groups until they move to shallower water. The study sheds new light on how rockfish disperse and recruit in the ocean.
A new study from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution explains that bacteria break down dissolved organic matter in seawater, creating methane as a byproduct. The researchers found that microbes use polysaccharides to access phosphorus, a rare nutrient in seawater, which is essential for their survival.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling correlates closely with trawl catches of subarctic, deepwater fish species in Greenland. This non-invasive method detected a higher abundance of the Greenland Shark and identified 26 families of fish, including rays and halibut.
A liquid ocean beneath Pluto's surface is suggested as the best explanation for its unique features, including Sputnik Planitia. The study provides evidence for a subsurface ocean and challenges traditional theories about Pluto's composition.
New study discovers higher latitude ecosystems recovered rapidly after the Permian-Triassic boundary, which marked the World's most cataclysmic extinction event. The finding sheds light on the global extinction process and ecosystem recovery at higher latitudes.
Shane Ardo will use the funding to advance his solar-powered desalination innovation, which aims to provide sustainable and inexpensive access to freshwater. The technology has the potential to reduce costs and environmental impact of conventional desalination plants.
The discovery of 500 bubbling methane vents off the US West Coast has revealed a giant methane seep along the entire coast of Washington, Oregon, and California. This finding has doubled the number of known methane-seeping vents in US waters, highlighting the need for further research to understand their impact on the environment.
Tropical Storm Nicole has transitioned into an extra-tropical storm, characterized by a change in primary energy source from latent heat release to baroclinic processes. The storm is expected to bring rough surf and strong winds to Bermuda and the US East Coast, particularly through Wednesday night.