Articles tagged with Seawater
A new model suggests that oxygen levels in oceans played a crucial role in the emergence of animal evolution, with early life forms surviving in areas with low oxygen concentrations. The research challenges conventional thinking and has implications for estimates of complex life on exoplanets.
Researchers found evidence of Vibrio species thriving on microplastic particles, posing a potential risk to human health. The study suggests that climate change could contribute to the proliferation of these bacteria.
A University of Washington team has sequenced the genome of a key ocean microbe, revealing its surprising role in removing life-supporting nitrogen from the water. The findings provide new insights into how these microbes interact and carry out fundamental processes in the ocean, particularly in deep, low-oxygen waters.
Scientists from the AWI have correctly simulated the Eocene warm climate phase using climate models, overcoming a previous weakness due to misinterpreting the temperature indicator TEX86. The corrected temperatures reveal that the region was still warm enough for palm trees to grow on beaches.
Researchers at EPFL have developed an osmotic power generation system that delivers unparalleled efficiency, using a new type of membrane just 3 atoms thick. The system harnesses the movement of salt ions between fresh water and seawater to generate electricity.
A recent study found that El Niño climate patterns contributed to the Northeast Pacific's largest marine heatwave on record. The study also suggests that unusually warm water events could become more frequent with rising greenhouse gas levels, disrupting ecosystems and leading to massive die-offs.
Scientists at TUM have discovered a plant-inherent water-conservation strategy that enables plants to absorb carbon dioxide while minimizing water loss. By activating this mode, plants can preserve moisture in the ground for later use during droughts, potentially increasing crop yields with limited water availability.
Two recent developments, Open Water Data Initiative and National Water Center, enable open sharing of water data nationwide. A flow-continuum model is emerging across atmosphere to oceans, coast to coast, revolutionizing real-time continental hydrology.
Researchers from AWI deploy ocean bottom seismometers to record earthquakes on Southwest Indian Ridge, revealing unique insights into ocean floor formation. Water circulation up to 15km deep leads to aseismic areas with soft soap-like rock that moves without jerking.
The ocean's slow circulation rate allowed it to store more carbon for longer periods than previously thought. This process released carbon into the deep ocean, where it was trapped due to slow circulation and eventually dissolved, storing large amounts of CO2 for thousands of years.
A new study reveals that Antarctic sea ice migration drives the strength of global ocean circulation by changing water density. The researchers found that freshwater from melting sea ice contributes 10 times more to freshwater input than land-based glaciers, making it a vital contributor to circulation.
Researchers from the University of Washington and NOAA have created a seasonal outlook for Pacific Northwest waters, providing predictions for water oxygen, temperature, chlorophyll, and pH. The tool shows measurable skill on seasonal timescales, especially at the beginning of the spring upwelling season.
A University of Delaware-led team studies the biogeochemistry of ocean and coastal waters, focusing on manganese's role in marine ecosystems. The research aims to understand how manganese transitions between states and its impact on biological growth of marine organisms.
A new study led by Brown University Ph.D. student Noah Hammond suggests that Pluto likely has a subsurface ocean today, contrary to previous theories. The research uses thermal evolution models updated with data from NASA's New Horizons spacecraft, which revealed signs of tectonic features and expansion on Pluto's surface.
New research reveals an 'electric wind' strong enough to remove water components from Venus' upper atmosphere, stripping it of its oceans. This powerful electric field accelerates oxygen ions to escape speeds, contributing to the loss of atmospheric gases.
A new study published in Geophysical Research Letters reveals that Venus' electric field is capable of accelerating oxygen ions to escape the planet's gravity, stripping away significant amounts of water over billions of years. This discovery challenges previous theories about the planet's loss of oceans and atmospheres.
A powerful electric wind can strip water from an atmosphere, stripping Venus of its oceans, and may have played a significant role in Earth's loss of oceans. The discovery was made by NASA-funded researchers using the ESA's Venus Express mission.
Scientists have calculated the fate of Greenland's melting freshwater, finding that more than half of it is transported southward by the Labrador Current. The study suggests that the melting-induced impact on ocean salinity is smaller than expected and may lead to a weakening of the Gulf Stream system.
A global mass extinction event killed off most life on Earth, but marine life quickly recovered 3.35 million years later, according to a new study led by University of California, Davis researchers. The recovery was attributed to changes in ocean circulation and mixing that allowed nutrient-rich waters to reach the surface.
Researchers have developed an artificial seawater medium that can successfully cultivate abundant marine microorganisms, many of which have not been genetically characterized before. This new tool may benefit genomics researchers, marine chemists and the microbial research community.
Researchers discovered sea snakes use scale sensilla to sense vibrations in water, allowing them to detect objects at a distance. This hydrodynamic sense is not possible for land animals and could be impacted by man-made disturbances.
New research reveals ocean currents explain why Antarctic Ocean has stayed at roughly the same temperature as most of the planet. Deep, centuries-old water is continually pulled up to the surface by constant westerly winds and great depths.
Scientists found evidence of two mega-tsunamis on Mars, triggered by meteorite impacts, which formed cold salty oceans conducive to sustaining life. The research reveals ancient ocean characteristics, including icy lobes with briny waters, providing a potential refuge for life in extreme environments.
Researchers found that some fish species can adjust their metabolisms to warmer temperatures, but not their tolerance for extreme heat. This 'plastic floor' of adaptation has limitations, with fish unable to tolerate temperatures beyond a certain threshold, dubbed the 'concrete ceiling'.
A study of Coos Bay found it is currently free of hypoxic conditions, thanks to its narrow offshore shelf and dredged ship channel. However, as the climate warms, the bay's flushing action may be disrupted, leading to increased risk of oxygen depletion.
Researchers have found a major carbon dioxide reservoir at depths of 2000-4300 meters in the South Pacific. The study suggests that during the last ice age, a sea ice cover on the Antarctic Ocean closed oceanic ventilation windows, leading to slowed deep water circulation and increased storage of old carbon dioxide.
Researchers discovered a twisted, helical shape can reduce drag by 18-23% compared to round cylinders. This design could improve stability for various structures, including antennae and skyscrapers.
A new study reveals that leftover warm water from a stalled El Niño event in 2014 contributed to the formation of a monster El Niño in 2015. The researchers found that easterly winds prevented the warm water from being transported poleward, allowing it to act as a reservoir of heat for the following year.
Researchers found less soot than expected, but discovered two types: a younger pool that absorbs into the environment every 100 years and an ancient reserve stable for millennia. Black carbon is a strong agent of climate change, absorbing sunlight and trapping heat on Earth.
A UGA study found that Saharan dust increases iron levels in ocean surface water, leading to large blooms of Vibrio bacteria. These bacteria can cause serious illness in humans and other marine organisms, and their rapid growth rate short circuits the theory of phytoplankton as the first responders to nutrient plumes.
Scientists at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution found a clear link between higher sea surface salinity levels and increased rainfall on land in the African Sahel. By analyzing global salinity and rainfall data, they discovered that high springtime salinity levels correlate significantly with increased monsoon-season rainfall in the ...
A recent study by Oregon State University researchers found an unprecedented abundance of juvenile sea star offspring along the Oregon coast, but warns that a second wave of the deadly 'sea star wasting disease' could be disastrous. The disease nearly wiped out the population in 2014 and its impact on the ecosystem is still unknown.
Researchers propose that large meteorite and comet impacts into the sea created structures with favourable conditions for life. Water interacting with impact-heated rock enabled synthesis of complex organic molecules, and the enclosed crater provided a microhabitat for life to flourish.
A new study published in Nature Climate Change reveals that groundwater extraction contributes about three times less to sea level rise than previously estimated, with an accurate figure of around 80%. This revised estimate suggests that other processes may be contributing more water to sea level rise, widening the gap between modeled ...
A vast reef system spanning 10,000 km2 has been discovered at the Amazon River mouth, contradicting long-held assumptions about reef development. The ecosystem thrives under a plume layer due to chemosynthesizing microorganisms, supporting complex biodiversity in low light conditions.
A Dartmouth study reveals that surface meltwater and subglacial discharge are driving the loss of ice mass in Greenland's coastal glaciers. The findings show that meltwater can exploit weaknesses in glaciers, fracturing and weakening them, and also increase calving and melting.
Scientists have developed new adsorbents that can extract uranium from seawater, reducing the cost by three to four times. The technology has shown promising results, with an ORNL adsorbent material capable of holding 5.2 grams of uranium per kilogram in natural seawater exposure.
Current measurement methods may underestimate the amount of plastic in oceans due to turbulent mixing. Researchers found that surface heating and ocean currents mix plastics deeper into the water column.
Researchers have found a decline in productivity in the Gulf of Maine due to increased amounts of dissolved organic carbon from rivers and the Scotia Shelf Current. This organic matter absorbs light necessary for photosynthetic organisms, influencing the ecology of the Gulf.
A team led by Julie Huber has discovered an active microbial community in cold oceanic crust at North Pond, an isolated sediment pond on the western flank of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The microbial community is oxygenated and heterogeneous, with distinct differences from that found in ocean bottom seawater.
The UGA Skidaway Institute is investigating the dynamic forces of Cape Hatteras waters, which are crucial for understanding global carbon cycling and climate change. The PEACH project uses a combination of shore- and ocean-based instruments to record surface currents and subsurface information.
A collaborative team of researchers has discovered that the North Atlantic Ocean played a pivotal role in the last great climate tipping point, leading to major expansions of carbon-rich southern-sourced deep waters into the northwestern Atlantic abyss. This finding provides new insights into the process driving these events, suggestin...
A 20-member scientific panel warns that increases in global carbon dioxide emissions are acidifying waters of the North American West Coast at an accelerating rate, with severe ecological consequences anticipated. The panel recommends a coordinated regional management strategy to mitigate the impacts of ocean acidification.
Scientists at NASA and the National Snow and Ice Data Center report that Arctic sea ice extent reached a record low wintertime maximum in 2016, with the lowest extent since satellite records began in 1979. The warming ocean waters are likely to contribute to continued declines in Arctic sea ice cover.
A study found that ocean acidification worsens during nighttime hours in tide pools along California's rocky coast. The increasing acidity harms calcifying organisms like mussels and oysters by dissolving their calcium carbonate shells and skeletons.
A new study by UM Rosenstiel School researchers found that expanding protected areas in US federal waters would safeguard 100% of core home range areas used by three shark species. The study suggests that protecting sharks' core habitat use areas, where they spend the majority of their time, can provide significant conservation benefits.
Researchers discover that warm ocean water is carving channels under Antarctica's ice shelves, weakening their stability. This process can lead to the disintegration of ice shelves, allowing more rapid ice flow into the ocean and increased rates of sea level rise.
Scientists have discovered five new limestone sea stacks, or 'Drowned Apostles', 50m beneath the water's surface 6km off Victoria's southern coast. The unexpected find challenges normal erosion rates and provides insights into the region's reef ecosystems.
Researchers explore storing water on Antarctica to delay sea-level rise, but conclude it's unlikely to mitigate the problem due to the enormous weight and distance required. They emphasize the need for rapid greenhouse-gas emission reductions and substantial investment in long-term local coastal protection.
A Rutgers-led study published in Nature Communications found a dynamic ocean process responsible for cooling coastal waters ahead of land-falling hurricanes. This process weakened Hurricane Irene as it neared New Jersey in 2011, improving forecasts and reducing losses linked to inaccuracies.
Researchers at the University of Southampton have discovered a direct link between fault activity and water entering the Earth's mantle. The study found that the amount of serpentinite formed at the bottom of each fault is directly proportional to the displacement on that fault.
A research group has developed a method to measure fish DNA in seawater, revealing the distribution of marine species. The study found that environmental DNA (eDNA) concentration reflects the biomass within 10-150 meters of the location.
Researchers have discovered a magnetic signal in volcanic rocks from the Iberian Peninsula that suggests a massive rotation of almost 60º occurred 300 million years ago. This process, known as the Cantabrian orocline, helped shape the region's mountain ranges and curvature.
Scientists at Rutgers University-Newark discovered a small dragonfly species that migrates across vast distances, breeding with each other and creating a global gene pool. The dragonfly, Pantala flavescens, is estimated to have traveled over 4,400 miles, surpassing previously thought records of monarch butterflies.
A study published in Environmental Science & Technology found that saline groundwater from coastal aquifers is a viable alternative to seawater for reverse osmosis desalination. The research revealed reduced membrane fouling and lower pre-treatment costs, making it a more efficient option.
A new prediction tool developed by MIT engineers can detect rogue waves in calm waters, giving sailors a 2-3 minute warning. The algorithm analyzes wave groups and predicts the probability of a rogue wave developing based on their length and height.
Coral reefs are already experiencing slower growth due to ocean acidification, which is causing coral calcification rates to decrease. The study found that increasing the pH of seawater can stimulate calcification rates.
Researchers develop new material to collect condensed water droplets using bio-inspired approach combining multiple natural systems. The material harnesses the power of desert beetles' bumps, cactus spines and slippery surfaces to facilitate condensation, promising applications in thermal power plants.
Scientists have found that ocean acidification is already slowing coral reef growth, with the potential for widespread devastation if left unchecked. Researchers manipulated seawater chemistry in a natural ecosystem to determine the impact of excess CO2 on coral reefs.
Researchers are racing to understand and mitigate the degradation of major river deltas worldwide, primarily caused by human activities such as damming, groundwater extraction, and agriculture. The study highlights that more than two-thirds of the world's 33 major deltas are sinking at an alarming rate.