Researchers calculate that the eastern, Jordanian side of the Dead Sea will experience a dramatic reduction in natural replenishment rate of groundwater if precipitation lowers as predicted. This could lead to shortages in water resources, affecting not only agriculture but also the growing population, with serious social and economic ...
A new study found that turbulent mixing in the deep waters of the Southern Ocean varies with surface eddy strength and possibly wind speeds, impacting global ocean circulation and climate. This insight will enable scientists to build better computer models predicting future climate change.
Researchers are monitoring the physics of the ice edge in the Beaufort Sea to better understand and predict open water in Arctic seas. The international effort aims to study how processes drive sea ice melt will change with increasing open water.
Researchers will use MABEL to develop algorithms for analyzing ICESat-2 data, which will help track summer sea ice melting and identify patterns in melt ponds. The flights will provide critical data on sea ice conditions, including the extent of summer ice melt.
UM Rosenstiel School scientists have developed a new method to improve storm intensity prediction of hurricanes, focusing on the air-sea interface. The study suggests that instability in this region can explain rapid intensification of tropical storms.
A new study reveals that certain strains of SAR11 can generate methane as a byproduct of breaking down methylphosphonic acid, producing phosphorus. This discovery explains the 'marine methane paradox' and provides an important piece of the puzzle in understanding the Earth's methane cycle.
A remarkable new dinosaur tracksite in Denali National Park, Alaska, has provided insights into the herd structure and paleobiology of northern polar dinosaurs. The discovery reveals that these animals not only lived in multi-generational herds but also thrived in a high-latitude, polar ecosystem.
The fossilized remains of a giant bird were found to be an extremely efficient glider, using long slender wings to stay aloft for miles over the open ocean without flapping its wings.
Scientists have found that the largest source of iron in the North Atlantic comes from dust blowing in from the Sahara desert, but other sources such as sediments also play a significant role. This discovery has important implications for understanding the carbon cycle and past climate change.
A recent study by the University of Cadiz reveals five large accumulations of plastic debris in the open oceans, coinciding with major ocean gyres. The study estimates tens of thousands of tonnes of plastics on surface waters, influencing sea creatures' behavior and food chains.
Leading scientists warn that tropical coastal waters are under pressure due to growing populations and climate change, highlighting the need for holistic management approaches. They advocate for expanded use of Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) to balance competing demands from fisheries, aquaculture, shipping, and other human activities.
Tropical Storm Douglas is weakening due to cooler waters and drier air in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The storm's maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 45 mph, with forecasters predicting a gradual decline in strength over the next day.
A new study found that simpler marine organisms, like bacteria and unicellular algae, can withstand higher temperatures than complex ones, such as animals and plants. The researchers discovered that the complexity of an organism's structure determines its ability to adapt to warmer waters.
A new study reveals that ancient Arctic sand tiger sharks were able to tolerate brackish water conditions 50 million years ago, unlike modern sand tiger sharks which require much higher salinity levels. This finding has significant implications for how today's sharks might fare in a warming Arctic region.
The study, led by the University of Cadiz and Spanish National Research Council, reveals five large accumulations of plastic waste in surface waters, matching the five major twists of surface water circulation. Microplastics were detected in 88% of ocean surface samples, posing risks to marine food chains and ecosystems.
New research published in Nature Geoscience contradicts previous studies on tropical temperatures, suggesting they were warmer during the Pliocene epoch. This finding indicates that few places on Earth will be immune to global warming, with potential consequences for tropical storm intensity and climate impacts.
Researchers at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution found rapid changes in ocean temperature near glaciers, driven by fast ocean currents. The data suggests large and rapid fluctuations in submarine melt rates, contradicting the prevailing paradigm of freshwater input driving new water into the fjord.
Researchers have made the first structural observations of liquid water at temperatures as low as minus 51 degrees Fahrenheit, revealing new insights into its molecular structure and behavior. This study opens a new window for exploring liquid water in extreme conditions, which is relevant to global ocean currents, climate, and biology.
A NASA-funded study suggests that cracks on Pluto's moon Charon could reveal a past underground ocean. The analysis finds that a high-eccentricity phase in Charon's orbit may have generated large tides, causing friction and surface fractures. This friction would have also caused the tides to slightly lag behind their orbital positions.
Researchers discover water bound in rock deep in the Earth's mantle, potentially representing the planet's largest water reservoir. This finding may aid scientists in understanding how the Earth formed and what its current composition is.
A new study reveals that phytoplankton in the Sargasso Sea store more polyphosphate when phosphorus is scarce than expected. The researchers found that polyphosphate is recycled from sinking particles in low-phosphorus environments, making it available for phytoplankton use.
Researchers found that Japanese sea catfish use sensory nerve fibers to detect slight changes in water pH caused by respiration of small sea worms, allowing them to locate live prey. This discovery highlights the potential effects of ocean acidification on marine vertebrates.
Scientists found that expanded sea ice in the Southern Ocean led to a massive drop in atmospheric CO2 levels during the Last Glacial Maximum. The study suggests a dynamic link between sea-ice expansion and ocean water insulation, providing new insights into past climate changes.
Globally, phytoplankton and zooplankton biomass are projected to decrease by 6% and 11%, respectively, due to rising sea temperatures. This reduction in primary and secondary production will have a negative impact on fish biomass, particularly pelagic species.
Over 60 years of citizen science observations detected trends in Midwestern lake water clarity. Lakes further north showed an overall trend toward increasing water clarity, whereas those in the south experienced a decline. These geographical patterns suggest latitude may play a role in water clarity trends.
Scientists at GEOMAR used a complex 3D computer model to simulate the paths of seawater toward hydrothermal vents, finding that water seeps in near vents or travels long distances underground before venting. This study provides new insights into ocean floor processes and resource potential.
Researchers have discovered new relationships between deep-sea temperature and ice-volume changes to provide insight into the climatic relationships that caused major ice-age cycles. The study found that cooling events and continental ice-volume cycles occurred at different times, contradicting previous theories.
A submarine canyon offshore from the strait that separates the U.S. and Canada supplies most of the water coming into Puget Sound, the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Canada's Georgia Strait. This intense flow and mixing contribute to the region's high productivity and mysterious ocean conditions.
Researchers found that both denitrification and anammox are at work in the oceans, with a 70-30 ratio of nitrogen removal. The study settles a decades-long debate over how nitrogen is removed from the ocean and has real-world applications for understanding global climate and productivity.
New gravity data reveals an ocean of liquid water beneath 30-40 km of ice at Enceladus' surface, potentially creating conditions for complex chemical reactions. The sub-surface ocean may extend towards the equator in every direction, similar to Europa's ocean.
Scientists have confirmed that Enceladus has a large subsurface ocean near its south pole using gravity measurements collected by Cassini. The data suggest that the ocean is about 50 kilometers below the surface, and its density could compensate for the absence of material at the surface.
A recent study by Simon Fraser University geographer Lance Lesack discovered that warmer springs with unexpected snowfall declines are driving earlier-than-expected ice breakup in great Arctic rivers. This finding is significant as it challenges previous assumptions about the effects of climate change on Arctic ice systems.
Researchers from Aarhus University and Lund University found that nutrients from land are the main cause of widespread oxygen depletion in the Baltic Sea. The areas affected have increased drastically over the past century, harming marine life and ecosystem balance.
Tropical System 94W is developing in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean, affecting the southern Philippines. The Philippine authorities have issued warnings due to signal No. 1 conditions, with sustained winds of 18.6-37.2 mph expected in at least 36 hours.
Researchers found that climate change is shrinking Antarctic Bottom Waters, a massive current that 'hides' heat and carbon from the atmosphere. This reduction in convection could lead to increased heat trapping in the deeper ocean, contributing to global warming.
The Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Deepwater Horizon oil spill model accurately predicted shoreline oil impact, utilizing Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System (COAMPS). By combining satellite images with ocean circulation models, NRL developed BioCast to forecast water clarity and contaminant distribution.
A computer model predicts significant changes in the Ross Sea ecosystem, including disruptions in food webs and predator-prey relationships. Rising temperatures and changing wind patterns are expected to affect biological productivity and species distributions.
New research suggests that the first animals oxygenated the deep oceans, creating conditions for more complex life to evolve. This finding challenges the long-held belief that a rise in atmospheric oxygen triggered the development of complex life forms.
A team of scientists tracked 17 loggerhead turtles for 27 to 220 days, providing the first look at their early behavior and movements in the wild. The study's findings challenge previously held beliefs, suggesting that young turtles may drop out of currents into the middle of the Atlantic or the Sargasso Sea.
A study by McGill University researchers shows that climate change has led to a decrease in ocean salinity, creating a freshwater lid that prevents mixing with warm waters underneath. This has resulted in the suppression of naturally rare events like the Antarctic polynya and contributed to the shrinking of Antarctic Bottom Water.
University of Washington researchers used new tools to measure and track B-12 vitamins in the ocean, finding that marine archaea can supply this essential vitamin. The results show that B-12 is present in small amounts in all water samples, with low concentrations indicating potential deficiency among tiny marine algae.
NASA's Terra satellite captured visible images of Tropical Cyclone Guito as it exited the Mozambique Channel and moved into the open waters of the Southern Indian Ocean. The storm had maximum sustained winds near 60 knots/69.0 mph/111.1 kph, located just south of the channel.
A new study suggests that Atlantic deep water formation may be much more fragile than previously realised, with sudden and large reductions in the influence of these North Atlantic waters in the deep ocean. This could have widespread impacts on regional sea level, droughts, and ocean acidification under future climate change scenarios.
The TRMM satellite revealed that Tropical Cyclone Guito produced heavy rainfall at a rate of over 50mm per hour in the Mozambique Channel. The satellite data contradicts earlier forecasts predicting landfall, highlighting the importance of accurate weather modeling and monitoring.
Researchers at Oregon State University confirmed a correlation between ocean salmon's migration patterns and the Earth's magnetic field, revealing an innate navigation system. The study found that juvenile salmon can detect and respond to magnetic fields, using them to determine their location and direction.
The Greenland Ice Sheet is experiencing rapid ice loss, driven by ocean warming and increased surface melting. This phenomenon can lead to fresh water input into the North Atlantic Ocean, potentially disrupting global climate circulation patterns.
Deep-sea fault zones in subduction zones can transport large amounts of water from the Earth's oceans to the upper mantle. Researchers estimate that these zones could carry up to three and a half times the total amount of ocean water to the mantle.
Marine scientists in Palau found corals living in acidic waters to be diverse and healthy, contradicting previous observations. The unique environment in Palau's Rock Islands is believed to provide a 'perfect storm' of conditions that allow corals to thrive.
Researchers from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln discovered a new species of small sea anemones, Edwardsiella andrillae, burrowed into Antarctica's Ross Ice Shelf. The anemones have adapted to live upside down in ice, creating a previously unknown ecosystem.
Researchers with the ANDRILL Program discovered thousands of small sea anemones burrowed into the underside of the Ross Ice Shelf, a first for a species to live in ice. The newly identified species, Edwardsiella andrillae, can be found hanging from the ice surface, with no clear mechanism for survival or reproduction.
Researchers found high levels of Hafnium 176 and low levels of Neodymium 143 in ancient seawater, indicating the presence of exposed landmasses. This discovery provides insights into weathering processes during the Neoarchean period.
Researchers used DNA from water samples to identify and determine the relative abundance of 13,000 fish species in the tank. The technique has potential for cost-effective and time-saving methods for monitoring aquatic habitats and detecting invasive species.
Researchers discovered that coral reefs in Palau's Rock Islands are surprisingly diverse and healthy despite being exposed to acidic water. The unique conditions in Palau, including a residence time of seawater that allows for continuous calcification and respiration, contribute to the corals' resilience.
Researchers found that penguin colonies moved from sea ice to thicker floating ice shelves due to changing environmental conditions. This surprising adaptation may help the species survive, but more research is needed to understand its extent and implications for other penguin populations.
Researchers challenge conventional wisdom that super-Earths are waterworlds, proposing they can have exposed continents and an Earth-like climate. The model suggests most tectonically active super-Earths store water in the mantle, enabling a stable climate.
Giant underwater waves, invisible to the eye, are produced by temperature and salinity differences in ocean water. These internal waves, resembling surface waves in shape, play a key role in mixing ocean waters, driving warm surface waters downward and drawing heat from the atmosphere.
A new study suggests that El Nino events are tied to the rapid melting of Antarctica's Pine Island Glacier. The glacier's ice shelf has been thinned nearly continuously since observations began in the 1970s. Under certain conditions, a thick layer of warm water surrounding the continent can flood the glacier margin and accelerate melt.
Tropical Cyclone Bruce is experiencing strong effects of wind shear and cooling ocean waters, leading to its rapid weakening. The NASA Aqua satellite captured images of the storm on December 24, showing a low-level center exposed to outside winds and rapidly decaying.
Researchers mapped a large aquifer in southeast Greenland using Operation IceBridge radar data, covering an area larger than West Virginia, with the potential to raise sea levels by 0.016 inches per inch. The perennial aquifer is a heat reservoir for the ice sheet, and its filling and discharging mechanisms are not yet fully understood.
Tropical Cyclone Bruce strengthened to a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 143.8 mph, creating rough seas and waves up to 30 feet high. The cyclone is forecast to curve to the southeast after three days, eventually becoming extra-tropical.