Articles tagged with Seawater
A team of scientists and engineers from the National Oceanography Centre successfully tested a new device that can measure pH levels in seawater. The sensor uses a dye that changes color with pH, allowing for accurate long-term monitoring of ocean acidification, which is impacting marine ecosystems.
Young salmon scatter in all directions after entering the ocean, contrary to previous assumptions that most head north immediately. The study provides critical insights into salmon behavior and factors influencing survival, such as water temperature and predator presence.
Researchers in China are exploring a method to extract uranium from seawater, a potential solution to ensure reliable supplies of the fuel. Despite the challenge of extracting uranium from seawater at economic viability, progress has been made, including successful experiments by Japan and the US.
A new study predicts a sixfold increase in the number of potential invaders in Arctic waters by 2100 due to warmer climate and increased shipping. The researchers expect an increasing pressure on marine ecosystems, threatening traditional fisheries in Norway and Greenland.
NASA's Aqua satellite captured the last image of Typhoon Lekima before it weakened into an extra-tropical cyclone. The typhoon maintained its eye and surrounded clouds, but its winds were rapidly decreasing.
Researchers quantify the extent of ancient oxygen-free and hydrogen sulfide-rich waters in the ocean during a major extinction event 93.9 million years ago. This discovery highlights the significant impact on ocean chemistry and biological activity, suggesting that even limited euxinia can have profound effects on marine life.
A long-term study of box jellyfish abundance reveals a strong positive relationship with the North Pacific Gyre Oscillation index, primary production, and small zooplankton abundance. The study confirms predictable timing based on the moon cycle but shows no net increase or decrease in numbers over 14 years.
A species of cold water plankton in the North Atlantic is declining as oceans warm, putting pressure on fisheries that rely on it. The study found no evidence of adaptation to warmer temperatures over 50 years, suggesting its range will continue to contract and eventually disappear.
The OSNAP program will measure ocean's overturning circulation, a key component of global climate system. It aims to understand changes in this circulation and its impact on temperatures and precipitation.
A new study reveals that microscopic suspension feeders overcome physical constraints by changing their angle relative to surfaces, maximizing access to fresh water and filtering the surrounding water. These tiny organisms filter up to 25% of seawater daily, making them essential for aquatic ecosystems.
Land-based lava pillars in Iceland may have formed without explosion due to slow-moving lava interacting with water in a 'kinder' manner, suggesting new insights into volcanic risk assessment.
Researchers have discovered vast channels beneath an Antarctic ice shelf, stretching hundreds of kilometers. The channels' formation is linked to meltwater flowing under the grounded ice sheet, shedding light on how ice responds to environmental changes.
A team of researchers has documented the removal of oxygen from seawater flowing through the deep ocean's rocky crust, suggesting that microbes are scavenging for energy. This finding provides crucial insights into the survival and thrival of life in the 'deep biosphere' beneath the sea floor.
A long-term study has revealed that the deep Greenland Sea is warming at a rate ten times higher than the global ocean, with potential consequences for European climate. The warming is caused by changes in the interplay of two processes: cooling from above and warming from below.
Researchers develop new technique to find coherent ocean eddies, equivalent to black holes, which can moderate the negative impact of melting sea ice. These 'eddy-black holes' can also transport warm and salty water, influencing climate change and ocean currents.
A new study reveals dramatic ocean mixing in Drake Passage, crucial for regulating Earth's climate and ocean currents. The research provides detailed information needed to accurately predict long-term climate projections.
Researchers collected water samples up to six kilometres below the surface of the Southern Ocean, finding that physical transport in the ocean on currents shapes microbial communities. The study shows that communities connected by ocean currents are more similar to each other, regardless of distance.
The OceanCube Observatories are designed to understand changes in species, nutrients, and energy within a controlled cube-shaped volume of water. The system provides real-time data on temperature, salinity, and other chemical, biological, and physical data critical to understanding coral reef ecosystem health.
A team led by NASA's Robert Bindschadler measures the rate at which warm ocean water melts Antarctica's Pine Island Glacier ice shelf from underneath. The study reveals melt rates of up to 2.36 inches per day, with implications for sea level rise and glacier stability.
Researchers find unprecedented rate and scale of ocean acidification in the Arctic, driven by rapidly melting sea ice. This process threatens the health of the Arctic ecosystem and species that rely on calcium carbonate for survival.
Scientists have measured ice-shelf melting rates and processes beneath Pine Island Glacier, revealing a critical need to understand channelized melting under massive glaciers. The findings could lead to the break-up of the ice shelf and contribute to global sea-level rise.
The QPE team studied the impact of Typhoon Morakot on the East China Sea, examining freshwater run-off, upwelling, and biogeochemistry. They also investigated internal waves, measuring their size, shape, and direction using sonar to track plankton movement.
Researchers found that ocean warming is melting the Pine Island Glacier's floating ice shelf, causing rapid movement of glaciers in Antarctica. This process can lead to increased sea level rise as more ice is added to the mass of Antarctic glaciers.
Researchers tracked 800-foot-high waves in the Samoan Passage, a key bottleneck for ocean circulation. The waves produce mixing 1,000-10,000 times that of surrounding slow-moving water.
Tropical Storm Toraji is expected to make landfall in Kyushu and move back over open waters in the Sea of Japan. Strong wind shear from the southwest and interaction with the land are not expected to intensify the storm before it makes landfall.
Research published in PLOS ONE reveals that fish larvae can smell the presence of coral reefs from far offshore and use this odor to navigate home. The study found that water temperature and current directions do not influence the orientation of larvae, but rather a proximal cue allows them to settle and find their way back.
Researchers found that photochemical reactions break down mercury at the surface, but it's converted to its toxic form at deeper depths. This process affects ocean fish and the human seafood supply, with implications for reducing mercury emissions.
A new study reveals that giant bacteria like Thioploca are invaded by anammox bacteria, which steal their nitrogen, leading to reduced algal growth and less food for marine organisms. This discovery may impact ocean productivity and have implications for fish life and fisheries.
A USGS study reveals that threatened loggerhead sea turtles in the northern Gulf of Mexico require broader habitat protection to recover. The research shows that female turtles visit multiple beaches, sometimes hundreds of miles apart, during their reproductive periods.
A study published in Science found a strong correlation between seismic activity and operations at the Salton Sea Geothermal Field in southern California. The researchers tracked earthquake activity with production data for the geothermal power plant and found that seismicity increased as operations expanded.
A team of researchers found geologic evidence that challenges the conventional explanation for Antarctica's initial glaciation. Volcanic rocks in the Scotia Sea suggest an ancient volcanic arc may have blocked ocean currents, leading to a colder climate.
Research challenges conventional wisdom on giant sea creatures in polar seas, suggesting that large body sizes have an advantage in cold conditions by regulating oxygen uptake. This allows them to survive in environments with limited oxygen availability, contrary to the long-held idea that a superabundance of oxygen drives gigantism.
Researchers have used innovative radar analysis to accurately image the vast subglacial water system under Thwaites Glacier, a Florida-sized outlet glacier in Antarctica. The findings suggest that the dynamics of this water system may play a crucial role in predicting the fate of the glacier.
A new species of spoon worm, Arhynchite hayaoi, has been discovered in Japan with a distinctive elongated and spoon-like projection. The species was previously abundant but is now in decline, leading to its economic importance as a fish bait declining.
A new method for desalinating seawater has been developed by chemists at the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Marburg. The process uses a small electrical field to remove salts from seawater, achieving 25% desalination rates.
Researchers analyzed the membrane components of V. cholera that enable it to withstand increases in osmotic pressure, revealing comparable gating and conductive properties with E. coli channels. The study found that V. cholerae was more sensitive to abrupt decreases in osmolarity than E. coli.
A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that planktonic bacteria have reduced their genomes to optimize growth and adaptability. This adaptation allows these microorganisms to efficiently utilize diverse energy sources and survive in the ocean's complex ecosystem.
Coral reefs are more vulnerable to disruption and erosion due to ocean acidification, which reduces the density of coral skeletons. The study found that corals cannot fully acclimate to low pH conditions in nature.
Coral reefs experience reduced calcification rates due to ocean acidification, making them more vulnerable to erosion and disruption. Corals are unable to fully acclimate to low pH conditions in nature.
Researchers found that purple sea urchins can adapt to ocean acidification through natural variation and heritable traits. The study suggests that adaptation will play a significant role in the survival of this keystone species as carbon dioxide levels increase.
Researchers have discovered properties that made ancient Roman concrete sustainable and durable, with potential applications for environmentally friendly modern concretes. The Roman recipe needed less than 10% lime by weight, making it at two-thirds or less the temperature required by Portland cement.
A new study reveals that squid are vulnerable to acidic conditions in the ocean, which could have far-reaching effects on the ecosystem. The research found that squid reared in more acidic seawater were smaller, had misshapen statoliths, and took longer to develop.
Scientists have created global maps showing how shipping noise affects the ocean, with high levels appearing in northern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and along major shipping routes. The models take into account factors like water temperature, pressure, and sediment type to predict sound wave propagation.
Scientists discover chemical reaction between iron-containing minerals and water can produce enough hydrogen to sustain microbial communities, hinting at possibility of hydrogen-dependent life on Mars. The study also suggests that such reactions could take place in the ocean's crust at lower temperatures than previously thought.
Researchers reconstructed Arctic circulation through sediments and found that protactinium was being swept out of the Arctic before settling to the bottom. This suggests that the water couldn't have been stagnant, contradicting assumptions about the impact of the last ice age on global ocean currents. The study's findings indicate that...
Researchers explore ancient iron oceans, Antarctic climate feedbacks and evidence of catastrophic spillover from Mars. High-resolution imagery reveals standing bodies of water in eastern Valles Marineris region of Mars.
Researchers analyze growth process of brinicles, hollow tubes of ice growing downward into cold seawater near the Earth's poles. The study suggests brinicles could have fostered emergence of life on Earth billions of years ago and may be important for life on other planets with ice-covered oceans
The NASA Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM) satellite uses its Thermal Infrared Sensor to measure the temperature of the Salton Sea, detecting cooler areas as dark and warm areas as bright.
A new study reveals that white sharks occur in Hawai'i waters across a broader annual cycle than previously thought, with observations recorded every month except November. The research also identifies a simple method to distinguish between white sharks and close relatives like mako sharks based on the shape of their head.
Cyclone Imelda's weakening is attributed to strong wind shear in the Southern Indian Ocean. The storm's precipitation has been pushed southeast of its center, exposing the low-level circulation center.
A UC student researcher used satellite imagery to calculate ice flow velocity in Antarctica, predicting potential climate change impacts. The study aims to understand the process of ice motion and estimate influence on sea levels.
New research reveals that the Gulf of Mexico has a robust natural capacity to clean up oil spills, with certain bacteria consuming and breaking down crude oil in as little as one day. This discovery suggests that the need for heroic measures to speed up oil degradation may be unnecessary.
A study published in Nature Geoscience reveals that oceanographic reorganisations and biological processes linked to airborne dust in the Southern Ocean drove past rapid fluctuations in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. The research found large changes in chemical stratification of the Southern Ocean on millennial timescales, highligh...
Researchers discovered that purple sea urchins can rapidly evolve in acidic ocean water due to high levels of genetic variation, allowing them to thrive in conditions with high carbon dioxide. This capacity may help some marine species survive in future acidified seas.
The 2013 Arctic sea ice winter extent was the fifth lowest in the past 35 years, reaching 5.82 million square miles. This decline is part of a long-term trend and is associated with increasing greenhouse gases, which affect the radiation type during Arctic winter.
Researchers have unveiled a life-like, autonomous robotic jellyfish, Cyro, the size of a grown man, to study aquatic life, map ocean floors, and monitor ocean currents. The robot is powered by a rechargeable battery and uses a diffused nerve net to control movement, mimicking the behavior of natural jellyfish.
The California chromodorid sea slug, declared extinct in Southern California in the 1980s, has begun to reappear in local waters. Marine scientists attribute its resurgence to improved water quality, mainly a result of stricter pollution regulations.
A new study by UC Irvine scientists has found that ocean plankton near the surface of warm waters are much more carbon-rich than previously assumed. The researchers' findings challenge the Redfield ratio, a core principle in marine science that was thought to be constant across different depths and locations.
Researchers found evidence of life in the deeply buried oceanic crust, which is largely supported by chemosynthesis. The study suggests that this vast ecosystem is driven by energy from reduced iron compounds, creating a unique environment for microorganisms to thrive.
Researchers at the University of Washington are studying the sediment's fate after the removal of the Elwha Dam, which has released an estimated 34 million cubic yards of silt and sand into the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The sediments' ultimate fate is crucial for understanding their impact on the ocean floor and marine life.