Research on the ocean's chemistry and ice. Covers ocean carbon capture, forever chemicals in sea spray, Antarctic change, and sea-ice clouds.
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.
US East Coast regions will be disproportionately affected by ocean acidification, with the Gulf of Maine being particularly vulnerable. The study found that waters with low alkalinity to DIC ratios are more susceptible to acidification, and the Labrador Coastal Current may contribute to this effect.
Cyclone Haruna made landfall near Manombo, Madagascar on February 22, with its eye becoming cloud-filled. The storm's maximum sustained winds dropped to 80 knots after interacting with land, but it will continue to weaken due to friction and wind shear.
Researchers have discovered significant amounts of water in Apollo samples, indicating the early Moon was wet and the water wasn't substantially lost during formation. The detection of hydroxyl groups suggests a prolonged solidification of the lunar magma ocean.
Researchers investigate coral specialization in the ocean, finding that habitat depth is a key factor in shaping different species. Coral larvae can disperse vast distances but small differences in survival rates at different depths lead to segregation over long generation times.
Researchers at the National Oceanography Centre revealed a unique cold volcanic vent in Antarctica, differing from classic hydrothermal vents. The study used high-resolution camera platforms to image the seafloor and detected a low-lying plume of shimmering water, indicating hydrothermal fluid seeping through sediment.
Cyclone Felleng formed over the Mozambique Channel and transitioned into a cold core low pressure area, with NASA's TRMM satellite capturing its rainfall rates. The storm dissipated in the next couple of days as it moved south-southeast in the open waters of the Southern Indian Ocean.
Researchers at National Oceanography Centre and New York University Abu Dhabi discovered corals can thrive at high seawater temperatures, up to 36 degrees Celsius. The study found special algae strains that facilitate this heat resistance, providing new insights into coral survival and potential for reef conservation.
A new University of Washington study reveals the Cyclone in 2012 did not cause the record low for Arctic sea ice minimum. Instead, it suggests that natural warming trends and thin ice were the primary factors contributing to the melting.
A Johns Hopkins University scientist finds that ozone depletion has altered the mixing of waters in Southern Ocean, potentially impacting CO2 levels and global climate. The study's findings suggest a possible slowdown or reversal of ocean ventilation if stratospheric ozone recovers.
A new study published in Environmental Research Letters analyzes the benefits and drawbacks of dissolving particles in ocean surfaces to increase marine uptake of carbon dioxide. The researchers find that this approach would only compensate for around 9% of present-day anthropogenic CO2 emissions, highlighting its inefficiency.
Tropical Storm Emang is showing moderate to heavy rainfall near its center, with estimated rates of 2 inches per hour. The storm is currently moving westward at 3 knots and expected to pass southwest La Reunion Island by January 21.
The discovery of a new fossil in Tunisia reveals that African sea cow ancestors lived in freshwater environments, predating those found in Jamaica. This finding provides crucial insights into the evolutionary origins of these marine mammals.
Cyclone Dumile is moving southward over the open ocean, generating rough seas with wave heights of up to 32 feet. The storm's eye has become ragged, indicating it may weaken as it transitions to an extra-tropical storm.
A UC Riverside-led research team tested the hypothesis that low zinc levels delayed eukaryote diversification, finding instead high seawater zinc availability throughout Earth's history. The study suggests that ferruginous deep oceans and volcanic activity maintained stable zinc levels.
Researchers at UC Davis study a rare meteorite, the fastest and rarest known to hit Earth, providing insights into the formation of planets. The team uses advanced techniques to analyze the meteorite's composition and internal structures.
A team of researchers has identified the bomb-pulse of uranium-236 in corals from the Caribbean Sea, revealing information on ocean currents. The findings suggest that southern hemispheric waters carry uranium-236, which helps investigate inter-hemispheric water exchange and global heat transport.
Researchers from the University of Gothenburg have made new observations that show ice sheet mass in West Antarctica is melting faster than expected. The study suggests a clear reduction in ice mass, particularly around glaciers in the Amundsen Sea, caused by warm sea water penetrating beneath the ice.
Researchers are exploring ways to improve solar power forecasting, grow algae for biofuel sustainably, and model the environmental effects of tidal power. PNNL scientists have developed new approaches to predict clouds, analyzed resources needed for algal biofuel production, and created a computer model to study tidal energy extraction.
Researchers found elevated mercury levels in coastal fog due to upwelling of deep ocean water, which brings the element to the surface and into the atmosphere. While the levels are extremely low, more research is needed to understand the processes involved.
A new study using 3D models shows that chemical dispersants injected into the Macondo wellhead had little effect on preventing oil from reaching the sea surface. The researchers found that the oil droplets were too small for the dispersants to have a significant impact.
A Wayne State University researcher is part of an international effort to study the movement of chemical compounds through the world's oceans. The project aims to investigate how carbon is exported from the upper 100 meters of ocean water to deeper waters and how hydrothermal waters affect the removal of polonium and lead.
A new international study has reconciled measurements of ice sheet changes in Antarctica and Greenland, providing a more consistent estimate of their contribution to sea-level rise. The results show that the planet's two largest ice sheets have been losing ice faster during the past decade, causing widespread concern.
A new study found severe dissolution of pteropod shells in Southern Ocean waters due to ocean acidification. The tiny snails are a valuable food source for fish and birds, and their shells dissolving may increase vulnerability to predation and infection.
Researchers at MIT developed a new method to predict Arctic sea ice extent by combining models and observations, revealing an important interaction between sea ice and ocean currents. The study provides a valuable tool for climate scientists and industries, enabling better prediction of sea-ice growth and transport.
A University of Innsbruck team assessed glacier contribution to sea level rise from 1902 to 2009, finding that melting glaciers caused about 11 cm of sea level increase. Glaciers' melt rates were surprisingly constant over time, with brief warm episodes leading to Arctic glacier retreat.
Researchers have identified several critical feedback loops that contribute to the rapid increase in sea levels, including Arctic sea ice, Greenland's ice cap, and soil moisture. These positive feedbacks accelerate climate change, making it challenging to predict future sea-level rise.
Prapiroon, a large and powerful storm in the western North Pacific, has transitioned into an extra-tropical cyclone. The storm is expected to weaken over the next few days, eventually fading away from view.
Researchers predict that global warming will acidify saltwater sufficiently to make low-frequency sound travel twice as far as it currently does. This could lead to a clearer understanding of the sound environment of marine mammals and the effects of human activity on their habitats.
Researchers, led by Dr. Emily Shuckburgh, apply mathematical ideas from dynamical systems to analyze circulation in the Southern Ocean. Mixing of water with different properties is a key determinant in heat uptake by oceans.
A recent study published in PNAS found that the Arctic and Southern Oceans have distinct microbial community compositions, with few common members sharing surface areas. The research suggests that freshwater input from glaciers and rivers drives these differences, with a greater prevalence of unique organisms in coastal regions.
Scientists have discovered an enormous amount of water vapour, enough to fill Earth's oceans over 2000 times, in a gas and dust cloud collapsing into a new Sun-like star. Water was previously detected outside our Solar System as ice coated onto tiny dust grains near active star formation sites.
Researchers have identified thousands of individual components in dissolved organic matter (DOM) in seawater using ultra-high resolution mass spectrometry. This allows them to infer information about the water's past, including its age, exposure to sunlight, and even which marine life once inhabited it.
Iowa State researchers use clam shell data to reconstruct ocean circulation patterns, recording growing conditions, temperatures, and circulation patterns. The study sheds light on the impact of human activities on climate variability over the past 1,000 years.
Carbon dioxide released into oceans due to water pollution and air increases may be harming commercial fish populations. A new model predicts that nutrient runoff from fertilizer, human waste, and other pollutants could worsen ocean acidification, impacting species like clams, oysters, scallops, and mussels.
A new study finds that the rate of glacier thinning has increased by about half over the last decade in the Southern Patagonian Icefield, contributing to rising sea levels. The icefields have lost enough water to cover the entire US with 2.7 cm of water, with glaciers thinning at an average rate of 1.8 meters per year.
Tropical Storm Leslie is experiencing slow strengthening due to cooler ocean waters kicked up by its slow movement, sapping its strength. The storm is also battling weaker wind shear, which has been gradually decreasing, allowing it to potentially reach hurricane status later in the day.
Researchers at University of Copenhagen develop a novel DNA monitoring approach that can track fish and whales in seawater, revealing local faunas. The method proves as good as or better than existing methods, with great perspectives for monitoring marine fish biodiversity and estimating fish stocks.
Researchers Kevin Speer and John Marshall suggest that the majority of ocean heat transport occurs in the Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica, driven by strong winds. This finding could significantly impact our understanding of global climate processes.
Tropical Storm Tembin made a quick track across southern Taiwan before re-emerging over the open waters of the Philippine Sea. The storm has strengthened and expanded since crossing the island, with tropical-storm-force winds extending out 170 miles from its center.
Researchers have made significant breakthroughs in extracting uranium from seawater, which holds at least 4 billion tons of the precious material. The economic analysis suggests that uranium from the oceans could help solidify nuclear energy potential as a sustainable electricity source for the 21st century.
Researchers at PNNL and ORNL have developed a new method to extract uranium from seawater, with initial tests showing the adsorbent material can soak up more than two times the uranium than Japan's material. The study could potentially provide a cost-competitive source of nuclear fuel, enough to power the world's reactors for 6,500 years.
Tropical Storm Bolaven formed over August 18-19 in the western North Pacific and strengthened under NASA's monitoring. The storm took on a more rounded shape, with colder thunderstorm cloud-top temperatures indicating intensification.
The TRMM satellite captured a small area of moderate to heavy rainfall around the center of Tropical Storm Hector, with rainfall rates reaching 2 inches per hour. However, wind shear from moderate east winds is expected to persist, preventing Hector from strengthening.
Researchers found that when hurricanes blow over ocean regions swamped by fresh water, the conditions can intensify the storm. This results in a 50 percent increase in intensity, which can lead to much larger destruction and death.
NASA's Aqua satellite detected Tropical Storm Kirogi moving into sea surface temperatures below 25 Celsius, expected to weaken and transform into an extra-tropical cyclone. The storm is forecasted to track over cooler waters, helping to dissipate its warm core.
Researchers found that localized pathways created by winds, currents, and eddies draw waters down into the deep ocean, locking away carbon from the atmosphere. This improved understanding helps predict effects of climate change on ocean carbon absorption.
Pressure-retarded osmosis (PRO) technology harnesses freshwater flow to produce electricity, requiring no fuel and releasing no carbon dioxide. This process has the potential to meet the electricity needs of 520 million people without emitting greenhouse gases.
Scientists have discovered a potential cause of Earth's 'icehouse climate' cooling trend, linking it to changes in seawater sulfate content. The study proposes that times of high sulfate concentrations correlate with global cooling, while low concentrations correspond to greenhouse periods.
Researchers found that two closely related sea star species diverged around 6,000-22,000 years ago, ruling out slow genetic changes over time. The boundary between cold and warm water in the Coral Sea may have isolated a small population of ancestral sea stars.
The TRMM satellite observed hurricane remnants dissipating in cool Eastern Pacific waters due to upper-level winds and surface temperatures below the necessary threshold for tropical cyclone maintenance. The remnants contained only light to moderate rainfall, located north of the low-pressure center.
Researchers from the University of Toronto and University of California Santa Cruz discovered a link between massive gypsurn deposits and changes in seawater chemistry. This connection may have led to global cooling periods, such as during the Eocene epoch, and is supported by data from the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program.
A new PSU study found elevated levels of caffeine in Oregon coastal waters, contradicting initial expectations. The research indicates that wastewater treatment plants are effective in removing caffeine, but severe weather events can flush contaminants out to sea.
Researchers have discovered evidence of catastrophic events causing rock pulverization near major faults in California and Japan, while coral reefs at high latitudes and turbid inner bays provide insights into environmental gradients. Continental collisions are also explored through the study of Taiwan's pre-collision zone.
James Elser, an ASU ecologist, has been elected president of the global aquatic sciences organization, ASLO. He will focus on addressing pressing issues related to freshwater sustainability and promoting sustainable agricultural practices to reduce pollution.