Articles tagged with Seawater
A new network of deep-ocean moorings is being deployed in the Indonesia Archipelago to measure changes in ocean currents between the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The moorings will help scientists understand the impact of these currents on Australia's climate, including tropical weather patterns and seasonal rainfall.
A Yale University study argues that seawater desalination can help combat worldwide fresh water shortages once conservation methods are exhausted. Researchers suggest making pre- and post-treatment stages more efficient for substantial energy and cost savings.
A study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that small amounts of subsurface warming can trigger a rapid collapse of ice shelves. The research provides historical evidence that warming water by 3-4 degrees was enough to cause mass discharges of icebergs into the North Atlantic Ocean.
A University of Arizona-led team found that rising sea levels during the Last Interglacial Period were primarily driven by melting ice sheets, rather than thermal expansion. The study suggests that even small amounts of warming may have committed to more ice sheet melting, and sea levels will continue to rise for a long time.
New research reveals that climate change is negatively impacting the ocean's capacity to absorb human-produced carbon dioxide, with warmer water holding less carbon. This finding challenges previous studies and highlights the need for improved data sets and expanded analysis in other oceans.
Stronger ocean currents beneath West Antarctica's Pine Island Glacier Ice Shelf are eroding the ice from below, speeding its melting. The glacier is sliding into the sea at four kilometers a year, while its ice shelf is melting at 80 cubic kilometers a year.
Humpback whales employ complex feeding maneuvers involving bubble nets to corral and contain planktonic prey. The study reveals novel behaviors such as 'double-loops' and team cooperation, showcasing advanced tool use similar to that of apes.
A new study led by the University of Heidelberg and involving the University of Colorado Boulder has found strong evidence for a large-scale, subterranean saltwater ocean on Enceladus. The research suggests that the plumes shooting water vapor and ice particles into space originate from an ocean beneath the icy surface of the moon.
Tropical Depression 06W has developed near the Philippines with heavy rainfall detected by NASA's TRMM satellite. The storm is expected to intensify into a tropical storm, skirt the eastern coast of the Philippines and head toward Taiwan.
System 98A has intensified due to warm waters of the Arabian Sea and reduced convection inhibiting effects, with cold cloud tops indicating heavy rainmaking capabilities. The system is forecast to drift northwest and may strengthen into a tropical storm within 24 hours.
The UK Ocean Acidification research programme aims to study the impact of changing CO2 levels on marine organisms and ecosystems. The cruise will conduct experiments using tanks of natural seawater collected from the sea, subjecting them to various levels of carbon dioxide that may occur in the future.
A multidisciplinary team will collect water and biological samples, take ocean current measurements, and analyze radionuclides to understand the impact of radiation on marine life and human health. The expedition aims to establish a baseline for radioactive contaminants in the ocean.
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) offer a promising solution to the global water crisis by transforming abundant seawater into pure, clean drinking water. CNT-based reverse osmosis membranes can remove salt ions efficiently, reducing costs and energy consumption compared to traditional methods.
Researchers found that freshwater from melting ice sheets can weaken climate-controlling ocean currents, leading to dramatic climate change. The study's results suggest a future ice sheet collapse would have significant climatic consequences.
Kakani Katija, a postdoctoral scholar at WHOI, has been recognized as one of National Geographic's Emerging Explorers for her innovative research on biogenic ocean mixing. Her work focuses on the power sources that propel ocean currents, suggesting that swimming animals could play a significant role in shaping global climate.
Researchers studied 'greenhouse oceans' using core samples from the ocean bed off western Africa, finding significant organic material buried in deoxygenated layers. The study suggests that natural processes can remove excess carbon from the atmosphere, potentially mitigating the effects of climate change.
Researchers discovered that ancient microbial mats could produce enough oxygen to support tiny, mobile life forms billions of years ago. The study challenges the long-held assumption that oxygen was necessary for animal evolution.
Researchers at Duke University have traced rising salinity levels in the Yorktown aquifer to ancient fossil seawater, providing a long-term solution for desalinated tap water. The study found that reverse osmosis membranes can still effectively remove most dissolved salts, but may require additional treatment for boron and arsenic.
A new study reveals that the duration of open water periods has no relationship with the geographic coverage of marine species, contradicting previous assumptions. Ocean currents allow fish larvae to quickly spread their distribution worldwide.
Researchers have discovered a new way to understand the interactions between cells and their environment using single-cell marine organisms. By sequencing the genomes of these tiny microbes, scientists can gain insights into diverse questions such as cancer cell growth rates and the impact of climate change on ecosystems.
Researchers suggest Agulhas Current compensates for North Atlantic salinity decrease, stabilizing Gulf Stream and European climate. Computational models simulate ocean dynamics and signal transmission.
The California Academy of Sciences is conducting a comprehensive survey effort in the Philippines to document terrestrial and marine life forms. The expedition aims to discover new species, map their distribution, and inform conservation decisions.
A global team of scientists suggests that Agulhas leakage could strengthen the Atlantic overturning circulation by enhancing deep water formation. This finding is significant as it counters predictions of weakening the circulation due to global warming.
Researchers at University of Alberta find that inorganic mercury transforms into deadly monomethylmercury in seawater, amplifying toxic effects through the food chain. Microbial life forms are believed to carry out this process, which accounts for 50% of neurotoxin present in polar marine waters.
Researchers suggest Agulhas leakage could trigger strengthening of Atlantic overturning circulation, which would counteract effects of global climate change on North America and Europe. Increased Agulhas leakage over the past few decades may have triggered end of glacial cycles.
Scientists have discovered that low-latitude sites during the Eocene were much wetter than today, challenging previous estimates of water temperature and paleoclimate. This finding, based on isotopic composition of sirenian fossils, could transform our understanding of global climate change.
Scientists have developed a new 'mixing entropy battery' that generates electricity by alternating freshwater and seawater through the device. The technology has promising potential as an additional renewable energy source, with the ability to also desalinate ocean water for drinking.
Tropical Depression Errol is weakening due to land-crossing and increasing wind shear, with cloud-top temperatures warming and indicating lower thunderstorm heights. NASA's Aqua satellite captured infrared images showing the depression's reduced convection and expected dissipation in the Southern Indian Ocean.
Researchers at University of Washington and Stanford University report turbulence at a front near Japan, 10-20 times more energetic than wind generated. This finding provides first direct observations of an ocean front's dynamics on scales from kilometers to millimeters.
Researchers found that copepod carcasses play a crucial role in understanding oceanic food webs. Non-predatory mortality accounted for over 10% of all copepod deaths, providing insights into the fate of these tiny crustaceans.
New research shows that warmer sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean drive atmospheric circulation that brings warmer temperatures to West Antarctica during winter and spring. This is driven by a Rossby wave train pattern, which can account for half to all of the observed winter temperature changes in West Antarctica.
A massive pool of icy meltwater in the Arctic Ocean is growing, with potential to flood quickly into the Atlantic with unpredictable effects. The situation echoes concerns about future ocean circulation changes that could impact Europe's marine environment and climate.
Researchers at Caltech found that warm ocean waters off the eastern coasts of these continents heat the air above it, forming atmospheric waves that draw in cold air from the northern polar region. This process explains why the northeastern United States and eastern Canada experience colder winters than similar latitudes in Europe.
Researchers at Stanford University have developed a battery that can generate electricity by exploiting the difference in salinity between freshwater and seawater. The battery, which uses sodium and chlorine ions, has achieved 74% efficiency in converting potential energy to electrical current.
Research by the University of California - San Diego team discovered that icebergs cool and dilute ocean water, affecting phytoplankton distribution and carbon dioxide absorption. The findings suggest enhanced phytoplankton growth would increase carbon dioxide removal from the ocean.
A study by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution scientists highlights the complex interaction between glacier ice, freshwater runoff, and warm ocean waters. The team found that warm waters at the base of Helheim Glacier influence glacier flow speed and melting rates.
Researchers discovered that Antarctic icebergs raise chlorophyll levels, increasing carbon dioxide absorption in the Southern Ocean. The findings indicate a new dimension to previous research on icebergs' role in polar ecosystems and global carbon cycling.
The Arctic Ocean's freshwater content has risen significantly, with a 20% increase since the 1990s. This change affects global ocean circulation and heat exchange between the ocean and atmosphere. Researchers analyzed over 5,000 salt concentration profiles to determine this increase.
A team of scientists discovered that shallow-water shrimp can tolerate extreme pressure and temperature conditions similar to those found in the deep sea. The study used the variable shrimp as a model species, finding it could withstand pressures beyond what would be expected in shallow water.
The Sea Grant programs have awarded over $1.1 million for six projects studying the effects of nitrogen, red tide, and climate change on Long Island Sound's ecosystem. Research results will provide valuable information to resource managers throughout the watershed.
A unique 89-million-year-old pterosaur fossil found in Texas may be the earliest known Pteranodon. The specimen, discovered by an amateur fossil hunter north of Dallas, has a wing span between 12 and 13 feet and belongs to the toothless variety of pterosaurs.
Researchers from Hebrew U. and US discovered how mercury gets into fish we eat by converting passive mercury to active form with bromine, a process found globally but more prevalent at Dead Sea due to high bromine levels.
Scientists have unraveled the environmental changes in the Arctic during an ancient bout of natural global warming. The Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) led to a 15-metre succession of sediment representing a 170,000-year event, with sea level peaking about 13,000 years into the period.
Deep saline groundwaters in the Witwatersrand Basin show unique chemical signatures that differ from ocean and surface waters, suggesting isolation for a long time. The discovery adds to our understanding of a unique environment with microbial ecosystems that thrive on chemical energy from rock.
Researchers tagged and tracked leatherback turtles for five years, revealing why they linger in the gyre despite its nutrient-poor conditions. The data suggest that jellyfish are abundant in the area, providing a crucial source of food for the turtles, which explains their feeding behavior and diving patterns.
Corinne Hartin, a University of Miami Ph.D. student, received the best oral presentation award at the SCAR Open Science Conference in Buenos Aires. Her research focuses on understanding ocean water's role in climate change, particularly Subantarctic Mode Water and Antarctic Intermediate Water.
A new international study reveals that warming North Atlantic Ocean water is likely tied to the amplification of global warming in the Arctic. Water temperatures in the Fram Strait, which runs between Greenland and Svalbard, have warmed by roughly 3.5 degrees Fahrenheit in the past century.
Researchers studied ancient rain, microbial life, and ocean islands to understand uplift and climate change. They found that the North American Cordillera was uplifted by ancient rain, while microbial life existed inside fluid inclusions in modern and ancient salt crystals.
A study found that growing hypoxic zones are reducing oxygen-rich waters preferred by billfish and tuna. The shrinking habitat may lead to increased catches, giving a false impression of more abundant fish stocks.
Researchers at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science found that absolute sea level in Chesapeake Bay is rising at a rate of about 1.8 millimeters per year, slower than the global average. However, local subsidence rates are significantly higher, adding up to a growing threat of coastal flooding and erosion.
A study by UC Merced marine biologist Michael Beman reveals that rising greenhouse gases are making ocean water more acidic, fundamentally altering the way nitrogen cycles throughout the sea. This change could have significant impacts on all forms of marine life.
A 50-year study confirms an increase in jellyfish <i>Pelagia noctiluca</i> size and intensity due to warming winters and over-fishing. This proliferation affects fisheries, fish farming, and tourism with toxic effects from their tentacles.
Deep sediment cores from the Bering Sea floor reveal an ice-free region with high biological productivity during the Pliocene Warm Period. The findings suggest that global temperatures were a few degrees higher than today and carbon dioxide levels comparable to current levels.
Researchers found that porous marine particles settle in stratified layers, releasing carbon dioxide through diffusion, affecting global carbon fluxes. This discovery could improve estimates of ocean carbon exports.
Researchers at Lund University found that high solar activity cools surface water temperatures in tropical Pacific regions during the early Holocene. This phenomenon may influence current climate patterns, such as low solar activity coinciding with cold winters.
Archaeologists propose that the Persian Gulf Oasis may have been home to humans for over 100,000 years, challenging current migration models. The region's fertile landscape and abundant resources would have supported early human settlements.
A research expedition is studying the movement of water in the Southern Ocean to understand the rate of horizontal and vertical mixing between different water layers. The study aims to quantify the rate of climate change by measuring the effects of ocean mixing on heat exchange, nutrient cycling, and atmospheric CO2 concentrations.
Research by ecologists at Brown University found that faster water flow speeds promote greater diversity of invertebrate species on rocks under the ocean. The study showed consistent results across three regions, suggesting that water flow is a key factor in determining marine biodiversity.
Researchers discovered toxic Pseudo-nitzschia algae producing domoic acid in vast Pacific regions, contrary to the proposed approach of adding iron to reduce global warming. This finding highlights the concern that iron enrichment can promote toxic blooms in open sea environments.
Scientists at Sandia have successfully imaged the Rayleigh-Taylor instability in fast Z-pinches, a major obstacle to harnessing nuclear fusion. The accurate simulations will enable researchers to better tweak conditions and combat the effect of the instability, potentially achieving scientific breakeven in two to three years.