Articles tagged with Seawater
A new study reveals an alarming increase in the flow of freshwater into the world's oceans, driven by global warming and accelerated evaporation. The research, led by UCI, uses satellite records to track water volume flowing from continents to oceans, finding a 18% rise in freshwater input since 1994.
Scientists have found that global groundwater stocks are shrinking at an alarming rate, with the rate of depletion more than doubling between 1960 and 2000. This rapid loss of water could lead to severe consequences for a growing human population, including food insecurity and social unrest.
A new study uses computer simulations to recreate the parting of the Red Sea, suggesting a strong east wind could have created a safe passage for fleeing Israelites. The research estimates that a wind of 63 miles an hour would have pushed back waters, exposing mud flats for four hours.
Researchers installed two observatories in the ocean floor to run innovative experiments at the bottom of the sea. The CORKs will help scientists find answers about how ocean crust sections connect and interact with each other. The experiments will provide direct evidence of active flow pathways and rates in the ocean crust.
A team of UC Santa Barbara researchers successfully predicted the movement of oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico. They developed a new approach that uses computational models to forecast sea surface conditions and predict where and when oil will wash ashore.
Researchers from the University of Washington are leading an expedition to study the seafloor and its ecosystems. The team aims to deploy sensors and moorings that will provide real-time data on ocean conditions, enabling scientists to better understand and predict natural phenomena such as hurricanes and tsunamis.
Researchers found salps can capture particles as small as 0.5 microns using a process called direct interception, making them more efficient filter feeders. This ability helps explain their survival in the open ocean and enhances their role in carbon cycling.
Researchers used satellite data to calculate the amount of water in the Amazon River floodplain, finding an average of 285 cubic kilometers per year. This discovery highlights the complexity of measuring water volumes in remote regions and underscores the need for further research on global water supplies.
Research suggests that high CO2 levels can lead to reduced growth, shell hardness, and increased mortality in juvenile oysters. The study's findings highlight the vulnerability of oysters to ocean acidification, which may have cascading effects on marine ecosystems.
Scientists studied the impact of a prolonged Sun cycle on Earth's conveyor belt and found that it may have led to a longer cycle. Additionally, researchers examined how global water supply sharing affects drought vulnerability, finding that sharing water globally during times of drought can increase societal resilience.
The University of Hawaii at Manoa has identified the Leeward side of Hawaiian Islands as a promising location for ocean-based renewable energy plants using seawater to drive massive heat engines. This technology, known as Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC), has the potential to produce steady amounts of renewable energy by harnessi...
A recent study led by University of Georgia biogeochemist Wei-Jun Cai found that the Canada Basin's potential as a carbon dioxide sink is short-lived and minor. The research indicates that the waters become acidic and unsuitable for calcium-carbonate shell-bearing marine organisms due to rapid CO2 uptake.
The deep open ocean is vastly under-explored due to the long-held belief that life in this area was confined primarily to the surface and near the sea bed. New research mapped marine species records and found most knowledge comes from shallow waters or ocean floor, revealing uncounted animals living without hard surfaces.
The University of Hawaii's School of Ocean Earth Science and Technology completed a three-year study of Sea Disposal Site Hawaii Number 5, finding over 2,000 munitions on the seafloor with no detected chemical agents or explosives. The investigation also found that sediment and water samples showed little influence from human activities.
A Caltech team has found structurally bound hydroxyl groups, indicating the presence of water in a lunar mineral. The discovery is significant for understanding the moon's composition and its history.
A new study led by University of Colorado at Boulder indicates that rising sea levels in the Indian Ocean are partly caused by human-induced climate warming, threatening coastal areas and islands. The study suggests that the Indo-Pacific warm pool is amplifying regional sea rise changes, with potential far-reaching impacts on global cl...
The MERMAID project developed automatic sensors and analyzers to sample, measure, and record chemical and biological changes in water, providing accurate early warnings of pollution. This technology has been adopted worldwide, including the use of FerryBoxes on ships and gliders in open sea areas.
The North Pacific branch of the conveyor belt circulation changed drastically around 17,000 years ago, potentially buffering the global impacts of the collapsed Atlantic circulation. This reorganization may have contributed to increased atmospheric CO2 concentration and accelerated glacial meltdown.
Research from Imperial College London found that oil spills can partially block the ocean's natural filtration system, leading to increased arsenic levels in seawater. This can disrupt photosynthesis, genetic alterations, and animal life, creating a toxic threat to aquatic life and ecosystems.
Celia's remnant low pressure area shows maximum sustained winds of 20-25 knots with estimated minimum central pressure of 1007 millibars. The system is expected to gradually spin down and open into a trough by the end of the week.
Research by Duke University scientists reveals that seawater's higher concentrations of mercury make saltwater fish like tuna and shark more toxic to humans. Methylmercury latches onto dissolved organic matter in freshwater, but tightly binds to chloride in seawater, where sunlight can't break it down as easily.
A team of researchers proposes a chain of events linked to the melting of northern hemisphere ice sheets, which reconfigured planet's wind belts and led to rapid southern hemisphere warming. This shift triggered a series of cold spells in Greenland and Europe, but also amplified global warming by resetting the planet's thermostat.
Scientists present new data estimating motion of the Sagaing fault and study river deposits to understand flood frequency and magnitude. Researchers also explore enigmatic volcanism and find evidence for cryogenic origin of brine in southern McMurdo Sound, Antarctica.
Celia has become the first major hurricane of the season in the Eastern Pacific, reaching Category Three strength with maximum sustained winds of near 115 mph. As she moves westward, Celia is expected to strengthen further today before weakening due to cooler sea surface temperatures.
Researchers are rethinking the ocean conveyor belt model due to its limitations in accounting for eddies and wind field. The overturning of ocean waters may vary between ocean basins and be influenced by climate change, highlighting the need for a revised understanding of this critical process.
Scientists Jérôme Chappellaz found a tight link between atmospheric methane and global climate at glacial-interglacial time scales. He attributed the 40% increase in carbon dioxide since the last ice melt to changes in Antarctic oceanic waters
Tropical Storm Blas exhibited areas of very high, frigid clouds near the storm center. Convection strengthened quickly by June 18 morning.
A new CU-Boulder study provides further support for the idea of a sustained sea on Mars during the Noachian era, suggesting an ancient ocean likely covered about 36% of the planet. The research implies an Earth-like global hydrological cycle, including precipitation, runoff, cloud formation, and ice and groundwater accumulation.
Researchers have found that marine fossils in Florida's sandy ridges are tied to the land's uplift, rather than rising sea levels. The process is driven by a combination of weather patterns and geology, including karstification and isostatic rebound. As a result, some ridges have been preserved with their ancient marine fossils intact.
The Office of Naval Research has successfully completed multiphase testing of the Large Vessel Interface Lift On/Lift Off Crane technology demonstrator. The demonstration successfully transferred 128 containers in waves of up to 1 meter in height, with only three crew members required for operation.
The MBARI AUV is equipped with 'gulper' samplers that can collect up to ten 1.8-liter water samples while traveling through the water or within an oil plume. The vehicle's AI software helps it map boundaries and take samples outside the plume.
Tropical Storm 02A has strong thunderstorms with maximum sustained winds near 45 knots (52 mph) and wind- and wave-heights up to 15 feet. The storm is moving into the Gulf of Aden, where it's expected to strengthen briefly before weakening due to wind shear.
Researchers at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution estimate the world's ocean volume to be 1.332 billion cubic kilometers, a reduction of 5 times the Gulf of Mexico or 500 times the Great Lakes. The study uses satellite measurements to calculate ocean volume and depth, with an accuracy comparable to those of 30 years ago.
The US Navy has selected Scripps Institution of Oceanography to operate a new scientific research vessel, advancing science and education in the decades ahead. The Ocean Class ship will lead ocean expeditions advancing knowledge on global climate change, submarine warfare, and more.
The project will investigate the lower reach of the river and its offshore plume, measuring elements such as carbon, nutrients, and microorganisms. The goal is to develop a carbon cycle model that links the upriver microbial system with the offshore plume.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab have discovered an inexpensive metal catalyst that can effectively generate hydrogen gas from water, offering a promising solution for renewable energy technologies. The catalyst, based on molybdenum-oxo metal complex, has high catalytic activity and stability in aqueous media.
Scientists have discovered that changes in floating ice are causing sea levels to rise, resulting in a 2.6% increase of global sea levels. The study found that the loss of floating ice amounts to a sea level rise of 49 micrometers per year.
A new genus and species of flying reptile, Aetodactylus halli, has been discovered in Texas, providing insights into the diversity of pterosaurs during the Cretaceous Period. The specimen is estimated to be around 3 meters long and had a unique jaw structure with 54 teeth sockets, differing from other ornithocheirid species.
Scientists have discovered a massive Southern Ocean current with a volume equivalent to 40 Amazon Rivers near the Kerguelen Plateau. The current carries dense, oxygen-rich water that sinks near Antarctica to the deep ocean basins further north.
Research shows surface ocean freshened in rainfall-dominated regions and saltier in evaporation-dominant areas. Ocean warming has changed deep-ocean salinity patterns, extending beyond the surface.
The PEGASO project aims to improve coastal management by integrating sea, coast, and marine ecosystems research for effective Integral Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) in the Mediterranean. Researchers will study specific actions to be applied under ICZM, combining data from 11 case studies in Europe.
Scientists found that ancient rocks from Greenland show evidence of a vast global ocean keeping water wet despite low solar energy. The team proposes that oceans absorb more sunlight due to their darker color and cloud formation, eliminating the need for high greenhouse gas levels.
Researchers at UCLA have created a novel desalination membrane that resists clogging, allowing for lower energy demands and increased lifespan. The membrane's surface topography and chemistry enable it to repel impurities, making it suitable for various water sources.
Scientists found widespread global contamination of sea sand and seawater with BPA from hard plastic trash and epoxy paint. The biodegradation of hard plastics releases BPA, posing risks to marine life in low concentrations.
Tropical Storm 02W is moving northwestward, weakening due to a trough and increasing vertical wind shear. High surf and swells are expected to persist along all shores in Micronesia until Wednesday morning, posing a risk of coastal inundation and hazardous marine conditions.
Researchers found that sharks in deep waters of El Cachucho feed on small crustaceans and fish, adapting to changing ocean depths. Understanding their diet helps predict changes in trophic networks and monitor species populations.
Researchers found that changes in wind patterns drive variations in the depth of the surface layer of seawater, affecting air-sea exchange and carbon storage. This impacts biological productivity by altering nutrient availability for phytoplankton growth.
Research found that spore-like acantharian cysts rapidly sink from surface waters to the deep ocean, delivering significant amounts of organic matter to the ocean depths. This phenomenon may be part of an extraordinary reproductive strategy allowing juveniles to exploit a seasonal food bonanza.
Researchers found that the East Siberian Arctic Shelf is releasing massive amounts of methane into the atmosphere, comparable to the entire world's oceans. This could trigger abrupt climate warming due to methane's potent greenhouse gas properties.
The study aims to understand how changing climate affects phytoplankton growth and organic carbon distributions. Researchers will collect data on sea surface temperatures, salinities and chlorophyll levels to refine biogeochemistry models.
A new study suggests that pumping nutrient-rich water to boost algal growth and draw carbon dioxide from the atmosphere may not be an effective solution to combat global warming. The simulation results show modest climatic benefits, with potential risks of exacerbating global warming if the scheme fails.
Researchers found subtropical waters as warm as 39 degrees Fahrenheit in Sermilik Fjord, contributing to glacier melting. The study highlights the rapid communication between ocean circulation and glaciers, shedding light on a previously unknown connection not currently included in climate models.
Researchers discovered diverse corals harboring unusual, thermally tolerant algae species in the Andaman Sea. These findings suggest some coral reefs may persist despite future global warming.
A new model of ancient ocean chemistry suggests a stratified marine basin with oxygen-rich, sulfidic and ferruginous water layers. This discovery challenges traditional theories on early animal evolution and provides insights into the earliest life on Earth.
Researchers reconstruct past ocean chemistry using calcium carbonate veins that precipitate from seawater-derived fluids in rocks beneath the seafloor. The composition of past seawater can be determined from suites of calcium carbonate veins that formed millions of years ago, providing valuable insights into climate and ocean evolution.
Researchers studied mineralized microfossils, sea level rise, and mammalian fossils to better understand Earth's history. They also found evidence against the Lilliput Effect and geochemical mapping of Mars.
Researchers found that the current interglacial period has lasted 2.0-2.5 millennia longer than predicted by dominant theory, raising questions about natural climate trends and human impact. The study suggests that orbital changes may still influence climate for another two thousand years or so.
A long-term study found polar bears in the southern Beaufort Sea are shifting their habitat use from sea ice to land and open water, increasing human-bear interactions. The study, conducted between 1979 and 2005, shows a significant increase in bear sightings on land and in open water.
Human carbon dioxide emissions impact ocean acoustics by increasing transparency to low-frequency sound, potentially affecting marine mammals' communication. The pH of surface seawater will drop by 0.6 units by 2100, leading to a 70% decrease in sound absorption.
Researchers studying Greenland's glaciers have discovered that meltwater plays a more complex role in ice loss than previously thought. Water flowing beneath the ice contributes to ice loss through fast-moving outlet glaciers, but its effect is negligible overall.