Articles tagged with Seawater
A recent study has found that tropical ocean waters exhibit significant variability in temperature over time and space, contradicting the long-held 'climate variability hypothesis'. This unexpected finding may help explain why some fish species can tolerate a wider range of temperatures than others.
A new study found that microplastics impact plant reproduction, while seawater flooding causes greater tissue death in coastal plants. Combining both stressors amplifies threats to ecosystem wellbeing.
Researchers from MARUM and the National Oceanography Centre analyzed sensor data over four years to determine seafloor currents in deep waters. The study found that currents sped up, slowed down, reversed direction, and were steered by seafloor relief, contradicting previous steady models.
A research team deployed an unmanned submersible to map the underside of a floating ice shelf in Antarctica, revealing high melt rates and unique patterns. The findings raise questions about current models for predicting sea level rise.
A joint international study found that tropical cyclones in Southeast Asia are forming closer to coastlines, intensifying rapidly, and lingering longer over land. This can lead to unprecedented threats from longer-lasting and more intense storms for tens of millions in coastal areas.
Researchers at Binghamton University have developed self-powered aquatic robots that can skim across water and detect environmental data. The devices use ocean bacteria to generate power, with an average output of 1 milliwatt, enough for mechanical movement and sensor tracking.
PSU will lead a three-year project to develop cost-effective filters for washing machines, dishwashers, and clothes dryers to remove microplastics. The project aims to reduce microplastic pollution in coastal communities through education and intervention strategies involving tourism industry partners.
A new study published by Texas A&M University researchers found that the Hunga Tonga volcano eruption did not contribute to global warming as initially thought. Instead, the eruption resulted in more energy leaving the climate system than entering it, leading to a slight cooling effect.
Direct seawater electrolysis is not necessary for green hydrogen production, as a simple desalination process can prepare seawater for conventional electrolysers. The development of new types of electrolysers that can operate steadily in seawater would only save the cheap purification step.
A new study has determined the vertical limits of the marine environment in the Southwest Atlantic, revealing that the mesophotic zone extends to a depth of between 15m and 18m. The research found distinct differences in fish diversity and species composition between the shallow and mesophotic zones.
Researchers create fast and sustainable method to produce hydrogen gas using aluminum, saltwater, and coffee grounds. They find that adding caffeine speeds up the reaction, producing hydrogen in just five minutes.
A new study reveals the geological footprint of persistent bottom currents within East Antarctic submarine canyons, carrying ocean heat to the continent. The discovery highlights the key role of these canyons in the melting of glaciers, contributing to sea level rise.
A team of Lehigh University researchers led by Professor Muhannad Suleiman is working to develop floating offshore wind platforms that can harness both wind and wave energy. The goal is to create more efficient and resilient structures that can withstand extreme weather conditions.
Research from the University of Illinois Chicago found that oil drops can break into smaller droplets at the surface, spreading pollution throughout the ocean. Increasing water viscosity may help prevent this process, making cleanup easier.
A new neural network-based tool can predict the emergence of rogue waves up to five minutes into the future with 75% accuracy. The tool has been trained on 14 million sea surface elevation measurements and was able to correctly forecast rogue waves near 172 buoys in the continental US and Pacific Islands.
Researchers found that microplastics increase the height and stability of sea foam, particularly when part of smaller breaking waves. This positive effect reflects sunlight, potentially lowering ocean temperatures and driving more cloud formation.
Researchers analyzed Cassini radar experiment data to estimate the composition and roughness of Titan's sea surfaces, revealing differences in hydrocarbon seas' surface layers dependent on latitude and location. The study found higher dielectric constants in southern Kraken Mare and detected tidal currents near coastal areas.
Research finds climate change is slowing down Earth's rotation by a few milliseconds, with implications for navigation in space. The study also reveals polar motion changes caused by melting ice sheets and internal movements of the Earth's core.
A new study led by UCL researchers found that the Gulf Stream was stronger during the last ice age due to more powerful winds across the subtropical North Atlantic. If climate change causes a reduction in these winds, the Gulf Stream could weaken, potentially cooling Europe and causing higher sea levels in North America.
Researchers found seawater mixed with ore fluids to form gold, revealing a new mechanism for gold vein formation. This discovery could lead to the identification of high-grade gold deposits in sub-seafloor settings, reducing environmental impact.
Researchers at Norwegian University of Science and Technology have developed a technology that can harness surplus heat from industrial processes to produce drinking water and generate electricity. The technology, called membrane distillation, uses thermal osmosis to separate water from impurities.
Researchers discovered adaptations in metabolism and swimming abilities that enable fish to survive extreme temperatures in the Arabian Gulf. The study challenges prevailing views on the 'shrinking of fishes phenomenon' and proposes a new theory on energy balance and survival.
Scientists at British Antarctic Survey have identified a new tipping point in Antarctic ice sheet melting due to ocean water intrusion. This process, currently not included in models, could lead to significant underestimates of sea level rise and accelerated ice sheet melting.
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill released nearly 5 million barrels of crude oil and hydrocarbon gases, affecting an area of 1,100 square miles, nearly nine times larger than earlier studies. Biodiversity loss among harpacticoid copepods declined dramatically due to the spill.
A scientific study published in Scientific Reports found that much of the methane released from the Nord Stream gas pipeline leaked into the Baltic Sea and remained dissolved in the water. The researchers estimated between 10,000 to 50,000 tonnes of methane were left in the sea after the leak.
A UC Riverside study shows that extreme heat in Earth's past caused a decline in the exchange of waters from the surface to the deep ocean, which redistributes heat around the globe. This system has been crucial for regulating Earth's climate and removing anthropogenic carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
A study by MIT scientists found that microscopic defects in the ice shape how massive glaciers flow, leading to revised predictions of future sea-level rise. The researchers developed a model to estimate an icy region's sensitivity to stress, directly relating it to its likelihood of flowing.
A deadly epidemic discovered last year in the Red Sea has spread to the Indian Ocean, annihilating most sea urchin populations and threatening coral reef stability. The researchers identified a scuticociliate parasite as the cause of the mass mortality.
A LSU study found that chronic relative sea level rise combined with short-term weather-related shocks, such as droughts and hurricanes, led to the decline of Phragmites-dominated stands in the marsh. The study suggests elevating marsh beds with sediment can improve resilience.
A recent study by Oregon State University reveals that a surge in purple sea urchins is devastating kelp forests, reducing zooplankton populations and impacting the primary prey of gray whales. This cascading effect affects the top predator, causing them to spend less time foraging in the affected area.
Warm seawater is pumping underneath Antarctica's Thwaites Glacier, causing ice to melt intensely and leading to devastating sea level rise. Researchers predict the glacier may retreat into the deeper part of the basin within 10-20 years, accelerating glacier melt and impacting coastal communities worldwide.
Research found that during severe droughts, agricultural reservoirs in Korea's southern region experienced increased total organic carbon concentrations. The study suggests that these reservoirs may shift from carbon storage to carbon sources, emitting carbon into the atmosphere. This finding highlights the need for integrated environm...
A UC Irvine-led team has discovered the 'vigorous melting' of West Antarctica's Thwaites Glacier using high-resolution satellite radar data. The study found that seawater intrusion causes ice to rise and fall, potentially requiring revised global sea level rise projections. The findings raise concerns for coastal communities worldwide.
A study led by NYU Tandon School of Engineering and University of Rome Tor Vergata reveals the Venus flower basket sponge's ability to filter feed using only faint ambient currents, no pumping required. This discovery could help design more efficient chemical reactors, air purification systems, and hydraulic systems.
The study reveals that coral reefs are suffering from widespread bleaching and deaths, with the highest temperatures recorded in 175 countries. The researchers found that heat transport from the tropics to the polar regions has accelerated, causing sea surface temperature increases and exacerbating global warming feedbacks.
Researchers discovered that two species of marine bacteria work together to produce vitamin B12, essential for metabolism and survival of many marine organisms. The bacteria release building blocks into the water, which are then combined to form the vitamin through a complex process involving viral infection.
Pacific Oysters experienced a significant increase in density, reaching up to 32-fold, concurrent with summer seawater temperature rises of 2-4°C. This trend coincides with warmer ocean conditions in California waters.
A new study by Chalmers University of Technology finds that ship scrubber water discharges caused EUR 680 million in pollution costs between 2014 and 2022. The researchers also found that most shipping companies have already recouped their investments in scrubbers, making cheap heavy fuel oil a more lucrative option.
A new study challenges the initial detection of a biosignature gas on K2-18b, suggesting that the data may be inconclusive. However, researchers believe it's possible for life to produce detectable levels of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) in the planet's atmosphere.
A new study by scientists affiliated with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution found that human activities account for a substantial amount of toxic thallium in the Baltic Sea. The research suggests that the amount of thallium could increase due to further anthropogenic or natural activities, posing a concern for marine life.
Researchers discovered the missing piece of the puzzle behind a rare polynya in Antarctica's Maud Rise, which formed in 2016-2017. The team found that complex interactions between wind, ocean currents, and geography led to the polynya's persistence.
Researchers have identified cocaine as a contaminant of concern in the Bay of Santos' water, sediments, and marine organisms. The drug causes toxicological effects in animals such as mussels, oysters, and fish, with severe bioaccumulation and ecotoxicological risks.
MIT researchers demonstrate that light can break water molecules away from the surface and float them into the air, causing evaporation in the absence of heat. This phenomenon has significant implications for understanding cloud formation and precipitation, as well as designing new industrial processes such as solar-powered desalination.
Climate change exacerbates antimicrobial resistance by increasing global temperatures, sea levels, and disease transmission. This threat multiplier effect poses significant risks to human health, food supply, and ecosystem integrity.
Researchers developed a semipermeable membrane that harnesses osmotic energy from salt gradients, achieving higher power density and stable performance underwater. The design expands the range of ecological materials for RED membranes, making them more feasible for real-world use.
In a groundbreaking study, scientists found that juvenile great white sharks prefer warm and shallow waters near the shore, often within 1 km of land. This behavior may help them evade predators and optimize growth efficiency in these nurseries.
New satellite data shows that 45% of urban areas in China are sinking, with 16% experiencing rapid subsidence. The affected cities could experience catastrophic flooding if left unchecked, with Shanghai's urban area potentially tripling in size by 2120.
A group of 350 scientists from over 60 countries call for a legally binding global treaty to prohibit the production of hazardous plastics chemicals and adopt science-based approaches. They advocate for an independent scientific body with robust conflict of interest policy and regional representation.
A team of over 100 scientists from Brazil and the US ran high-resolution simulations of South America's past and future climate using a weather research and forecasting model. The goal is to better understand hydroclimatic processes and inform adaptation measures for millions affected by climate change.
High levels of plastic pollution can kill the embryos of a wide range of ocean animals, preventing healthy development in all seven tested species. This study highlights the
A recent study by University of Hawaii at Manoa researchers highlights the hidden threat of global underground infrastructure vulnerability to sea-level rise. Shallow and saltier groundwater exacerbates corrosion and failure of critical systems such as sewer lines, roadways, and building foundations in cities worldwide.
A new study reveals that meandering ocean currents and the ocean floor induce upwelling velocity, transporting warm water to shallower depths, contributing to rapid melting of Antarctic ice shelves. This process poses a significant threat to coastal communities worldwide due to rising global sea levels.
A multi-institution team led by Penn State researchers has been awarded $650,000 to develop coupled watershed-estuary models simulating salt ion transport and fate. The project aims to address salt contamination in tidal rivers, a growing problem worldwide, and will use the Chesapeake Bay as a pilot study site.
New study reveals high concentrations of small microplastics in surface water samples from the Southern Weddell Sea off Antarctica, surpassing previous studies. The research suggests ocean currents play a crucial role in pollution and highlights the need for further investigation into their impact.
Deeper areas of the Great Barrier Reef are insulated from harmful heatwaves due to separation between warm surface water and cooler deeper water. However, this protection will be lost if global warming exceeds 3°C above pre-industrial levels, threatening coral mortality and reef collapse.
A study by researchers from the University of Gothenburg found that shy sea anemones can outlast bold ones during extreme heatwaves due to their slower metabolism. This survival strategy may be beneficial for other cold-blooded marine species exposed to rapid temperature changes.
The MIT-designed 'architected' reef could dissipate more than 95% of incoming wave energy using a fraction of the material needed, reducing erosion and flooding. The cylindrical structure's unique design leverages turbulence to efficiently break waves, making it a potential solution for coastal protection in various water conditions.
Excavations at La Marmotta, Italy, uncovered five Neolithic canoes dating between 5700-5100BC, featuring advanced construction techniques. The discovery provides invaluable insights into early navigation and the technological sophistication of ancient communities.
Researchers studied a subpopulation of transient killer whales that prey on marine mammals in the open ocean. They found two distinct foraging behaviors: independent diving and coordinated groups hunting along submarine canyons.
Salps are found to control microbial community structure and function by capturing a variety of microbe types, including Prochlorococcus. The study reveals that simple mechanical principles do not explain cell capture by salps, indicating a complex mechanism at play.