Research on the ocean's chemistry and ice. Covers ocean carbon capture, forever chemicals in sea spray, Antarctic change, and sea-ice clouds.
A Duke University-led study found that North Atlantic Ocean surface waters warmed from 1950 to 2000 due to natural wind patterns called the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), not human-caused global warming. The subpolar regions cooled while subtropical and tropical waters warmed
The GITEWS consortium has finalized key components, including automatic data processing software SeisComP3 and underwater communication systems. The ocean modeling calculations are also complete, enabling the system to be set into operation at the end of 2008.
A team of Chilean and IRD scientists found that the Pacific seaboard experienced significant cooling between 1820 and 1878 due to a large continent-ocean temperature contrast. This discovery sheds new light on El Niño's variability, which may intensify in a warming world.
The Arctic's natural 'sunscreen' is melting at an unprecedented rate due to record-breaking amounts of ice-free water, leading to sea surface temperatures rising by as much as 5 degrees C above average. This phenomenon can delay winter freeze-up and impact the growth of thick ice in the winter.
Researchers at UCLA have successfully captured and measured the statistical properties of optical rogue waves, which are brief pulses of intense light. The study's findings may help develop mathematical models that can identify conditions leading to rare but extreme events in various fields.
Damming the Red Sea could solve the region's growing energy demands and alleviate oil supply tensions through hydroelectric power. However, such a massive project may cause untold ecological harm and displace countless people from their homes.
Researchers have found that less carbon is transported to deep water during natural plankton blooms than during the rest of the year, suggesting the Biological Pump leaks. This discovery challenges ocean fertilization schemes, which ignore natural processes and may not remove as much carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
A global ocean observing system is crucial to measure the health of our oceans and respond to climate change. The Partnership for Observation of the Global Oceans urges completion of a comprehensive system within 10 years.
A holistic approach is needed to cope with freshwater needs, primarily through seawater desalination and brackish water desalination. Renewable energy sources like wind, solar, and wave power can be used in conjunction to generate electricity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers are exploring land-based 'black smoker' sites to gain insights into harnessing geothermal energy. The project, led by UC Davis, uses a deep drilling approach to study the interaction between hot rocks and fluids.
A new study suggests that the Great Dying 250 million years ago may have been caused by creeping environmental stress from volcanic eruptions and global warming. The research finds that organisms in the deep ocean died first, followed by those on ocean shelves and reefs, supporting a model that attributes the extinction to enormous vol...
A new study reveals that the ocean was able to store more CO2 during the ice age than it can today. The team measured carbon isotope signatures in sea bed sediments and found that deep Pacific water has not been at the surface for over 2,000 years.
Research shows small-scale fishing operations pose a significant threat to the survival of north Pacific loggerhead sea turtles, with mortality rates reduced through local conservation efforts. The study highlights the importance of educating fishermen and removing dangerous gear to protect these endangered species.
Rising sea-surface temperatures in the Barents Sea have led to a decline in winter ice cover over the past 26 years. The study found that warming ocean temperatures, driven by increasing greenhouse gases, are the primary cause of this trend. In contrast, Arctic pack ice is expected to continue its rapid decline due to atmospheric effects.
Researchers discovered that brine moving up or down through floating sea ice follows universal transport properties, similar to water flow through sedimentary rocks. This finding can help improve forecasts of global warming's impact on polar icepacks and understand how polar ecosystems respond to climate change.
A recent study by UWM paleoecologist Margaret Fraiser suggests that elevated CO2 levels contributed to the Permian-Triassic mass extinction, with bivalves emerging as the only survivors. The research provides valuable insights into the impact of CO2 on marine ecosystems and could help scientists predict future oceanic changes.
Scientists detected a long-term increase in tropical rainfall, with the rainiest years since 2001. The increase is attributed to a warming trend, which enhances evaporation and allows more moisture to form clouds.
Oregon State University will lead a component of the National Science Foundation's Ocean Observatories Initiative, located in the Pacific Northwest's coastal ocean. The $331.5 million research facility project will create a distributed, multi-tiered observatory spanning global, regional and coastal scales.
A call has been made for a Southern Hemisphere network of deep ocean moorings to monitor changes in the Southern Ocean circulation, which could influence global climate. The North Atlantic moored network provides measurements of the Gulf Stream, a significant feature in moderating European and North American climate.
Researchers confirm the existence of a 'supergyre' connecting the three Southern Hemisphere ocean basins, which plays a crucial role in governing global climate. The Tasman Outflow, occurring at an average depth of 800-1,000m, may influence the response of the thermohaline circulation to climate change.
Recent tsunami and storm events, such as the 2004 Sumatra tsunami, caused widespread damage along North America's Atlantic coast. In contrast, the Antarctic Bottom Water has warmed within recent decades, with temperatures rising by 0.0028ºC each year. Additionally, climate changes around 8,200 years ago were linked to the final drainag...
A new study reveals that undersea mountain ranges, like the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, generate significant turbulent mixing in the Atlantic Ocean. This mixing affects the overall balance of warm and cold water temperatures, controlling the strength of the Gulf Stream and its impact on global climate patterns.
Scientists assess natural variation in solar irradiance's impact on Earth's temperature. Early humans' adaptability to high northern latitudes is also studied, indicating a prominent presence around 1 million years ago.
Seawater intrusion is a common cause of contamination in coastal aquifers worldwide, particularly in the Mediterranean region. In Spain, about 60% of coastal aquifers are contaminated, making it a serious phenomenon with significant economic and environmental impacts.
Large Humboldt squid have invaded the sea off Central California, where they are feeding on commercially important fishery species like hake and anchovy. This shift may be linked to a decrease in large tuna and billfish populations in the Equatorial Pacific, allowing the squid to expand their range.
A CU-Boulder study finds that glaciers and ice caps are currently contributing about 60% of the world's ice to the oceans, with an accelerating rate of 3 cubic miles per year. The team estimates this could add up to 4-9.5 inches of additional sea level rise globally by 2100.
Scientists identified two abrupt climate changes 9,000 and 8,000 years ago, with temperature drops averaging 1.6 degrees, which could inform global climate models
A team of experts at UCL is creating a controlled environment to study the effects of tsunamis on buildings and coastlines. The new tsunami generator will replicate devastating waves, allowing researchers to design structures better equipped to withstand their impact.
Research reveals a 20-year reversal in water mass trends in the subtropical North Atlantic, with upper waters warming and intermediate waters cooling. This finding suggests complex mechanisms drive oceanic responses to global warming.
Two MSU professors, Volodymyr Tarabara and Tom Voice, are leading an international partnership to create new water purifying strategies using membrane-based technologies. The project aims to develop more efficient membranes that can produce ultrapure water, improving public health in developing countries.
The Integrated Ocean Drilling Program's Arctic Coring Expedition reveals the Arctic Ocean changed from a 'lake stage' to a fully oxygenated ocean at 17.5 million years ago due to the Fram Strait's evolution into a wider passageway, allowing saline North Atlantic water in.
A team of Canadian and U.S. researchers have found evidence that ragged features on Mars' surface were once shorelines of massive ancient oceans. The study suggests that a shift in Mars' spin axis within the past 2-3 billion years deformed these shorelines.
Climate researchers predict salt marshes in Venice Lagoon may not survive future climate changes due to increased sea-level rise. Meanwhile, scientists have observed high-speed streams of charged particles called sprites, which blaze at incredible brightness and brief duration. The Amazon rainforest also emits large amounts of methane,...
A study by Purdue University researchers found that tropical cyclones and hurricanes cool the tropics by forming 'cold wakes' that transport heat and maintain the climate of North America and Europe. The findings suggest an additional factor is needed in climate models to accurately predict future climate scenarios.
New research reveals that sharks rely on both olfactory systems and lateral lines to track odor sources, particularly in dark waters. This discovery sheds light on animal navigation underwater and has implications for the development of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs).
Scientists have identified a climate change signal in the Indian Ocean near Australia, with ocean temperatures rising by two degrees Celsius. The research linked this warming to changes in atmospheric conditions and human activity, including aerosol production and greenhouse gases.
A new study warns that massive sulphide deposits near hydrothermal vents could smother and contaminate rare organisms, potentially threatening the origins of life on Earth. The mining process could also raise nutrients in the ocean, causing algal blooms and disrupting food chains.
Researchers have discovered that oceanic storms, known as eddies, pump nutrients up from the deep ocean to fuel massive blooms of microscopic plant life. These nutrient-rich waters support a vibrant ecosystem, attracting zooplankton and other animals higher up the food chain.
A recent study published in Nature reveals the discovery of over 700 new species in the Antarctic deep sea, including carnivorous sponges and crustaceans. The research suggests that the glacial cycle led to an intermingling of species from shallow and deep water habitats, redefining our understanding of ocean evolution.
Researchers have found a 'short-circuit' in the Southern Ocean's circulation, which could aid predictions of future climate change. This process allows cold waters to return to the surface more rapidly than previously thought, affecting global heat and carbon distribution.
Scientists at Northwestern University developed a simple method to detect mercury using gold nanoparticles and DNA. The technique can identify mercury levels in water samples by visual inspection, offering a faster and more convenient alternative to existing detection methods.
The Medusa hydrothermal vent field, discovered off Costa Rica, features hot iron-darkened water attracting unusual marine life. Researchers have found pink jellyfish, spiky tubeworm casings, and heat-tolerant organisms thriving in extreme conditions.
Researchers are setting up observatories to examine changes under the Arctic ice cap, investigating water properties in the upper layers of the Arctic Ocean. The goal is to understand annual change and measure mechanisms that lead to ice melting from below.
Scientists have developed a new type of environmentally friendly plastic that breaks down in seawater, reducing the need for storage on ships. The biodegradable plastics could replace conventional plastics used in various applications at sea, including stretch wrap, food containers, and eating utensils.
A new study reveals that a sudden ocean climate change in the late 1970s may be responsible for Alaska's decline in Steller sea lion population. Climate change affected water temperatures and ocean currents determining the abundance of available fish for the sea lions to eat, leading to a decline.
A new University of Colorado at Boulder study suggests that the Arctic sea ice decline may have reached a tipping point, triggering a cascade of climate change affecting Earth's temperate regions. The loss of ice could lead to changes in atmospheric patterns, impacting weather and agriculture globally.
Researchers have discovered four large subglacial lakes beneath Antarctica's surface that contribute to the formation of ice streams and play a crucial role in transporting ice towards the ocean. The lakes' water helps lubricate the bed of the stream, speeding up its flow and potentially disrupting climate patterns.
A study by Oregon State University scientists found that iron-rich winter runoff from Pacific Northwest streams and rivers fertilizes the nearshore Pacific Ocean, leading to robust phytoplankton production and fisheries. The researchers discovered that the iron is trapped on the continental shelf in the winter, but released during summ...
A feedback mechanism between North Atlantic and tropical hydrology of Central America amplifies the effects of climate change on oceanic circulation. This mechanism, highlighted by scientists at CEREGE1, shows that changes in oceanic circulation influence global water cycle patterns and climatic equator shifts.
Researchers led by paleobiologist Jere H. Lipps argue that Europa's icy surface may harbor life due to the presence of water ice, briny oceans, and tidal friction generating heat. This could lead to a variety of habitats supporting life forms, from microorganisms to macroscopic organisms.
A new satellite method has overcome an obstacle to measuring atmospheric water vapor, providing valuable insights for studying climate and weather. Meanwhile, researchers suggest that irrigation may be causing regional cooling that masks the effects of greenhouse gas warming in certain regions.
Climate change is altering North Atlantic ecosystems by freshening seawater and curbing deepening of surface mixed layers. This shift affects phytoplankton and zooplankton populations, leading to changes in seasonal cycles.
A delayed arrival of cold, nutrient-rich water due to altered ocean currents led to reduced barnacle and mussel larvae settlement on rocky shores. The change resulted in lower phytoplankton abundance and a recovery of mussel recruitment when stronger nutrient-rich currents arrived later.
Researchers studying sedimentary records of dinoflagellates in the San Francisco area and along the western coast of North America predict an increase in toxic blooms. This change is linked to rising water temperatures, which will impact marine life and fisheries.
A new study using NASA's ICESat mission reveals a complex plumbing system of subglacial lakes and rivers under the West Antarctic ice sheet. The research suggests that this system may play a major role in controlling the rate at which ice moves off the continent, with potentially significant implications for sea levels.
Researchers used NASA's Aura satellite to track the origin and movements of water vapor in the atmosphere. They found that tropical rainfall evaporation and water
Scientists discovered that bony fish duplicated their yolk-producing genes, allowing eggs to fill with water and float. This post-R3 lineage-specific gene duplication enabled hydration of maturing eggs, driving the evolution and success of marine teleosts in the oceanic environment.
Researchers studied the effects of the Mt. Pinatubo eruption on Earth's climate, finding that natural aerosols have a cooling effect and that coupled climate models should be tested for their response times. Additionally, scientists investigated the link between Antarctic and Indian Ocean temperatures, suggesting Subantarctic Mode Wate...
A new University of Colorado at Boulder study finds that small glaciers and ice caps are the largest contributors to global sea rise, with over half of the estimated 650 billion tons of ice lost annually coming from these sources. The study's results run contrary to public perception focusing on Antarctica and Greenland.
Researchers collected river water and sediment samples from Alaskan rivers during spring floods to study interactions with the coastal Beaufort Sea. The study found variations in river composition and flow, as well as under-ice mixing with sea ice and seawater.