Research on the ocean's chemistry and ice. Covers ocean carbon capture, forever chemicals in sea spray, Antarctic change, and sea-ice clouds.
Researchers suggest that hydrogen sulfide gas, produced in the oceans through sulfate decomposition by sulfur bacteria, could have caused the largest mass extinction. The high levels of hydrogen sulfide would be toxic to most oceanic and terrestrial organisms, leading to a significant loss of life.
Researchers at Columbia Climate School have discovered that the majority of water in the Indonesian Throughflow flows below 300m below the surface, making it colder and deeper than thought. This finding has significant implications for understanding heat exchange between oceans and the atmosphere.
Researchers developed a new technique to detect melt pond coverage on Arctic sea ice using NASA's Landsat 7 satellite. This method improves the understanding of the Arctic heat balance and its impact on global climate.
A recent study by Florida Tech researchers found minimal environmental impact from offshore oil drilling in the Arctic. The team discovered that freshwater runoff into the ocean is trapped by a layer of ice, preventing it from mixing with saltwater.
The live seafood trade is spreading non-native bivalves across the Pacific Northwest, posing a significant threat to local ecosystems. Researchers found that nearly as many ocean quahogs survived in the short-term as established species, highlighting the need for regulations and monitoring programs to control introductions.
A new study by OHSU scientists explores the impact of hydrologic alteration on salmon populations, revealing a 52% reduction in shallow water habitat due to diking. The research also shows that flow-cycle alteration would have reduced spring-freshet shallow water habitat by 29%.
Dr. S. Bradley Moran and his team will conduct field and modeling studies to assess and improve POC tracing methods, focusing on Th-234's variability in estimating export flux. The research aims to provide accurate information on mechanisms of estimating upper ocean POC export flux using thorium-234.
A team of researchers discovered a new microbe, Strain 121, that can survive and thrive in extremely hot temperatures, with growth possible up to 121 degrees Celsius. The discovery opens up possibilities for understanding life on a hot early Earth and the potential for life in extraterrestrial environments.
Scientists have developed a new adaptation of seismic reflection profiling to create detailed pictures of oceanic features, including eddies and internal waves. This technique has the potential to improve our understanding of ocean mixing and its role in climate modeling.
Research reveals that intense atmospheric jets triggered by strong winds can drive convection in the North Atlantic Ocean. This process increases the number of convection sites from two to three, significantly impacting the Atlantic climatic system.
Scientists discover Lost City, the tallest hydrothermal vent system ever seen, which can persist for hundreds of thousands to millions of years. This discovery increases the chances of finding early life on the seafloor, with potential implications for life beyond Earth.
Researchers track freshwater discharge from Arctic Ocean to North Atlantic, measuring ocean currents, temperature, and salinity. The study, funded by $2 million NSF grant, aims to understand the crucial role of Arctic freshwater in controlling Earth's climate.
A team of scientists has discovered that convection may also be occurring in the Irminger Sea east of Greenland, potentially forming deep waters. This finding places additional complexity on the climate system and suggests far-reaching implications for Labrador Sea Water formation.
The HOME scientists used various instruments and equipment to track ocean energy and turbulence, finding that the Hawaiian Ridge is a site with vastly increased ocean mixing. They documented undersea internal wave energy enhanced 10 times at the ridge compared to normal open ocean areas.
Researchers have calculated that internal waves can carry up to 50% of their original energy as they propagate through the ocean depths, with this energy directed towards mid-latitude areas. This finding has significant implications for understanding ocean mixing and its impact on global climate models.
A University of Washington linguist and the Aleuts will begin a two-year effort to preserve the Aleut language by recording everyday conversations on audio and videotapes. The goal is to document the language, which has declined from 620 speakers in 1990 to just over 100 today.
Paerl was recognized for his work on understanding aquatic microbial processes, documenting linkages between atmospheric deposition of nitrogen and harmful algal blooms. He has made significant contributions to knowledge in freshwater, estuarine, and marine ecosystems, promising a continuing legacy of scientific excellence.
A new computer model has identified a significant link between high-latitude climate phenomena and tropical regions, warming ocean temperatures by up to 1 degree Celsius. The discovery reveals a hidden climate mechanism that significantly influences global and regional climate change.
The North Pole Environmental Observatory project aims to investigate the interplay of ocean currents and other factors related to climate change. The research team has established a temporary camp on sea ice near the North Pole for the third consecutive year to retrieve mooring instruments, insert buoys, and sample Arctic Ocean waters.
A 2002 NASA study found a significant decline in coral cover and species diversity after the 'black water' event, which was caused by a bloom of microscopic marine plants. The dark water reduced sunlight absorption, affecting the ecosystem.
Researchers investigate unique carbonate vents, driven by mantle rock serpentinization and supporting microbial life. The team aims to discover more fields like Lost City and explore its potential for early Earth life.
Sea Grant's media relations office is closing its National Press Building Office and suspending operations due to restructuring. Meanwhile, NOAA's Public Affairs Officer, Ben Sherman, is assuming the role of Public Affairs Officer for NOAA's National Ocean Service.
The URI Oceanography team is conducting a two-year research expedition off the coast of Africa to investigate horizontal ocean mixing. The deployment of 92 subsurface RAFOS floats will help scientists understand eddy stirring and mixing in this poorly understood region.
Researchers at MIT's Parsons Lab in Hawaii developed a technique to calculate the amount and distribution of groundwater flowing into coastal waters. The data will contribute to Kaeo Duarte's research on groundwater usage on Hawaii's dry western coast.
A new study uses tree ring chronologies to identify patterns of multidecadal oscillations in precipitation, linking them to ocean temperature shifts. The research suggests that the Great Plains, Rockies, and Southwest are prone to megadroughts when tropical Pacific and North Atlantic sea surface temperatures align.
Scientists have discovered a hydrothermal siphon connecting two seamounts in the northeast Pacific, allowing water to flow northward over 50 kilometers. This phenomenon has significant implications for understanding heat flow through the crust, ocean chemistry, and microbial communities living on the ocean floor.
Researchers at North Carolina State University have successfully produced all-female cultured stocks of Southern flounder using controlled-breeding methods and warm water temperature manipulation. This method has significant economic potential, as female flounder can grow up to two times larger than males within two years.
Marine geologist Peter Rona describes a metal-rich mound, two-and-a-half miles under the Atlantic Ocean, composed of copper, iron, zinc, gold, and silver. The ocean's crust is cracked into plates that allow heat and materials to escape, creating habitats and energy for microbes that can be used in various applications.
NASA's Aqua satellite and a P-3 Orion aircraft are conducting a joint research effort to gather data on snowfall and rainfall in Wakasa Bay, Japan. The study aims to improve the accuracy of global hydrologic cycle data and better understand precipitation patterns in the north Pacific.
Researchers found microorganisms thriving in deep-sea crust without consuming organic molecules, processing CO2 and inorganic compounds instead. The discovery challenges our understanding of the origins and diversity of life on Earth.
Researchers discovered a steady decline in the West Antarctic ice sheet over the past few thousand years, raising concerns about its future behavior. The ice sheet contains enough water to raise global sea level by 5 meters, threatening coastal regions with disastrous consequences.
The US government has signed a bill to curb the introduction of unwanted aquatic organisms in ballast water. A template for national wetland restoration efforts is also being promoted, following Oregon's success in saving native salmon runs. Ozone treatment and biocide methods are being explored as cost-effective solutions.
A UCI research team will study the chemistry of water-air interaction, shedding light on air pollution and atmospheric chemistry in Southern California. The five-year project involves international collaborations and will incorporate experiments and theory to understand dissolved particles and gas interactions.
The GSA 2002 conference discusses the impacts of human activities on natural systems, including droughts, wildfires, and ground-water depletion. Researchers also explore the role of climate change in shaping Earth's history, as seen in sediment cores from the Great Blue Hole.
The increasingly salty Mediterranean could lead to a new ice age in Canada due to changes in Atlantic circulation patterns. This is because the saltiness of the Mediterranean water makes it dense enough to sink easily, allowing warm water to replace it and keep seas south of Greenland relatively warm.
The Navy has built an Air-Sea Interaction Tower to measure atmospheric and ocean conditions, including temperature, humidity, and wave height. The tower will provide better weather forecasts, enabling the avoidance of storms and saving lives.
Two robotic gliders, Slocum Glider and Seaglider, will be tested operationally off Southern California this winter. The gliders harness changes in buoyancy or temperature layers to collect data on ocean currents, salinity, and biological sounds.
Researchers found that less than two feet of water can noticeably reduce landfall decay in hurricanes. However, surface roughness significantly reduces wind speed and evaporation, which fuels a hurricane's intensity.
Phytoplankton levels have dropped by over 30% in the North Pacific Ocean and 14% in the North Atlantic since the mid-80s, while summer plankton concentrations rose by 50% in the Northern Indian and Equatorial Atlantic Oceans. These changes are linked to regional climate shifts, including warmer sea surface temperatures and reduced winds.
The Aquarius mission will provide global maps of salt concentration on the ocean surface, allowing scientists to closely monitor ocean circulation and heat transport. The mission will help advance understanding of ocean-atmosphere interactions and potentially inform strategies to mitigate the impacts of natural events.
Great Lakes rip currents can be deadly, but knowing how to identify them and escape is crucial. Longshore currents flow along the shoreline, while rip currents flow perpendicular to it; always swim perpendicular to the current. Cold water multiplies danger, so take necessary precautions when swimming in cold water.
Researchers have discovered high levels of mercury contamination in the Still River and Housatonic River in Danbury, Connecticut, threatening human health through seafood consumption. A 'jubilee' phenomenon has also been recorded in Mobile Bay, Alabama, where abundant seafood is harvested during specific conditions.
A team of scientists led by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Professor Jun Abrajano refutes the Noah's Flood Hypothesis by presenting sediment evidence of sustained interaction between the Mediterranean and Black Seas. This contradicts the theory that a massive flood destroyed freshwater mollusks in the Black Sea.
Dr. Boufadel is developing new protocols to test the effectiveness of dispersants in oil spill cleanup. He aims to correlate shaking energy with sea state and wave height to optimize dispersant use. The EPA has shown interest in his work.
A California-funded Sea Grant survey banned the sale of Caulerpa taxifolia, a fast-growing tropical seaweed, due to its invasive nature. Meanwhile, researchers used DNA technology to identify E. coli sources, tracing human and animal fecal pollution in Lake Michigan.
Large icebergs from Antarctica's Ross Ice Shelf are dramatically affecting the growth of minute plant life in the ocean, with a 40% reduction in phytoplankton blooms observed. The icebergs block normal drift of pack ice, reducing open water and altering the marine ecosystem.
Researchers used satellite imagery to study the effects of an iceberg on a marine ecosystem in Antarctica. The study found that extensive ice cover reduced phytoplankton production by 40% and affected the entire food chain from krill to fish, seals, whales, penguins, and other species.
Researchers warn that slowing thermohaline circulation could have severe consequences for Europe, including a dramatic drop in temperatures. The phenomenon is sensitive to temperature increases and influxes of fresh water, which could accelerate its slowdown.
A Scripps Institution of Oceanography study reveals a significant warming trend in the Southern Ocean over the last 50 years, with temperatures rising nearly double the global average. The research suggests that this region may be responding more rapidly to climate change than previously thought.
Research teams have discovered oxygen decreases of 10-15% in the upper thermocline, a layer 100-600 meters deep. Slower ocean circulation and increased plant productivity may be contributing factors, potentially linked to climate shifts and global warming.
The 'Upwelled Iron Hypothesis' proposes that increased iron in the Southern Ocean during glacial periods came from deep ocean waters, which rose to the surface through upwelling. This input may have contributed to increased phytoplankton growth and subsequently altered the global carbon balance.
Droplets in salt crystals from various times in Earth's history reveal changing levels of major chemical components dissolved in ocean water. Lawrence Hardie's theory suggests that these changes may have fueled a nanoplankton population boom, leading to massive chalk deposits.
The University of Rhode Island Oceanographers have been awarded a grant to develop a new RAFOS float, which will improve the measurement of ocean currents. The new float will be constructed at GSO's Narragansett Bay Campus and will meet the needs of other RAFOS float users while keeping production costs low.
A NASA-funded study found that glacier melting can shut down North Atlantic Deep Water production, leading to a reduced Gulf Stream and cooling Western Europe. The study suggests that freshwater additions from increased rain and snow could cause this phenomenon in the future.
A new research project could help forecast floods and associated cholera outbreaks in Bangladesh, aiding farmers and improving quality of life. The team will use computer modeling to pinpoint Indian Ocean conditions and rainfall patterns, enabling local forecasts that can aid communities.
Researchers found that small island rivers in Taiwan and New Zealand produce high amounts of sediment, potentially impacting global climate change. The amount of sediment varies greatly between rivers, with the Cropp River in New Zealand producing 32,000 tons per square kilometer.
Researchers will examine physical and biological processes in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas to assess climate change impacts. They will analyze planktonic food web interactions and quantify export flux of particulate organic carbon.
Researchers will investigate the cause of substantial increases in Mnemiopsis leidyi population and determine the effects on coastal ecosystems. The study aims to understand the impacts of climate change on zooplankton populations and the local fishing industry.
Researchers suggest deploying vibration-sensitive acoustic sensors on Europa's surface to probe the interior structure and search for signs of life. Massive ice fractures generate unusual cracking sounds that could penetrate the thick ice layer and propagate through the underlying ocean.
Scientists analyzed the physical response of the Sea of Galilee to external forcing and found intense mixing occurred closest to shores, which could improve ocean forecasts. This understanding is crucial for predicting currents, temperatures, and other oceanic issues like fish development.