Articles tagged with Seawater
A study published in PNAS reveals that lead contamination in San Francisco Bay will continue to affect the environment for decades due to the persistence of contaminated soils and sediments. Researchers found that lead from past gasoline emissions still accounts for most of the lead in water samples, with limited mobility out of the bay.
Physicists have calculated a property known as Cooper instability that produces superconductivity in electrons, suggesting composite fermions can achieve quantum superconductivity. The research, published in Nature, provides convincing evidence for the formation of magically mobile Cooper pairs.
Virginia Tech Professor James Wightman to tell the story of Benjamin Franklin and Agnes Pockels' groundbreaking work in surface chemistry. Pockels, a German hausfrau, was the first to determine cause and measure monolayer effects, paving the way for Langmuir-Blodgett films.
The Spotted Jellyfish, native to Australian coastal waters, have invaded the northern Gulf of Mexico causing concern over their potential threat to the region's ecosystems and commercial fisheries. The jellies' feeding habits and survival capabilities in the Gulf waters are being investigated by researchers.
A new method developed by UF engineer Michel Ochi accurately estimates the severity of waves near shore during hurricanes, helping engineers design more hurricane-ready buildings. The study also highlights the importance of tide levels at hurricane landing, making generalizations problematic.
The wetland's condition has deteriorated due to mass tourism, with garbage and solid waste contaminating the site. Researchers propose taking immediate action to save it and recommend its inclusion in a Heritage Corridor to protect natural spaces.
Researchers at CU-Boulder have discovered a second underwater church in the ancient port city of Aperlae, suggesting it was a magnet for pilgrims traveling to and from the Holy Land. The settlement, which likely supported around 1,000 people, featured multiple churches, public baths, and self-sustaining agriculture.
Researchers found a potential for water trapped in sediments to surge out and cause undersea landslides that can produce tidal waves. The study suggests a new explanation for expulsive events in the continental slope along the East Coast, potentially triggering landslides without warning.
The Harvard Ocean Prediction System (HOPS) is a modular system that provides forecasts of ocean weather and information about ocean life. HOPS has been used to predict the location of crash debris from EgyptAir Flight 990 and identify promising waters for commercial fishing.
Scientists at the University of Manchester and the Natural History Museum in London found water-bearing salt crystals within the Zag meteorite that may have formed just two million years after the solar system's birth. This discovery could indicate that hospitable conditions for life might have arisen earlier than previously thought.
Hot tubs can cause lung disease by dispersing bacteria through aerosolization, leading to symptoms like fever and weight loss. Removing the hot tub from the home is often the primary treatment for mild cases, while more severe cases require corticosteroids and antibiotics.
Researchers present findings on the geological evolution of the North American Cordillera, including the Cascadia subduction zone's impact on earthquake hazards. They also explore tectonic movement and its implications for densely populated areas in the Pacific Northwest.
Researchers found that airborne sea salt particles undergo a chemical reaction in daylight to release chlorine molecules, which can influence ozone levels. This discovery suggests that sea salt particles may play a significant role in determining the levels of certain greenhouse gases and air pollutants in coastal urban areas.
Water vapor and clouds cause difficulties in atmospheric models due to their lumpy nature and turbulent motion, making it a 'messy problem' for modeling. Researchers aim to develop new approaches to represent these phenomena in numerical form.
The Northeastern Section of the Geological Society of America will address regional geoscience news on climate change, coastal hazards, and extinction events. Papers will explore links between climate change and ocean-atmosphere forcing, as well as the impact of sea-level changes on coastal communities.
A USGS study shows that larger streams and rivers in the Midwest and Ohio Valley states deliver more nitrogen to the Gulf of Mexico than smaller streams, contradicting previous assumptions. Nitrogen pollution is naturally removed from water in small streams through denitrification, a process that significantly affects its delivery to t...
University of Delaware scientists, including Craig Cary, embark on the first deep-sea dive of the new century to explore extreme organisms and understand life's origins. They will collect samples of toxic chemicals, organisms, rocks, and minerals using special instruments like deep-sea sensors.
A multi-pronged analysis reveals that the supply of clean freshwater is dwindling due to growing demands for irrigation, industry, and natural ecosystem needs. Associate Professor Kenneth Strzepek identifies global river basins under strain, including China's Yellow River basin and Africa's Zambeze River basin.
Researchers have found evidence of bacterial life in the Antarctic ice core, suggesting that microbes can thrive in extreme environments. The discovery provides insight into potential extraterrestrial habitats and could aid in designing samplers for future missions to Europa.
Researchers discovered strong evidence of a 55.5 million-year-old global warming event linked to a massive methane release. The 'latest Paleocene thermal maximum' led to the extinction or disappearance of deep-sea species and changed ecosystems. Further research is needed to understand this phenomenon.
The Climate Impacts Group at the University of Washington predicts significant climate changes in the NW region by 2050, including warmer temperatures, wetter winters, and shrinking snowpack. The report highlights the need for regional water management and planning to mitigate these impacts.
Researchers confirm hazard posed by intraslab earthquakes in Pacific Northwest, which can cause significant damage and loss of life. A magnitude 7-7.5 intraslab earthquake could strike the region, posing a greater risk than larger offshore earthquakes.
A University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill marine scientist has warned of potentially devastating effects of Hurricane Floyd on the nation's largest lagoonal estuary, Pamlico Sound. The storm could lead to catastrophic flooding, runoff, and low oxygen conditions, harming commercial and recreational fisheries.
The SHOWEX experiment aims to better predict wave formation and severity, improving navigation safety at sea and weather forecasting. Researchers will use a range of instruments, including aircraft, craft, buoys, and subsurface sensors, to study wave components and their interactions.
Outbreaks of toxic Pfiesteria microorganisms in recreational waterways can have significant impacts on summer tourism and seafood sales. According to a survey of 3,500 coastal residents, a Pfiesteria outbreak could reduce tourism by at least 40% and lead to nearly two-thirds of respondents eating less locally harvested seafood. Consume...
Research indicates the Indian Ocean has its own El Niño-like phenomenon characterized by an east-to-west oscillation of warm waters affecting other parts of the world. The study found significant warming of the western portion of the Indian Ocean in 16 out of 48 years between 1950 and 1998, but only three were active El Niño years.
Research reveals highest species diversity of planktonic foraminifera in middle latitudes, contrary to traditional model. Sea-surface temperature can accurately estimate zooplankton diversity.
The catastrophic draining of two gigantic glacial lakes in Canada's Hudson Bay region led to the most abrupt, widespread cold spell on Earth during the last 10,000 years. Temperatures dropped by as much as 15 degrees Fahrenheit in central Greenland and by nearly 6 degrees F in Western Europe.
Jim Estes, a marine biologist with the USGS Western Ecological Research Center, will pursue research on restoring the Bering Sea and North Pacific ecosystem. He aims to provide information on how human effects manifest in the oceans, leading to drastic ecosystem changes.
A global system involving human-machine integration will evolve, leveraging ceramic materials and nanotechnology to provide food and clean water. The future may hold composite life forms with organic and inorganic elements.
The California sea otter population has declined by 1.14% since the 1998 spring survey, with a disconcerting decline in independent adults, indicating a need for further investigation into the cause of this trend. The USGS is working to gather more information on disease, contaminants, starvation, and entanglement as contributing factors.
The Columbia Glacier in Alaska has increased its speed to 35 meters per day, raising concerns among scientists about a rapid decline. The glacier, already the fastest moving glacier in the world, is now expected to retreat at an alarming rate, potentially posing risks to shipping lanes and marine ecosystems.
A team of geologists and aid workers warn that the Sarez Lake in Tajikistan is a ticking time bomb, with a natural dam on the verge of breaching. If the dam fails, it could unleash a wall of water devastating hundreds of mountain villages and killing hundreds of thousands of people.
Researchers have uncovered clues to the cause, timing and evolution of the massive East Asian summer monsoon. The study found a connection between the disastrous 1998 Yangtze River flood and the timing and strength of the summer monsoon.
Climate models project a 23-30% decline in mountain snowpack by 2025, and up to 61% by 2095. This could drastically alter hydrology and water resource management in the region.
The American Geophysical Union Spring Meeting 1999 featured various scientific sessions and press conferences, including briefings on Mars Global Surveyor results, Yucca Mountain nuclear waste storage, and the South China Sea Monsoon Experiment. The event took place from June 1-4 at Boston's Hynes Convention Center.
Biologists found Thiomargarita namibiensis in sediments off Namibian coast, living up to 3/4 mm wide and storing nitrate in an 'anaerobic lung'. The bacteria can survive for three months without external supply of nutrients, playing a crucial role in oxidizing toxic sulfide.
A University of Florida researcher has found genetic differences in sea oats on the Gulf Coast, which could lead to the development of a "super" sea oat that can stabilize dunes during storms. The goal is to select and propagate sea oats with desirable traits such as quick root growth and extensive rhizome systems.
Researchers are searching for evidence that can support or refute the hypothesis that Uintacrinus could have floated, a staggering feat considering its size. Geologists Meyer and Milsom have found new fossil material in Kansas and Colorado, which will help them understand how crinoids were preserved and potentially answer this question.
Geologist Attila Kilinc proposes a new model to explain the forces behind explosive eruptions on Montserrat, citing the oxidation state of magma. The model suggests that mixing hotter and cooler magma leads to water formation, triggering an eruption. Further development of a detection system is needed to accurately predict eruptions.
Researchers attribute sharp declines in sea otter numbers to killer whale predation, linked to changes in oceanic and nearshore ecosystems. The study highlights the impact of ecological chain reactions on coastal food webs and species populations.
A team led by University of Colorado at Boulder Professor Robert Hohlfelder has discovered a 1,700-year-old Christian church submerged in shallow water off the coast of southern Turkey. The stone church, with an elaborate apse and multicolored mosaic, is likely the only underwater church known from that era.
A computer simulation model of a tsunami wave shows how energy spreads out over hundreds of miles as it travels through deep ocean water. The model is used to estimate impact force on structures and reduce damages caused by tsunamis.
Researchers found a community of microorganisms thriving in Antarctica's Lake Bonney and several other lakes. The microbes can survive in an environment similar to Popsicles, using sunlight to create pockets of liquid water.
Researchers are exploring ways to control the rush of nitrogen and other chemicals into the Mississippi River watershed. Ecotechnology may hold the answer by restoring or building wetlands and riparian buffer zones along waterways.
Researchers discovered that a lack of iron limits phytoplankton growth in central California waters, impacting the entire marine food chain. This finding challenges existing climate change models and highlights the importance of iron in ocean carbon storage.
A team of U.S. astronomers has discovered a massive concentration of water vapor within a cloud of interstellar gas close to the Orion nebula, measuring 20 times larger than observed in other clouds. The high amount of water vapor could provide crucial clues about the origin of water in the solar system.
The Salton Sea Database Program will utilize GIS software to analyze data on the lake's ecosystem, including climate, soil, water quality, and vegetation. The program aims to inform decision-making and restoration efforts for the critically endangered Salton Sea.
A team of researchers led by Susan Brawley discovered that aquatic organisms are highly sensitive to environmental cues such as water motion and salinity. They found that plants release gametes only when the carbon supply begins to run out, allowing for high fertilization success rates
A new study by Ohio State University researcher Jay Frogel warns that El Niño events can change atmospheric data by up to 2 percent, affecting precise astronomical measurements. This alteration occurs due to the increased water content in the atmosphere during El Niño events.
Sandia Labs is working on chemical sensing technology to quickly detect and classify explosive molecules, which can identify land mines. The project aims to provide a more accurate and efficient method for demining, reducing the risk of casualties and environmental damage.
A team of scientists is tracking El Niño changes using a remote cloud observatory in the Western Pacific. Continuous measurements are being collected to evaluate and develop cloud property and radiation algorithms for global climate models.
The Pennsylvania Sea Grant will focus on extension, education, and communications, monitoring the ecology of Lake Erie's coast and Presque Isle peninsula. Studies will address non-point source pollution, invasive species, and environmentally friendly manufacturing development.
Geologist Professor Joseph Smyth discovered wadsleyite can contain solid water bound in crystals at extreme pressures. The earth's interior may store large amounts of water in the form of wadsleyite, which could regulate surface water levels. Laboratory tests are underway to determine the amount of water in wadsleyite.
A sudden 200-year cold event about 8,200 years ago could provide insights into rapid climate change. The 8k event, as it's called, saw temperatures drop by 11 degrees Fahrenheit in the North Atlantic region.
Scientists have mapped a previously uncharted area of the Southwest Indian Ridge, revealing a steepest underwater cliff ever recorded. The discovery may shed new light on the origins of primitive life forms, with some biologists suggesting that hydrothermal vents could hold the key to life's beginnings.
A Columbia University scientist warns that global warming could cause the abrupt collapse of ocean currents, sending European temperatures plummeting by 20 degrees Fahrenheit within 10 years. This could lead to a drastic change in climate, with devastating consequences.
Drilling in the Caribbean Basin uncovered evidence of massive volcanic eruptions 55 million years ago, which triggered a dramatic climatic change and rapid ocean water inversion. This led to the release of sea floor methane into the atmosphere, causing global warming and speeding evolution of new species.
A new coupled biological and physical model could predict the health of near-shore ocean environments where rivers meet the sea. The model identifies key processes involved in an ecosystem and quantifies their importance, providing insights into how these systems interact.
David Meyer presents evidence that ancient crinoid Uintacrinus could float using a new model. The model explains the organism's ability to support its weight and collect food particles at the sea surface.