Research on the ocean's chemistry and ice. Covers ocean carbon capture, forever chemicals in sea spray, Antarctic change, and sea-ice clouds.
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.
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
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 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.
Researchers use strontium isotopes to identify salmon stream origins, allowing for unprecedented accuracy in tracking adult salmon. The technique has promise for restoring salmon populations and studying their migrations.
The USGS National Wildlife Health Center has detected Newcastle disease in Salton Sea cormorants, which has killed over 1,600 birds. The laboratory is conducting further analysis to determine the specific strain of the virus, with implications for domestic poultry and bird migration patterns.
A new RFF issues brief highlights the potential impacts of climate change on water supplies, including increased precipitation, evapotranspiration, and extreme weather events. The report emphasizes the need for more efficient water management and use to mitigate these effects.
Researchers developed a microelectrode that can measure multiple chemical species simultaneously in seawater biofilms, including dissolved oxygen, iron, manganese, and iodide. The device is hardy enough to withstand various marine settings and can detect pollutants at low levels.
A new Cornell University study warns that water shortages will worsen globally unless resource-management practices improve. The report suggests ending irrigation subsidies and rewarding conservation to manage water more efficiently.
A new remote imaging technique has given scientists a promising way to better understand breaking waves in the open ocean. The technique measures temperature changes in the 'skin-layer' of the ocean, detecting warmer water mixed up to the surface after a wave breaks.
Researchers found the ancient Sahara was much wetter 12,000 to 5,000 years ago, with stronger summer monsoons producing more vegetation and increased water content in the soil. The vegetation and soil changes enhanced the effects of orbital shifts, leading to a 10% increase in annual precipitation.
The monsoon's peculiar ocean currents increase nutrients, boosting plankton productivity. This boost converts carbon dioxide to organic forms, storing it in deeper layers and reducing atmospheric CO2 levels.
Researchers discovered a cycle of strong and weak trade winds that triggered massive iceberg armadas across the North Atlantic during the last ice age. The study found a suborbital rhythm of 8,400 years in the strength of tropical winds, which governed the melting of massive ice sheets in the Northern Hemisphere.
Scientists found evidence of periodic changes in equatorial trade winds and warm tropical waters, which warmed the North Atlantic region and triggered melting along massive ice sheets. The research links climate phenomena at the top and middle of the globe, proposing a mechanism involving the release of warm water pools.
Researchers tracked eight female leatherback turtles using satellite transmitters and found they prefer specific ocean corridors extending from Central America to the Galapagos Islands. The discovery highlights the importance of considering these corridors in conservation efforts, as international fishing fleets threaten turtle survival.
Scientists have documented the invasion of a single-celled amoeba-like organism, Trochammina hadai, into San Francisco Bay, raising concerns about the impact on native species and ecosystem. The introduction of exotic microorganisms is a growing problem in US waters, with potential consequences for harbors and waterways.
Researchers studying ancient oceans using supercomputer-based models found that changing surface waterways can affect ocean circulation patterns. The study suggests that alterations in freshwater runoff may lead to changes in deep water formation sites, which could impact carbon dioxide concentrations and the environment.
Researchers discover native weevil that targets Eurasian watermilfoil, slowing growth and potentially providing a natural control method. The weevil lays eggs on the plant's tips, which hatch and eat their way through the stem, reducing milfoil's spread.
Thrive estuarine habitats can absorb and reduce toxic chemicals' effects on aquatic creatures, according to South Carolina Sea Grant ecotoxologist Thomas Chandler. Chlorpyrifos, a common insecticide, is less harmful in natural environments due to water dilution and biological breakdown.
Sea Grant researchers are exploring various strategies to mitigate shipworm damage, a significant threat to marine ecosystems. The study aims to develop effective methods for reducing this type of damage and promoting sustainable coastal management.
A new study suggests that the ratio of calcium to magnesium in ostracod shells provides a reliable method for reconstructing ancient water temperatures. The technique, described in the journal Science, shows strong signals in temperature change between glacial and interglacial periods.