Articles tagged with Seawater
A new study by University of New South Wales scientists has shed light on the pathways of ocean circulation that supply newly ventilated surface water to the deep Pacific. The research finds that diffusive transport plays a leading role in ventilating the shadow zone, which is crucial for biological production and climate regulation.
A new study published in Nature found that the arrival of plants on land about 400 million years ago may have altered the Earth's natural climate regulation. The researchers discovered a shift in the global formation of clay, which led to reduced carbon dioxide levels and a cooler planet.
Researchers identified likely new marine species on nine seamounts explored for the first time in the Phoenix Islands Archipelago. The expedition also collected high-resolution seafloor mapping data and footage of rare organisms, including a glass octopus and whale shark.
A new indicator called sea color has been proposed by a scientist at Hiroshima University to predict volcanic unrest in submarine volcanoes. The researcher analyzed satellite images of Nishinoshima Island and detected signs of looming eruption approximately a month before the actual event, using sea discoloration data obtained from space.
A study published in Nature Communications found that nearly all nitrogen that fertilizes life in the open ocean of the Gulf of Mexico originates from coastal waters. This discovery is crucial for understanding the food web and survival of commercially valuable species like Atlantic bluefin tuna.
Researchers developed a method to identify areas with smoother waters as indicative of microplastic presence, leveraging CYGNSS satellite data. This technique demonstrates the potential for tracking ocean microplastics from space.
Climate change is expected to suppress the growth of Florida's coral reefs due to their inability to migrate north. The warming seas and increasing frequency of water-cooling cold snaps will make it difficult for corals to adapt and survive, leading to further decline and potentially extinction.
A University of California, Riverside study found Salton Sea aerosol triggers nonallergic inflammation genes and promotes lung inflammation in mice. The researchers also observed a distinct inflammatory response in the lungs compared to exposure to aerosolized fungal allergen.
Researchers found that reactions with hydrogen sulfide stabilize carbon compounds, leading to increased organic carbon storage in oxygen-depleted waters. This sulfur-based mechanism could influence ocean chemistry and contribute to long-term removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Researchers found evidence of massive icebergs drifting from Northeast Canada to southern Florida using high-resolution seafloor mapping and radiocarbon dating. The discovery provides insight into the interactions between icebergs/glaciers and climate, shedding light on how past changes in freshwater forcing influenced shifts in climate.
Researchers found that warm Atlantic water masses are responsible for slowed or prevented ice growth in the Barents and Kara Seas. Long-term data and simulations revealed that this phenomenon can lead to thinner and more fragile Arctic sea ice, potentially affecting regions further east.
A study reveals that 60% of lead in Canadian Arctic seawater comes from human sources, particularly historic lead emissions from Europe and Russia. The findings suggest that permafrost melting and coastal erosion will continue to remobilize these contaminants, making lead isotopes a sensitive tracer for pollutants in Arctic seawater.
Researchers have developed a new method to track ocean microplastics using satellite data, revealing seasonal changes in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and releases from the Yangtze River. The study provides valuable information for cleaning up microplastic pollution and deploying resources more efficiently.
A sea count survey and tagging data revealed an estimated 10,000 harbor seals inhabiting the Northern Inland Waters of Washington State. The study used line-transect methods to estimate the stock size of Phoca vitulina richardii in these waters.
The Agriculture Sector Technology Roadmap addresses treating and reusing water in agricultural applications, such as irrigation and meat processing. The roadmap identifies various areas of opportunity for using non-traditional water, including recycling drainage from crop fields.
Researchers found that global warming is causing changes to the Arabian Sea upwelling, which could impact commercial fishing, regional climate, and socioeconomics. The study used coral fossils to analyze seawater temperature and salinity changes over a 1,000-year period.
Researchers at KAUST developed an electrochemical cell using a ceramic membrane to extract lithium ions from seawater. The process yields solid lithium phosphate with minimal impurities, making it suitable for battery production.
Researchers analyzed sediment cores from Bering Sea to find evidence of recurring low-oxygen events in North Pacific Ocean. High sea levels and changes in ocean circulation are thought to trigger these events, which could have severe consequences for ecosystems and food sources.
Carbon dioxide played a crucial role in warming early Earth's climate, offsetting the reduced light from the young Sun. The δ18O ratio of ancient seawater suggests a warm but not hot environment, with high CO2 concentrations, around 3 billion years ago.
The SeaCURE method utilizes natural processes and renewable energy to remove CO2 from seawater, allowing the ocean to absorb more CO2. The process involves making seawater temporarily acidic to 'bubble out' CO2, then delivering a concentrated stream for utilisation and storage.
Marine biologists use environmental DNA to detect and identify ocean species, revealing previously unreported species in the Florida Keys. The technique, called metabarcoding, has practical applications in fisheries and conservation, as well as preventing jellyfish stings.
A new species of giant mosasaur, Pluridens serpentis, was discovered in Morocco, showcasing the high diversity of marine life during the Cretaceous period. The fossil found evidence of a unique sensory system, suggesting that the mosasaur used changes in water pressure to detect prey.
Scientists from the University of Pittsburgh and University of Rochester aim to improve seawater-to-fuel technology by refining a crucial step in the process. The researchers seek to design catalysts that can efficiently convert carbon dioxide into usable fuels, making the process more energy efficient and safer.
A Monash University-led study combines computer simulations with live seal footage to explain the origins of efficient swimming in seals. The research reveals that different swimming styles evolved within the same seal group, with some species using wing-like front flippers for speed and agility.
Researchers have discovered a new method to track oxygen levels in the ancient oceans by analyzing tungsten isotopes. This breakthrough may provide valuable insights into the evolution of life on Earth and its ability to thrive under various environmental conditions.
A new water plant species, Mesochara dobrogeica, has been discovered in the ancient Tethys Ocean islands. The study reveals a defined biogeographical identity among the charophytes flora of these paleo-islands.
A new Harvard study found that the collapse of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet could amplify global sea level rise estimates by an additional meter within 1,000 years. The researchers' calculations show that this effect would add 30% to the total projected sea level rise, exceeding previous forecasts.
Researchers propose 'stepping stone' migration theory, where migrants used islands in the Bering Transitory Archipelago as a route to cross the Bering Sea. The study suggests that these islands provided a suitable refugium with internal connectivity and outward isolation, allowing for the genetic drift seen in Native American DNA.
Researchers at University of Guam discovered that shade can mitigate coral bleaching caused by high temperatures and light exposure. The study's findings suggest practical ways to reduce light impact on corals, particularly during recovery from elevated temperatures, which could inform reef management and outplanting efforts.
A recent study published by University of Alaska Fairbanks researchers found that sea ice declined 5.7 times faster than normal during the Great Arctic Cyclone of 2016. The rapid decline was driven by cyclone-triggered processes within the ocean, including warm water upwelling and surface turbulence.
A new study has reduced the Southern Ocean's CO2 uptake uncertainty by 50% using a novel method that constrains the ocean's carbon sink. The approach links human-made CO2 uptake to surface water salinity, allowing for more accurate projections of future climate change.
Researchers in China have created a highly efficient desalination device powered by solar energy that can remove salt from seawater, producing freshwater. The device uses a titanium-containing layer and special paper to absorb sunlight and condense water vapor.
Researchers from Tomsk Polytechnic University studied pore waters in three areas of methane release on the surface, comparing regional features and geochemical indicators. They used modern sampling methods to minimize failures and obtain accurate results, revealing new insights into processes occurring in these unique ecosystems.
A new study reveals that Northern Red Sea corals can tolerate high temperatures but are sensitive to even slight cold spells, which can cause bleaching. Researchers found that corals from the Gulf of Aqaba responded similarly to heat stress and did not bleach at high temperatures after recovering from a cold winter.
A new study reveals that ocean oxygen depletion will continue for centuries if all CO2 emissions were stopped immediately, more than quadrupling the current loss. The long-term decrease in oxygen primarily affects deeper layers, leading to major shifts in marine ecosystems and potentially changing habitats.
A new desalination technique using polymer membranes with absorbent nanoparticles simplifies the removal of toxic metals during the process. The technology can remove nearly 100% of toxic metals, including mercury and arsenic, producing clean water along with a pure brine.
Researchers have reconstructed ocean temperatures over the past 700,000 years using ice core samples from Antarctica, finding that mean ocean temperatures have fluctuated by up to 3°C between ice ages and warm periods.
Thick sea-ice outside fjords increases their sensitivity to warming, contrary to expectations. Warmer surface water temperatures can contribute to faster melting of glaciers and changing biogeochemistry in the fjord waters.
The study reveals a deep connection between the glacier and Pine Island Bay, and identifies distinct paths for warm water to access and attack the ice shelf. This could lead to increased melting and instability in the Thwaites Glacier, with implications for global sea level rise.
A Stanford-led study illuminates the mystery of North Pacific loggerhead turtles' epic migrations between Japan and Baja California, providing evidence of a 'thermal corridor' that allows them to cross inhospitably cold ocean barriers. The findings could inform conservation measures to protect sea turtles amidst climatic changes.
Satellite images reveal 35 years of changes in North Carolina's Albemarle-Pamlico Peninsula, showing 11% of tree cover taken over by ghost forests. Extreme weather events contribute to the spread of saltwater inland, poisoning soils and killing tree species.
University of Hawaii researchers demonstrate a new method to detect freshwater plumes using surface-towed marine controlled-source electromagnetic (CSEM) imaging. The study reveals substantial volumes of freshwater present in the ocean column, with one plume estimated to be equivalent to four Olympic-sized swimming pools.
Researchers investigated methane hydrate deposit in deep-sea fan of Danube in western Black Sea, finding dynamic situation related to Black Sea development since last ice age. The study suggests gas hydrates decompose due to salinity, pressure, and temperature changes, with implications for climate change
A new study suggests that early Earth's hotter mantle could have stored more water than today, leading to a larger global ocean. The findings challenge previous assumptions about the size of the ocean and offer clues to its evolution over time.
Scientists predict ocean currents on Enceladus, driven by salinity variations like those in Earth's Southern Ocean. The research suggests a pole-to-equator circulation influencing heat and nutrient distribution.
Research conducted by CNRS and international collaborators reveals that climate change has made the ocean six times stabler over the past 50 years. This increased stability limits oceanic mixing, making it harder for marine organisms to access light and for the ocean to function as a global thermostat.
The discovery of 522-million-year-old cephalopod fossils in Newfoundland, Canada, could rewrite the evolutionary history of invertebrate organisms. If confirmed, these ancient fossils would indicate a 30-million-year earlier origin for modern cephalopods.
Researchers have developed smart buoys using seawater batteries to monitor various marine data, including salinity, pH, and water temperature. The buoys utilize a naturally-abundant sodium source in seawater to charge and discharge electricity, enabling scalable energy storage.
A new species of manta-like planktivorous shark, Aquilolamna milarcae, was discovered in northern Mexico, revealing an unexpectedly early evolutionary experimentation with underwater flight. The ancient shark's unique features included long, slender pectoral fins and a wide mouth adapted for filter-feeding.
Researchers suggest that worlds with interior water ocean worlds (IWOWs) are more habitable due to protection by layers of ice and rock, shielding life against threats. This concept expands the search for life beyond Earth-like planets.
A new study suggests that up to 99% of Mars' initial water was incorporated into minerals and buried in the planet's crust, not lost to space. Researchers used observational data and modeling to resolve long-standing contradictions about Martian water loss rates.
A study using a scale model of a cylindrical fish cage found that artificially maintaining gentle currents inside the cage can suppress violent sloshing motions caused by ocean waves. This innovation aims to improve fish health and reduce environmental damage in sea-based fish farming systems.
A significant portion of Mars's water is still present on the planet, with estimates suggesting 30-99 percent is trapped within minerals in the crust. This discovery challenges the current theory that the Red Planet's water escaped into space due to low gravity.
Researchers analyzed fossilized shells to reconstruct Earth's climate during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, a period of abrupt global warming and ocean acidification. The study found that foraminifera consumed less alkalinity from seawater to buffer increasing ocean acidity.
A new aquaculture technique using a kelp elevator increases kelp growth by four times, yielding more biomass than natural processes. The technique shows promise as a low-carbon biofuel crop alternative to corn and sugarcane, with potential environmental benefits.
Scientists found microplastics ranging from two-hundredths of an inch to less than a tenth of an inch long, with polyethylene being the most commonly observed polymer. The study suggests stormwater could be an important source of plastic pollution in oceans and waters.
Scientists have found consistent evidence that the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation has weakened unprecedentedly in over 1000 years. The slowdown is linked to human-caused global warming, which disrupts the deep convection mechanism driving the ocean current.
Researchers studied sea star shapes and found that their unique shape creates a
A record-high amount of Arctic freshwater is expected to flow into the Labrador Sea, impacting local marine environments and global ocean currents. The freshwater, which has increased by 40% over the past two decades, will travel through the Canadian Archipelago rather than traditional marine passageways.
Researchers found that zooplankton grazing on phytoplankton results in higher DMS concentrations, allowing marine predators to track their prey. The study suggests that large marine animals use DMS concentration gradients to find food sources.