Research on the ocean's chemistry and ice. Covers ocean carbon capture, forever chemicals in sea spray, Antarctic change, and sea-ice clouds.
Researchers used radiokrypton dating to study the origin and flow of freshwater and saltwater in the Floridan Aquifer. The study found that some samples contained 40,000-year-old saltwater from just before the last glacial maximum, highlighting the impact of rising sea levels on coastal aquifers.
An analysis by the University of Basel has revealed that mercury enters seawater primarily through gas exchange, not rainfall. The study found that approximately half of the mercury in the ocean originates from gaseous emissions, rather than precipitation.
A new study reconstructed the Kuroshio Current Extension's past behavior, finding it was sensitive to global climate change during the Pliocene era. The current's sensitivity to CO2 levels is a concern for its potential impact on ecosystems, weather patterns, and regional climates.
Researchers at UCI and NASA JPL found that a thinning of the ice melange, a slushy concoction of windblown snow, iceberg debris, and frozen seawater, is a major driver of ice shelf collapse. The study revealed that melange thinning can lead to rapid retreat of Antarctica's ice shelves.
Researchers at Binghamton University used thermal imaging drones to detect coastal seeps on Easter Island, finding areas where freshwater emerges from the sea. The technology allows for high-resolution images of these sources, enabling researchers to better understand how ancient communities used them to survive.
A new study predicts that climate change will cause a sudden shift in algae distribution pole-wards over the next 100 years, affecting marine ecosystems. The UK is among the areas most likely to be severely impacted due to its warm waters, with changes potentially occurring before previously thought.
A new study using Argo system ocean temperature data refines climate modeling predictions by identifying models most consistent with observations. The analysis shows that land and air temperatures only tell part of the story, with oceans storing 90% of the planet's heat.
Researchers found that breathing humid air and delivering salt droplets reduced respiratory droplet generation by 50% within 10 minutes. A correlation between elevated airborne salt concentration and reduced COVID-19 incidence and deaths was also observed along US coastlines.
Researchers from Tel Aviv and Berkeley Universities propose a model for seaweed farms to absorb nitrogen, reducing pollution in estuarine and marine environments. The study shows that these farms can produce a natural decontamination facility with significant ecological and economic value.
A study published in Scientific Reports suggests that between 10.3% and 82% of the global ocean may experience new climates with higher temperatures and lower aragonite saturation by 2100. The disappearance of these climates could force marine species to adapt rapidly or disappear.
A new study found that global marine ecosystem models differ widely in their representation of key processes, leading to underestimation of climate change impacts. Marine ecosystem models generally agree on biomass decline but disagree on magnitude and location across the world's oceans through the 21st century.
Researchers have identified different thermal tolerance mechanisms in corals, with some species exhibiting 'resilient' and 'resistant' responses to heat stress. The findings provide a toolbox for protecting coral reefs worldwide and inform conservation prioritization.
Lauren Ross aims to better understand the mixing process in complex estuaries like the Penobscot River Estuary, which affects ecosystems and aquaculture. She will use on-site data and numerical model simulations to quantify the mixing processes.
A new technology developed at KAUST uses waste heat from solar cells to desalinate seawater, improving efficiency by up to 8% while reducing solar cell temperature. The device features a gravity-driven system and a special fabric that wicks away solid salts and minerals.
Researchers found a 40-meter fall in sea level increases eruption likelihood at Santorini and possibly other volcanoes worldwide. Climate change impacts volcanic activity, particularly as ice sheets retreat and global sea levels rise.
Researchers developed a simple and fast method to analyze sulfur isotopes, enabling the detection of seawater intrusion into freshwater systems. This method can help investigate chemical changes in environments affected by sea level rise.
A recent study investigated the impact of deoxygenation on Caribbean Ocean floor ecosystems and found that coral microbes are surprisingly resilient. Despite the death of macro-organisms, coral microbes rapidly recover after hypoxic events subside, suggesting an independent recovery route from benthic macro-organisms.
A study by Max Planck Institute researchers found that bacteria on sand grains in the North Sea and Arctic remain consistent throughout seasons. The community's stability suggests a lack of available space for new inhabitants.
A new study successfully recovered DNA from folded duct tape submerged in ocean water for up to 2 weeks, providing a complete short tandem repeat profile. The researchers found that the durability and adhesive nature of duct tape protected cellular material on its surface.
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 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.
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.
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.