Articles tagged with Gyres
Researchers on M217/1 expedition study upwelling system and extreme events off southwest African coast, focusing on Coastal Kelvin waves and Benguela Niños. Key findings include the seasonal upwelling without wind off Angola and the causes of marine heatwaves that disrupt marine ecosystems.
Researchers found that ocean anomalies traveling northward affect the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation in the Nordic Seas, controlling its strength. The study suggests that these anomalies can be monitored using satellite data, providing a cost-effective way to track climate changes.
Researchers linked comprehensive datasets with physical ocean processes to understand the exceptional marine biodiversity around the Cape Verde Archipelago. The study identified three key mechanisms driving nutrient transport and found that physical dynamics influence not only productivity but also the type of organisms present.
A recent study found that volcanic ash from Kīlauea prompted a rare and large summertime phytoplankton bloom in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. The blooms were stimulated by iron and other trace elements in the ash, producing massive growth of nitrogen-fixing microbes and organic matter.
Salps are found to control microbial community structure and function by capturing a variety of microbe types, including Prochlorococcus. The study reveals that simple mechanical principles do not explain cell capture by salps, indicating a complex mechanism at play.
Researchers have observed stabilization of the Beaufort Gyre in the Arctic Ocean, which could lead to a massive freshwater release. This change could impact the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), potentially disrupting global climate patterns.
A community science survey reveals an abundance of floating sea creatures in the North Pacific Garbage Patch, including jellyfish, snails, and crustaceans. The study found a positive correlation between plastic waste and three groups of sea creatures, highlighting the complex relationships within this ecosystem.
Researchers discovered that coastal marine invertebrates can survive and reproduce on floating plastic debris in the open ocean. This finding suggests a rapid shift in biogeographical boundaries due to floating plastic pollution.
Researchers have found that a weak ocean gyre near the Thwaites Ice Shelf allows more warm water to access its base, causing it to melt. This process is driven by waters from nearby melting ice shelves and can impact the stability of adjacent ice shelves, contributing to global sea-level rise.
A new study published in Marine Pollution Bulletin found significantly higher levels of polyethylene, polypropylene, acrylic, and polyamide in the North Atlantic gyre compared to other offshore locations. Inshore areas exhibited a diverse range of polymers, possibly influenced by proximity to various plastic sources.
Researchers have discovered that small eddies, swirling at the edges of massive ocean currents, are a key source of nutrients for phytoplankton. These nutrient-rich eddies help maintain healthy populations of phytoplankton, which are essential for carbon sequestration and mitigating climate change effects.
Coastal organisms thrive on floating plastic debris in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, expanding their biogeography. The discovery reveals that plastic pollution is providing a habitat for coastal species to survive and even thrive in the open ocean.
Researchers found daily and seasonal fluctuations in chemical conditions despite long-term ocean acidification trends. Massive cycles occur every five to 10 years, causing extreme events that stress sensitive organisms.
Researchers discovered a third fewer cells in surface waters of South Pacific Gyre compared to Atlantic ocean gyres. They found familiar microbes like Prochlorococcus and SAR11, but also an unexpected species AEGEAN-169 in surface waters.
A new study suggests that ocean warming may lead to faster carbon recycling, reducing the deep ocean's ability to store carbon. In many regions, bacteria consume plankton at shallower depths than previously thought, releasing CO2 back into the atmosphere.
The Beaufort Gyre's speed is controlled by the Arctic ice cover, which acts as a natural governor to slow down the gyre. As the Arctic ice melts, the gyre speeds up, gathering more fresh water from the Arctic's river runoff and melting ice.
Researchers from ETH Zurich have found that cold, iron-rich seawater from the North American continental slope is captured by meanders of the Gulf Stream and carried out to the North Atlantic Gyre, enriching it with iron. The study suggests that this source may deliver up to 15% of the iron delivered by Saharan dust.
Researchers developed a model simulating the motion of floating debris, revealing how ocean currents transport and accumulate marine debris. The study found that undrogued drifters accumulate in gyre centers, while anchored drifters take longer to reach the center.
Researchers document leatherback sea turtles' ability to maintain specific headings while traveling through the subtropical gyre, unaffected by current drift. The study suggests that turtles may use a magnetic and/or solar compass to navigate.
A team of scientists, led by URI oceanography professor Steven D'Hondt, will embark on a nine-week expedition to the South Pacific Gyre to drill into the basaltic basement and search for evidence of life. The team aims to test whether microbial communities can be sustained by hydrogen released from radioactive water decay.
A study found that a decrease in chlorophyll concentration, leading to a change in ocean color, can reduce hurricane formation by 70% in the North Pacific. This reduction is due to changes in air circulation patterns and surface water temperature.
Researchers have mapped the large-scale distributions of dissolved organic nitrogen and phosphorus over the Atlantic Ocean, finding that these nutrients dominate surface waters and play a crucial role in export production. The study suggests that nutrient-poor regions, like subtropical gyres, rely on these nutrients to sustain life.
A team of scientists found surprisingly few organisms beneath the seafloor of the South Pacific Gyre, with cell counts three to four orders of magnitude lower than at similar depths outside gyres. The sediment's oxygen levels were also unexpectedly high, supporting an aerobic community.
Researchers found massive swirling structures called gyres in the Southern Ocean, trapping pollutants and nutrients. These features play a crucial role in pumping heat poleward, moderating the planet's extremes in climate.
A study tracking leatherback turtles in the eastern Pacific Ocean has revealed a narrow corridor they consistently follow, potentially leading to fishing suspension and improved management. The turtles' movements are correlated with environmental features and fishing activity, providing new opportunities for conservation efforts.
Researchers discovered that pockets of water wedge themselves into the subtropical gyre, preventing deep-ocean nutrients from reaching the surface where plants can thrive. The study found that this phenomenon reduces primary productivity and supports the food chain.
Phytoplankton amounts have increased globally by over 4% along coastal regions, while declines were observed in mid-ocean gyres. This shift may indicate changes in the biology of oceans, particularly in coast regions, and has implications for ocean ecosystems and climate change.
The subpolar gyre's weakening trend is attributed to heat exchanges from the ocean to the atmosphere playing a bigger role. This study, published on Science Express Web site, found Labrador Sea water warmed during the 1990s, reducing contrast with warmer southern latitudes and driving ocean circulation.
Researchers discovered that baby sea turtles can detect regional magnetic fields and respond with directed movements to stay on course. The turtles' navigational system allows them to migrate across the 8,000-mile Atlantic Ocean and back using the Earth's magnetic field as a guide.