Deep beneath the ocean’s surface, the seafloor is a dynamic environment where tectonic plates grind, rocks fracture, and heat escapes from Earth’s interior. For many years, scientists assumed that these deep geological processes remained largely isolated from the sunlit surface waters where most marine life exists. However, new research suggests that this assumption is incomplete. …
Continue reading “Phytoplankton blooms linked to ocean quakes”
While global warming is driving sea levels higher across most of the planet, new research shows that the opposite is likely to occur around Greenland. A study published in Nature Communications finds that local sea levels along the island’s coastline are projected to fall significantly by the end of this century, even under scenarios of …
Most people picture the ocean as a calm, flat surface concealing a vast, quiet void below. This perception makes it easy to imagine the deep sea as static and disconnected from the world above. In reality, the ocean is a layered and dynamic system, with movement extending from surface waves and tides all the way …
Scientists are transforming our understanding of planetary origins with growing evidence that Earth’s largest reservoir of water may be hidden far below the surface, locked inside solid rock for billions of years. Long believed to be relatively dry beneath its crust, Earth is now thought to have formed with a substantial internal water supply that …
Continue reading “Earth’s interior may hide a vast ancient ocean”
The ocean’s vast interior, hidden beneath its churning surface, is now being revealed by a global network of robotic sensors that track its vital signs. These autonomous biogeochemical floats, developed through the Global Ocean Biogeochemical (GO-BGC) Array led by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI), are transforming how scientists understand the ocean carbon cycle. …
Continue reading “Robotic floats reveal shifts in the ocean carbon cycle”
Over the past two decades, more than 20% of the global ocean has experienced significant ocean darkening, a phenomenon that reduces the depth of the photic zone—the sunlit upper layer where most marine life exists. This zone is essential for photosynthesis, plankton productivity, fish survival, and overall ocean health. As sunlight becomes less able to …
Continue reading “Ocean darkening threatens marine ecosystems”
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) is often depicted as towering mounds of trash floating atop the ocean. However, these visuals are misleading. The reality is more subtle and insidious—what exists in the GPGP is not a visible island of debris but a vast “soup of microplastics” dispersed throughout the water column. While dramatic imagery …
In a groundbreaking study, scientists deployed 903 advanced robotic floats equipped with sensors to measure phytoplankton levels beneath the ocean’s surface. These microscopic organisms, while often overlooked, are critical to Earth’s health. The study estimated the global phytoplankton biomass to be around 346 million tonnes, equivalent to the weight of 250 million elephants. This discovery …
Continue reading “Robotic floats uncover phytoplankton biomass”
Phytoplankton are microscopic, plant-like organisms that form the base of the marine food web, sustaining a wide range of marine life from tiny fish to massive whales. Additionally, they play a significant role in sequestering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Monitoring phytoplankton biomass is crucial for understanding the impacts of climate change and evaluating potential …
Continue reading “Phytoplankton biomass monitoring advances”
Three decades ago, David Ho, then a young NOAA technician, set up an unusual experiment involving two dinosaur-patterned kiddie pools in the NOAA parking lot to investigate the role of rain in CO2 exchange between air and water. Ho’s daily routine involved waiting for Miami’s frequent thunderstorms to sample the rain-affected pools, enduring months of …
Continue reading “Rain’s role in boosting ocean carbon uptake”
