oceanography

Global ocean circulation is accelerating from the surface to the abyss

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Global Ocean Circulation Is Accelerating from the Surface to the Abyss Contradicting previous studies that suggest global warming will weaken ocean circulation, especially in tropical waters, a new study reports that global ocean circulation has accelerated over the past twenty years, and in tropical waters in particular. This is due to a near 2%-per-decade rise … Read more Global ocean circulation is accelerating from the surface to the abyss

Bubbles transport massive amounts of oxygen to the deep ocean through a marine ‘trap door’

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Much more oxygen than previously thought is being transported into deep layers of the ocean through a ‘trap door’ off Canada’s Atlantic coast that some researchers say could be closing as a result of climate change. Scientists from Dalhousie University in Halifax, N.S., and Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego … Read more Bubbles transport massive amounts of oxygen to the deep ocean through a marine ‘trap door’

Crucial reef species may survive ocean changes under climate change

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The research, led by Dr Christopher Cornwall from the University’s School of Biological Sciences, showed that coralline algae can build tolerance to ocean acidification, one of the major side-effects of climate change over multiple generations. “Coralline algae go through a natural process of calcification, where they build a calcium carbonate skeleton,” Dr Cornwall says. “Skeletons … Read more Crucial reef species may survive ocean changes under climate change

Earth’s most biodiverse ecosystems face a perfect storm

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A combination of climate change, extreme weather and pressure from local human activity is causing a collapse in global biodiversity and ecosystems across the tropics, new research shows. The study, published today, mapped over 100 locations where tropical forests and coral reefs have been affected by climate extremes such as hurricanes, floods, heatwaves, droughts and … Read more Earth’s most biodiverse ecosystems face a perfect storm

Walking sharks discovered in the tropics

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Four new species of tropical sharks that use their fins to walk are causing a stir in waters off northern Australia and New Guinea. While that might strike fear into the hearts of some people, University of Queensland researchers say the only creatures with cause to worry are small fish and invertebrates. The walking sharks … Read more Walking sharks discovered in the tropics

Researchers track down Australia’s ‘missing’ manta rays

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More than 11,000 manta ray sighting records – from scuba divers, aerial surveys and online submissions – have helped researchers better understand reef manta ray distribution around Australia, and they have confirmed ‘missing’ ray populations. The study, led by University of Queensland PhD candidate Amelia Armstrong, is the first step towards understanding the connectivity of reef … Read more Researchers track down Australia’s ‘missing’ manta rays

Density-compensated overturning in the Labrador Sea

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A recent study finds that the observed weak linkage between the Labrador Sea convection, a process that mixes surface waters to depth, and the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a basin-scale circulation critical to the climate system, can be attributed to the density compensation by temperature and salinity. Using observational and reanalysis data, this study … Read more Density-compensated overturning in the Labrador Sea

Ocean acidification a big problem – but not for coral reef fish behavior

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A three-year, comprehensive study of the effects of ocean acidification challenges previous reports that a more acidic ocean will negatively affect coral reef fish behaviour. The study, conducted by an international coalition led by scientists from Australia and Norway, showed that coral reef fish exposed to CO2 at levels expected by the end of the century … Read more Ocean acidification a big problem – but not for coral reef fish behavior

Sea-ice-free Arctic makes permafrost vulnerable to thawing

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Permafrost is ground that remains frozen throughout the year; it covers nearly a quarter of Northern Hemisphere land. The frozen state of permafrost enables it to store large amounts of carbon; about twice as much as in the atmosphere. The rate and extent of future thawing of permafrost, and consequent release of its carbon, is … Read more Sea-ice-free Arctic makes permafrost vulnerable to thawing

The effects of microplastics on organisms in coastal areas

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Microplastics (plastic particles under 5 mm) are an abundant type of debris found in salt and freshwater environments. In a Limnology & Oceanography Letters study, researchers demonstrated the transfer of microplastics through the food chain between microscopic prey and larval fish that live in coastal ecosystems. They also found that microplastic ingestion interferes with normal growth in … Read more The effects of microplastics on organisms in coastal areas