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Scientists Discover New Trigger for Immense North Atlantic Ocean Spring Plankton Bloom

By Guest PostJuly 7, 2012Environmentadam huxtable, amala mahadevan, atlantic ocean, biological pump, bjarni saemundsson, carbon dioxide, climate, climate on earth, CO2, craig lee, diatoms, don rice, eddies, emily kallin, eric d asaro, fossil fuel, global carbon cycle, holiday fireworks, mary jane perry, michael ohmart, microscopic plants, modulate, north atlantic bloom, not sunlight, nsf, ocean physics, oceanic cycling, oxygen, photosynthesis, physical biological model, phytoplankton, research vessel, silica, sun, surface warming, university of maine, university of washington, us beachgoers, whirlpools, whoi, zooplankton

Ocean eddies help jump-start plankton blooms that spread across hundreds of square miles

On this July 4^th week, U.S. beachgoers are thronging their way to seaside resorts and parks to celebrate with holiday fireworks. But across the horizon and miles out to sea toward the north, the Atlantic Ocean’s own spring and summer ritual unfolds. It entails the blooming of countless microscopic plants, or phytoplankton.

In what’s known as the North Atlantic Bloom, an immense number of phytoplankton burst into existence, first “greening,” then “whitening” the sea as one or more species take the place of others.

What turns on this huge bloom, what starts these ocean fireworks? Is it the Sun’s warmth? (more…)

UF Study Names New Ancient Crocodile Relative from The Land of Titanoboa

By Guest PostSeptember 17, 2011Scienceacherontisuchus guajiraensis, age of dinosaurs, alex hastings, ancient crocodile, ancient crocodyliform, asteroid impact, atlantic ocean, caribbean, carlos jaramillo, catastrophes, cerrejon mine of northern colombia, changes in climate, christopher brochu, colombian coal mine, crocodiles, diversity of animals, dyrosaurid, ecological changes, environmental changes, fossils, freshwater environments, greek mythology, jonathan bloch, largest snake, oldest known rainforest ecosystem, open pit coal mines, palaeontology, Paleocene, river acheron, species, the river of woe, titanoboa, university of florida, warmer climate

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Did an ancient crocodile relative give the world’s largest snake a run for its money?

In a new study appearing Sept. 15 in the journal Palaeontology, University of Florida researchers describe a new 20-foot extinct species discovered in the same Colombian coal mine with Titanoboa, the world’s largest snake. The findings help scientists better understand the diversity of animals that occupied the oldest known rainforest ecosystem, which had higher temperatures than today, and could be useful for understanding the impacts of a warmer climate in the future. (more…)

Threading the Climate Needle: The Agulhas Current System

By Guest PostApril 28, 20111 commentEnvironmentagulhas current, agulhas retroflection, amoc, atlantic, atlantic meridional overturning circulation, atlantic ocean, climate change, climate modeling, east coast of africa, glacial cycles, global climate, gulf stream, indian ocean, lisa beal, national science foundation, northern hemisphere, paleoceanographic data

*Increased Agulhas “leakage” significant player in global climate variability*

The Agulhas Current which runs along the east coast of Africa may not be as well known as its counterpart in the Atlantic, the Gulf Stream. But now researchers are taking a closer look at this current and its “leakage” from the Indian Ocean into the Atlantic Ocean–and what that may mean for climate change.

In results of a study published in this week’s issue of the journal Nature, a team of scientists led by University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science Oceanographer Lisa Beal, suggests that Agulhas leakage could be a significant player in global climate variability. (more…)

Tag Archives: atlantic ocean

Scientists Discover New Trigger for Immense North Atlantic Ocean Spring Plankton Bloom

UF Study Names New Ancient Crocodile Relative from The Land of Titanoboa

Threading the Climate Needle: The Agulhas Current System