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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…)

Scientists Look to Microbes to Unlock Earth’s Deep Secrets

By Guest PostJanuary 11, 2012Scienceatlantic ocean, bottom of the ocean, circulation obviation retrofit kits, columbia university, corks, deep ocean sediments, ecosystem, Environment, european consortium for ocean research drilling, expedition, Germany, habitable parts, integrated ocean drilling program, iodp, jamie allan, joides resolution, katrina edwards, lamont doherty earth observatory, microbes, microbial life, mid atlantic ridge microbiology expedition, national science foundation, north pond, ocean sediments, oceans, planet, research vessel, rocky ocean crust, rocky realm, sediment samples, submersible expeditions, subseafloor observatories, total biomass, university of bremen, university of southern california, volcanic lava, wolfgang bach, world

*To find answers, oceanographers install observatories beneath remote seafloor*

Of all the habitable parts of our planet, one ecosystem still remains largely unexplored and unknown to science: the igneous ocean crust.

This rocky realm of hard volcanic lava exists beneath ocean sediments that lie at the bottom of much of the world’s oceans.

While scientists have estimated that microbes living in deep ocean sediments may represent as much as one-third of Earth’s total biomass, the habitable portion of the rocky ocean crust may be 10 times as great. (more…)

New Computer Programme Promises To Save The Whales

By Guest PostOctober 13, 2011Environment, Natureatlantic ocean, beluga, biological diversity, blue whale, clement chion, complex systems laboratory, computer programme, ecological and economic tradeoffs, environmental conditions, fin whale, humpback, lael parrott, les escoumins, marine mammal, minke whale, model, quebec, saguenay fjord, saint lawrence estuary, st lawrence estuary, tadoussac, university of montreal, whale watching

Researchers at the University of Montreal have developed a computer programme that enables regulators to evaluate the ecological and economic tradeoffs between marine mammal conservation, whale watching and marine transportation activities in the Saint Lawrence Estuary.

“The objective is to reduce the collision risk with whales while taking into account the impact on industry and marine transportation,” said Lael Parrott, who headed the research team. The model, developed in her Complex Systems Laboratory, maps the estuary where the field research was undertaken, simulates the comings and goings of five mammal species (minke whale, fin whale, beluga, humpback and blue whale), the presence and movements of three types of boats (recreation, excursion and cargo), and environmental conditions. Nine scenarios were elaborated in order to observe the effects of various decisions. (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

Scientists Look to Microbes to Unlock Earth’s Deep Secrets

New Computer Programme Promises To Save The Whales

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

Threading the Climate Needle: The Agulhas Current System