ecosystem – Page 6 – Shamskm: A site to exchange knowledge and solutions

2,000 Year-old Deep-sea Black Corals call Gulf of Mexico Home

By Guest PostApril 1, 2011Environmentagainst suffering, anthoza, antipatharia, black coral trees, black corals, coral reefs, corals, deep sea black corals, deep sea coral reef ecosystems, delaware, discover expedition, ecosystem, environmental change, glabberima, greek roots, gulf of mexico, hawaii, johnson sea link, leiopathes, marine ecology, maryland, nancy prouty, organic matter, sea floor, skeletons, symbiotic algae

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — For the first time, scientists have been able to validate the age of deep-sea black corals in the Gulf of Mexico. They found the Gulf is home to 2,000 year-old deep-sea black corals, many of which are only a few feet tall.

These slow-growing, long-living animals thrive in very deep waters—300 meters (984 feet) and deeper—yet scientists say they are sensitive to what is happening in the surface ocean as well as on the sea floor. (more…)

Whales Help Researchers Take Winter Temperature of Greenland’s Coastal Waters

By Guest PostOctober 29, 2010Environmentarctic flow, arctic whale, baffin bay, ecosystem, greenland, kristin laidre, north atlantic current, ocean temperatures, polar science center, unicorn horn, university of washington

WASHINGTON — Scientists using sensors attached to a type of Arctic whale known for its unicorn-horn-like tooth have detected continued warming of the southern Baffin Bay off West Greenland. The temperatures of the waters have continued to rise since wintertime ocean temperatures were last effectively measured there in the early 2000s, the researchers reported October 23 in the Journal of Geophysical Research – Oceans, a publication of the American Geological Union (AGU).

Temperatures in the study were collected by narwhals, a medium-sized whale species, during missions in 2006 and 2007. The animals were tagged with sensors that recorded ocean depths and temperatures during feeding dives from the surface pack ice to the seafloor, as deep as 1,773 meters, or more than a mile. (more…)

Potomac River: Ten-fold Increase in Native Submerged Vegetation Reflects Improved Water Quality

By Guest PostSeptember 7, 20101 commentEnvironmentalgal blooms, chesapeake bay, d c, ecosystem, exotic, henry ruhl, heteranthera, hydrilla, milfoil, myriophyllum, nancy rybicki, national oceanography centre, noc, nutrients, potomac river, sav, southhampton, stargrass, submerged aquatic vegetation, submerged vegetation, u s geological survey, uk, Washington, wastewater treatment plant

The Potomac River in Washington, D.C. is showing multiple benefits from restoration efforts, newly published research suggests. Reduced nutrients and improved water clarity have increased the abundance and diversity of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) in the Potomac, according to direct measurements taken during the 18-year field study.

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‘Arctic Climate May be More Sensitive to Warming than Thought’

By Guest PostJuly 6, 2010Environmentanthropogenic greenhouse, Arctic, ashley ballantyne, atmospheric, beaver pond site, british columbia, canada, carbon dioxide, dara finney, ecosystem, ellesmere island, geology, natalia rybczynski, permineralization, pliocene, strathcona fiord, vancouver

A new study shows the Arctic climate system may be more sensitive to greenhouse warming than previously thought, and that current levels of Earth’s atmospheric carbon dioxide may be high enough to bring about significant, irreversible shifts in Arctic ecosystems.

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Shrinking Arctic sea ice

By ShamsJune 14, 2008EnvironmentArctic sea ice, ecosystem, frozen-soil, permafrost

In 2007 Arctic sea ice shrank to 30% below the average line, which could be the reason of more than 2°C rise of autumn temperature than usual over the land. As the rapid loss of ice severely affects the inland temperature, it will possibly thaw the permafrost (the frozen soil).

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Hello to ‘Anthropocene’ or still in Holocene!!

By ShamsFebruary 1, 2008EnvironmentAnthropocene, climate changes, Dutch Nobel prize winner, ecosystem, Holocene, industrial revolution, Paul Crutzen

‘Anthropocene’ is probably the first human induced geological time unit in Earth’s history.

Human induced!! …….because it’s all about climate changes and its consequence on the ecosystem. Anthropocene (Greek word ‘Anthropo’ means

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Tag Archives: ecosystem

2,000 Year-old Deep-sea Black Corals call Gulf of Mexico Home

Whales Help Researchers Take Winter Temperature of Greenland’s Coastal Waters

Potomac River: Ten-fold Increase in Native Submerged Vegetation Reflects Improved Water Quality

‘Arctic Climate May be More Sensitive to Warming than Thought’

Shrinking Arctic sea ice

Hello to ‘Anthropocene’ or still in Holocene!!