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Melting Glaciers and Sea Level Rise
May 19, 2013 | University of Colorado Boulder

“While 99 percent of Earth’s land ice is locked up in the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, the remaining ice in the world’s glaciers contributed just as much to sea rise as the two ice sheets combined from 2003 to 2009.” Quoted from the University of Colorado Boulder press release.

Impact of Eyjafjallajokull On Ocean Biology
May 17, 2013 | University of Southampton

Research at the University of Southampton determined that the 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajökull supplied dissolved iron to a large area of the North Atlantic. This stimulated photoplankton growth but the abundance of iron caused the rapid removal of biological nitrate which applied a throttle on the phytoplankton.

Coastal Water Temperature Map
May 17, 2013 | NOAA

NOAA has published a Google Map that displays near-real-time coastal water temperatures in degrees Fahrenheit for hundreds of locations around the United States.

Life 500 Meters Below the Juan de Fuca Ridge
May 16, 2013 | Deep Carbon Observatory

Researchers have discovered evidence of life 500 meters below the seafloor of the Juan de Fuca Ridge. “They found genetic evidence of Methanosarcinales, anaerobic archaea known to metabolize methane. Further experiments showed that microbes have affected the chemical signature of sulfur in the host basalt, suggesting they could harness energy from the breakdown of sulfates.” Quoted from the Deep Carbon Observatory press release.

The Odds of Octopus Survival
May 8, 2013 | Alaska Dispatch

Thousands of octopus eggs are hatching at the Alaska SeaLife Center. The staff hopes that at least one of them will produce an adult octopus.

The Bone Worm
May 2, 2013 | Scripps Institution of Oceanography

Scripps Institution of Oceanography has an article about bone worms – tiny organisms that live on whale carcasses that have fallen to the seafloor. They are mouthless and gutless and drill into the bones of their host.

Sea Level Rise and Small Pacific Islands
April 18, 2013 | USGS

“Dynamic modeling of sea-level rise, which takes storm wind and wave action into account, paints a much graver picture for some low-lying Pacific islands under climate-change scenarios than the passive computer modeling used in earlier research.” Quote from the USGS press release.

Fast Cycling Pollutants and Sea Level Rise
April 17, 2013 | National Science Foundation

“Scientists found that reductions in four pollutants that cycle comparatively quickly through the atmosphere could temporarily forestall the rate of sea level rise by roughly 25 to 50 percent: [...] methane, tropospheric ozone, hydrofluorocarbons and black carbon.” Quoted from the National Science Foundation press release.

Low Arctic Clouds and Ice Sheet Melting
April 8, 2013 | National Science Foundation

“Clouds over the central Greenland Ice Sheet last July were “just right” for driving surface temperatures there above the melting point, according to a new study by scientists funded by the National Science Foundation and at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.” Quoted from the NSF press release.

The Methane Hydrate Gas Boom?
April 2, 2013 | NPR

Methane hydrate is the world’s largest natural gas resource. Japanese engineers recently became the first to produce methane hydrate from a well in the floor of the Pacific Ocean. NPR asks if this could become another natural gas boom?

Related: What is Methane Hydrate?

Rare Earth Elements Off Japan
March 24, 2013 | The Telegraph

Japanese researchers say they have found rich accumulations of rare earth elements in sea floor sediments in Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

Bacteria in the Mariana Trench
March 20, 2013 | Los Angeles Times

Bacteria are thriving at a depth of 36,000 feet at the bottom of the Mariana Trench where the pressure is more than 1000 times the atmospheric pressure at sea level.

Life on a Whale Skeleton a Mile Below the Antarctic
March 19, 2013 | Los Angeles Times

A 35-foot-long whale skeleton on the Antarctic sea floor – nearly one mile below the surface – was supporting a diversity of life including nine previously unknown deep-sea species.

The Tsunami Magnifying Lens
March 10, 2013 | University of Southern California

“Multinational research team finds that sea floor earthquake zones can act like a “magnifying lens,” focusing and strengthening tsunamis beyond what was through possible.” Quoted from the University of Southern California press release.

Reef Seeding?
March 7, 2013 | AP @ google.com

As coral colonies in many parts of the world are suffering from warm water, pollution and human activity a few conservationists are working to reestablish by “planting” fast-growing species.

Salinity Mapping of the Oceans
February 28, 2013 | NASA

“Pulses of freshwater gush from the Amazon River’s mouth; an invisible seam divides the salty Arabian Sea from the fresher waters of the Bay of Bengal; a large patch of freshwater appears in the eastern tropical Pacific in the winter. These and other changes in ocean salinity patterns are revealed by the first full year of surface salinity data captured by NASA’s Aquarius instrument. Quoted from the NASA press release.

What is Killing the Coral?
February 15, 2013 | National Science Foundation

Elkhorn coral and 65 other species of reef-building corals were recently proposed for “endangered species” designation. Researchers are working to understand why these corals are disappearing from the Florida Keys and other locations.

The Next Generation Arctic Research Vessel (video)
February 7, 2013 | National Science Foundation

The National Science Foundation [...] has successfully launched the R/V Sikuliaq, a “next-generation” global class research vessel. The University of Alaska, Fairbanks School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences will operate the ship as part of the U.S. Academic Research Fleet.

M8.0 Earthquake: Santa Cruz Islands
February 5, 2013 | USGS Earthquake Hazards Program

A Magnitude 8.0 earthquake occurred in the Santa Cruz Islands area at about 8:12 PM EST. Tsunami warnings were issued for numerous islands in the South Pacific and waves up to 3 feet in amplitude have been reported.

USAToday reports that dozens of homes were damaged in the Solomon Islands.

Organic Molecules from Hydrothermal Vents?
January 23, 2013 | NASA

NASA is running laboratory experiments designed to mimic the conditions at hydrothermal vents on the seafloor of ancient oceans. They are trying to determine if the vents might have been the source of simple organic molecules such as ethane, methane and amino acids.

Giant Squid in the North Pacific
January 10, 2013 | CNN

CNN has an interview with Richard Ellis, author of “Search for the Giant Squid”, who explains the significance of a new video of a giant squid, filmed alive, 3,000 feet below the surface of the North Pacific ocean.

Deep-Sea Chimaera
December 25, 2012 | USA.gov Blog

“This picture of a deep-sea chimaera was captured as part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Ocean Explorer program.” Quoted from the USA.gov Blog.

China Has “Geological Evidence” for Ownership of Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands
December 20, 2012 | Voice of America

Both China and Japan claim they own the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea. But China has just submitted geological evidence to the United Nations that they believe will prove their ownership.

NSF: Impacts of Climate Change Publication
December 12, 2012 | National Science Foundation

The National Science Foundation has published: “Solving the Puzzle: Researching the Impacts of Climate Change Around the World“. It documents research in the categories of: Sky, Sea, Ice, Land, Life and People.

Most Popular: 12/03 to 12/09
December 11, 2012 | Geology.com

1500-Year Arctic Atmospheric Cycle

Voyager 1 Enters a New Region of Deep Space

Flaring Gas in North Dakota

Superstorm Sandy and Sea Level Rise

Most Accurate Gravity Map of the Moon

Compensation for Island Nations Suffering from Sea Level Rise

History of the Hope Diamond

Compensation for Island Nations Suffering from Sea Level Rise?
December 6, 2012 | Bloomberg

As Earth’s climates change and sea level rises island nations face flooding, loss of real estate, damage and even total inundation. Some of these island nations of are looking to industrial nations for compensation.

Superstorm Sandy and Sea Level Rise
December 3, 2012 | USA Today

An article on the USA Today website explains how Superstorm Sandy should be a “wake-up call” that brings attention to the steady rise in sea level.

The Island that Never Existed!
November 29, 2012 | CNN

Sandy Island was plotted on many maps of the Pacific Ocean, however, a research vessel recently tried to visit the island and didn’t find it.

Island shown here on Google Maps, west of New Caledonia and east of the “Coral Sea” label.


View Larger Map

Antarctic Snail Shells Dissolving
November 26, 2012 | Chicago Tribune

As waters of the Southern Ocean become more acidic, the shells of some sea snails living there are showing signs of dissolving, making them more vulnerable to predators and disease.

Most Popular: 11/18 to 11/24
November 25, 2012 | Geology.com

Inaccurate News Reports about Newberry Caldera and Salton Buttes

Life Beneath the Seafloor

Not Caused by Fracking

Rare Earth Elements in Arizona?

Stolen Petroglyphs

Dispute: Natural Gas Under Natural Gas Storage Fields

Volcano Movies

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