An uncertain funding landscape threatens the longevity of an ocean observation system critical to projecting tropical storms, sea level rise, and more.
Oceans
Typhoons Mix Up Bacteria and Biochemistry
After a typhoon surprised a research cruise, scientists took advantage of the unique sampling opportunity to reveal rapid changes in bacterioplankton communities and biogeochemical cycling.
Tracking 20 Years of Productivity in Tidal Wetlands
A new study suggests warming temperatures and increased solar radiation have boosted carbon fixation in tidal wetlands across the country.
Confronting Salty Problems in the Coastal Plain
An interdisciplinary network of scientists and stakeholders is working to understand how saltwater intrusion and sea level rise are affecting rural communities and to help address the consequences.
Forty Thousand Cubic Meters of Fresh Water Flow from the Congo into the Atlantic Every Second. A New Study Traces Where It Goes from There.
Researchers combined observations and modeling to track the movement of the Congo’s freshwater plume, noting that eddies play a significant role in the water’s transport.
Millions of Invaders Are Attacking the Ocean, and the Ocean Is Losing
Every year, an additional 11 million tons of microplastics permeate the water column and marine ecosystems within it. Geoscience is contributing to strategies that aim to identify microplastic movements—and stop them.
Extensive Sand Dune Loss Threatens California Coast
Aerial photos combined with lidar data show the extent of the problem.
Measuring Microplastics in Every Ocean Layer
Small bits of plastic don’t just float at the sea surface—they span the entire water column. Scientists need consistent methods to track these particles and to better understand the hazards they pose.
Turtles May Migrate Using Earth’s Magnetic Field
New research indicates that sea turtles seem to navigate across hundreds of miles of open ocean using Earth’s magnetic field.
Machine Learning Rediscovers Equations Governing Ocean Biogeochemistry
Researchers used a process called symbolic regression to derive the equations from a biogeochemical model of the ocean.
