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.
Oceans
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Extensive Sand Dune Loss Threatens California Coast
Aerial photos combined with lidar data show the extent of the problem.
Posted inFeatures
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.
Posted inResearch & Developments
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.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
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.
Posted inNews
What Tires Leave Behind Can Become Toxic Fish Food
Tire particles might seem tasty, if you’re a fish—but a new study shows how this pervasive microplastic can affect growth and behavior in marine species.
Posted inResearch & Developments
6 Ways This Year’s “Super El Niño” Could Affect Climate, Humans, and Marine Creatures
The key word here is “could.” Experts emphasize that no two El Niños are alike.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Mangroves May Be Losing Their Grip on Carbon Storage as Sea Levels Rise
Locally, mangroves can sometimes adapt to rising seas, but global trends look troubling.
Posted inNews
Oysters Clean Up More Nitrogen Pollution Than We Thought
New research has revealed that significant amounts of excess nitrogen in coastal waters are buried as oyster reefs grow and that some reefs trap more nitrogen than others.