ocean

What Antarctica’s ‘Doomsday’ Glacier Could Mean For The World

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The massive Thwaites glacier in West Antarctica contains enough ice to raise global sea levels by 65cm if it were to completely collapse. And, worryingly, recent research suggests that its long-term stability is doubtful as the glacier hemorrhages more and more ice.   Adding 65cm to global sea levels would be coastline-changing amounts. For context, … Read more

Microplastics: Pollution in French mountain air may have crossed Atlantic Ocean

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Microplastics travelled thousands of kilometres across oceans and continents in a fast-moving layer of the atmosphere before being captured on a mountain in the French Pyrenees Environment 21 December 2021 By Carissa Wong Capturing microplastics at the Pic du Midi Observatory Jeroen Sonke Microplastics found at a mountain top in the French Pyrenees may have … Read more

To draw down carbon and cool off the planet, ocean fertilization gets another look | Science

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In January 2009, a German research ship set out for the Southern Ocean carrying 6 tons of iron and a boatload of controversy. The iron was meant to trigger a massive phytoplankton bloom that would suck carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air, but environmentalists objected, viewing the trial as a reckless form of geoengineering. The … Read more

Ice Shelf at Antarctica’s ‘Doomsday Glacier’ Won’t Last 5 Years, Scientists Warn

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A crucial ice shelf on Antarctica‘s Thwaites Glacier is on track to collapse within five years, accelerating the melting of the notorious ‘doomsday glacier’. Thwaites, which is the size of Florida, is already melting quickly, losing about 50 billion tons of ice per year. The glacier earned its grim nickname because its total collapse would raise global sea … Read more

Bizarre Transparent Fish That Sees Through Its Own Head Captured in Rare Footage

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Thousands of feet beneath the surface of Monterey Bay off California, scientists recently captured footage of a fish with a bulbous, translucent head and green orb-like eyes that peer out through its forehead.   This bizarre creature, known as a barreleye fish (Macropinna microstoma), is very rarely seen. Researchers with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research … Read more

Orcas: Marine mammals are spreading further into the Arctic Ocean as sea ice melts

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Orcas – also known as killer whales – used to be unusual visitors to the Arctic Ocean off Alaska, but they are becoming more common there, which might be bad news for local ecosystems Life 2 December 2021 By Chen Ly Orcas in Prince William Sound near Alaska Calvin W. Hall/Design Pics Inc/Alamy Orcas are … Read more

Panel calls for $2.5 billion in ocean geoengineering research | Science

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In the fight against climate change, humanity owes the ocean a big thank you. It has already absorbed nearly one-third of the carbon emissions from human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels. But many researchers think the ocean can shoulder even more of the burden, with technologies that would enhance its natural ability … Read more