Under a new plan to better understand the evolution of the Gulf of Mexico’s dead zone, researchers will now conduct three extensive cruises a summer, in June, July and August, instead of just one.
Archive for the ‘Oceanography’ Category
First Gulf of Mexico cruise: Dead zone already bigger than Delaware
Saturday, July 16th, 2011International mission to measure saltiness of sea
Tuesday, June 7th, 2011An international mission will chart the saltiness of the ocean — from outer space.
An Argentine-built spacecraft carrying instruments from the United States and other nations is set to launch Thursday from the Vandenberg Air Force Base along the central California coast aboard a Delta 2 rocket.
NASA Mission Will Observe Earth’s Salty Seas For Climate Clues
Wednesday, May 18th, 2011Final preparations are under way for the June 9 launch of the international Aquarius/SAC-D observatory. The mission’s primary instrument, Aquarius, will study interactions between ocean circulation, the water cycle and climate by measuring ocean surface salinity.
Cryosat ice mission returns first science
Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010The Cryosat-2 spacecraft has produced its first major science result.
Radar data from the European satellite has been used to make a map of ocean circulation across the Arctic basin.
Archaeological Study Shows Human Activity May Have Boosted Shellfish Size
Saturday, September 4th, 2010In a counter-intuitive finding, new research from North Carolina State University shows that a species of shellfish widely consumed in the Pacific over the past 3,000 years has actually increased in size, despite – and possibly because of – increased human activity in the area.
Breakup on the Ward Hunt Ice Shelf
Friday, August 27th, 2010
In mid- to late August 2010, a Bermuda-sized ice island broke free from the Ward Hunt Ice Shelf along the northern coast of Canada’s Ellesmere Island. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite detected fractures on the shelf on August 18. The breakup on this ice shelf continued a years-long pattern of retreat on the Ward Hunt Ice Shelf, and a decades-long pattern of retreat of the ice shelves along the Ellesmere coast.
Interactive Map of Earthquakes, Volcanoes and More
Friday, August 27th, 2010The National Geophysical Data Center has an online Geographic Information System that enables you to explore the locations of earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, seafloor topography and other earth science data.
Tracking Plastic Debris in the Atlantic Ocean
Friday, August 27th, 2010Despite growing awareness of the problem of plastic pollution in the world’s oceans, little solid scientific information existed to illustrate the nature and scope of the issue. A team of researchers completed a study of plastic marine debris based on data collected over 22 years.
UNPRECEDENTED TURTLE EGG MOVE UNDERWAY
Thursday, July 8th, 2010Just how do you relocate some 70,000 sea turtle eggs endangered by the Gulf spill? Very, very carefully.
WHALES SCREAM OVER NOISE POLLUTION
Thursday, July 8th, 2010Since communication is tied to mating, feeding and more, these critical aspects of whale life may be impacted.
FISH FOUND WALKING IN GULF SPILL
Thursday, July 8th, 2010Two new species of pancake batfish, which walk using their arm-like fins, have been found at the site of the Gulf oil spill, according to a study published in the Journal of Fish Biology.
US Fish and Wildlife Oil Spill Response
Tuesday, May 25th, 2010
There are 32 National Wildlife Refuges at risk from the BP Oil Spill. These precious national resources are home to dozens of threatened and endangered species, including West Indian manatees, whooping cranes, Mississippi sandhill cranes, wood storks and four species of sea turtles.
Offshore drilling showdown looms
Tuesday, May 25th, 2010Despite the massive oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico, the government is under pressure to issue new permits for offshore drilling as early as next week.
Oceans Smaller And Warmer
Tuesday, May 25th, 2010
Two new studies out this week give the best scientific estimates of the average depth of the world’s oceans, the total amount of water they contain, and the extent to which this water warmed over the last two decades – the latter being an important measure of climate change.
Research Flights Take NASA Scientists Over Gulf Oil Spill
Monday, May 17th, 2010
A team from NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA, made research flights over the Gulf of Mexico this week to help investigate potential uses of satellites for monitoring the thickness and dispersal of oil spills and the oil¹s impact on marine life.
BP says tube successfully inserted back into Gulf leak
Monday, May 17th, 2010Oil company BP says it has resumed pumping oil to a ship on the surface after a weekend setback that halted efforts to siphon off the crude spewing from a damaged well at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico.
Gas rig sinks off coast of Venezuela, government says
Monday, May 17th, 2010Venezuelan government officials said Thursday they are investigating why a natural gas rig sank off the nation’s coast in the early morning hours, the state-run energy company said.
Gulf Oil Spill Pictures: Oil, Tarballs Hit Beaches
Monday, May 17th, 2010The massive oil spill which has been threatening the gulf waters between Texas and Florida have now begun to make their presence known on the beaches and coastlines. See this collection of pictures of oil and tarballs washing up on the coast.
Unable to Stanch Oil, BP Will Try to Gather It
Friday, May 7th, 2010With remote-controlled robots a mile underwater unable to seal the gushing well, and with the drilling of relief wells that would allow crews to plug the spouting cavity months away from completion, it is time for the big box.
Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Observed From the International Space Station
Friday, May 7th, 2010On April 20, 2010, the oil rig Deepwater Horizon suffered an explosion and sank two days later. Shortly thereafter, oil began leaking into the Gulf of Mexico from ruptured pipes deep on the ocean floor. NASA satellites have been tracking the growth of the oil spill as it has spread towards the northern Gulf Coast