Explosive volcanic eruptions are possible deep down in the sea – although the water masses exert enormous pressure there. An international team reports how this can happen. Source: https://earthsky.org/earth/how-volcanoes-explode-erupt-deep-under-the-ocean…
Tag: oceanography
Rise of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere continues unabated
NOAA reports that atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) measured at Hawaii’s Mauna Loa Observatory for May 2020 was the highest monthly reading ever recorded. Source: https://earthsky.org/earth/rising-carbon-dioxide-co2-record-high-june2020…
Atmospheric CO2 Levels Rise Sharply Despite COVID-19 Lockdowns
Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere have risen strongly to a new peak this year, despite the impact of the global effects of the coronavirus crisis. The Guardian reports: The concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere reached 417.2 parts per million in May, 2.4ppm higher than the peak of 414.8ppm in 2019, according to readings from the Mauna Loa observatory in…
Glowing Blue Waves Lighting Up SoCal Coastline Roll Into the South Bay
Crashing waves emitting a flash of neon blue have lit up darkened stretches of Southern California’s coastline this month, most recently making an appearance in the South Bay. From a report: The sporadic phenomenon — sometimes called sea sparkle — is something scientists have been studying for 120 years. It’s associated with a red tide, or an algae bloom, made up…
This could be the longest ocean creature ever recorded
Scientists have discovered a 150-foot (46-meter) example of a siphonophore, a string-like deep-sea predator in Australian waters. Source: https://earthsky.org/earth/longest-ocean-animal-ever-recorded…
Why carbon dioxide has such outsized influence on Earth’s climate
Carbon dioxide, CO2, makes up less than one-twentieth of 1% of Earth’s atmosphere. How does this relatively scarce gas control Earth’s thermostat? Source: https://earthsky.org/earth/why-carbon-dioxide-co2-influence-earths-climate-greenhouse-effect…
Plastic pollution has entered fossil record, says study
A new study has found that plastic pollution is being deposited into the fossil record, with deposits increasing exponentially since 1945. Source: https://earthsky.org/earth/plastic-pollution-fossil-record…
What will Earth’s next supercontinent look like?
Here are 4 different scenarios of what planet Earth might look like when the next supercontinent forms. Source: https://earthsky.org/earth/what-will-earths-next-supercontinent-look-like…
6 things to know about carbon dioxide
Scientists say increased carbon dioxide (CO2) in Earth’s atmosphere is causing global temperatures to warm – sea levels to rise – and storms, droughts, floods and fires to become more severe. Here are 6 things about CO2 you might not know. Source: https://earthsky.org/earth/6-things-to-know-carbon-dioxide-co2-greenhouse-gas…
Atmospheric CO2 hits record high in May 2019
NOAA reports that carbon dioxide in Earth’s atmosphere continued its rapid rise in 2019, reaching the highest recorded levels in 61 years of observation last month. Source: https://earthsky.org/earth/atmospheric-co2-record-high-may-2019…