PMEL in the News
NOAA's Argo Program Has Been Observing the Oceans for Two Decades
The ocean is massive. It covers more than 70 percent of Earth's surface. The Pacific Ocean alone blankets 60 million square miles (155 million square kilometers) of the planet. This water regulates our climate and weather patterns by funneling heat from the equator to the poles, produces more than half of the world's oxygen, and absorbs 50 times more carbon dioxide than our atmosphere. Greg Johnson is quoted.
Limited NOAA Research Team Suggests Cold Pool is Slowly Returning to Bering Sea
NOAA and EcoFOCI sent out one of few research cruises around the Bering Strait earlier this season. The cruise brought back information on the cold pool and marine mammals’ movements in the Bering Sea. Phyllis Stabeno is featured.
Hot, dry weather a factor in Washington wildfire season
High heat, along with an unusual tropical weather system heading north, helped kick off what is normally the toughest stretch of Washington state’s fire season. The strange part is the remnants of a tropical cyclone that worked its way up through California to the Pacific Northwest, bringing lighting and some rain. Nick Bond is quoted.
Hearing the under-sea whispers of a warming climate
Scientists are using hydrophones, instruments that use underwater microphones, to collect clues about melting glaciers and the songs of whales. Bob Dziak is quoted.
Ocean Acidification Threatens Bivalve Industry
Worldwide, ocean levels are rising at an accelerated pace. Cape May County is feeling the effects of exacerbated weather events, as a result. Yet, there is another drastic change affecting the oceans - a decrease in the water’s pH levels. This is a change that industry leaders and scientists fear will drastically affect the county, namely its bivalve (aquatic invertebrates with a hinged shell) industry that is, as marine and coastal sustainability expert Dr. Daphne Munroe said, “At the heart of the economy in this region.” Richard Feely is quoted.