PMEL in the News
These ocean drones are trawling for climate change data
A fleet of unmanned boats is traveling from the Arctic to the equator, gathering vital data on climate change.
The autonomous vessels -- called "Saildrones" -- resemble bright red surfboards. Each is fitted with a 20-foot-high carbon fiber sail, and 16 sensors that test variables including carbon dioxide, acidity, currents and water temperature.
What Is A Polynya? Antarctica's Massive Hole, Explained
On Dec. 11, 1972, at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, the U.S. government launched an unmanned satellite named Nimbus V, one of the first satellites sent to observe Earth from space. In 1974, researchers were treated to images of Antarctica, including the Weddell Sea, an area of open ocean between the southern continent and the Atlantic.
A U.S. Collaboration Between Military and Research Science
Warming in Arctic ecosystems over the last several decades threatens animals and people alike, while melting ice has been accompanied by a dramatic increase in maritime activity. Yet study of the Arctic has been limited by its location and extreme weather conditions. New technologies and capabilities are necessary to operate in the region, and as attention to the high north grows, researchers and engineers are finding opportunities to expand their work despite uncertain funding. Tight budgets have pushed scientists to partner with institutions such as the U.S. Coast Guard in order to conduct quality research.
NOAA Takes a Closer Look at Bering Sea Bloom
NOAA researchers embarked from Dutch Harbor on September 22, hoping to witness changing colors in the Bering Sea and gather more samples for a continuing investigation in what these changes mean for an ecosystem critical to one of the nation’s biggest fisheries.
Changing Colors Of Bering Sea Have Vibrant Impacts
There is a quirky phenomenon where the waters of the Kenai turn a bright turquoise blue, making them some of the most striking waters in the state. Scientists say that the brilliant colors are created by sediments that come off of the glaciers.