Article
Environmental Sciences
Lester Kwiatkowski, Manon Berger, Laurent Bopp, Stephane Doleac, David T. Ho
Summary: This study compares the carbon dioxide removal potential and biogeochemical impacts of ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) and macroalgae afforestation. The results show that OAE has more than seven times the potential of macroalgae afforestation in carbon dioxide removal. The impact of nutrients increases the disparity between the two methods and can result in negative carbon dioxide removal. The research also indicates that EEZs with a higher response to OAE also have a higher response to macroalgae afforestation.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
H. R. Langehaug, P. Ortega, F. Counillon, D. Matei, E. Maroon, N. Keenlyside, J. Mignot, Y. Wang, D. Swingedouw, I Bethke, S. Yang, G. Danabasoglu, A. Bellucci, P. Ruggieri, D. Nicoli, M. Arthun
Summary: This study assesses the ability of seven state-of-the-art dynamical prediction systems to retrospectively predict winter sea surface temperature (SST) in the subpolar North Atlantic and Nordic seas. The results show that SST skill is low, with significant skill only at a lead time of 1-2 years. The prediction systems have difficulties in reproducing the spatiotemporal SST pattern, indicating a misrepresentation of the underlying physical mechanism. Ways to enhance predictions could include improved initialization and better simulation of poleward circulation of anomalies.
JOURNAL OF CLIMATE
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Tom Theirlynck, Inara Regina W. Mendonca, Aschwin H. Engelen, Henk Bolhuis, Ligia Collado-Vides, Brigitta I. van Tussenbroek, Marta Garcia-Sanchez, Erik Zettler, Gerard Muyzer, Linda Amaral-Zettler
Summary: Holopelagic brown macroalgae Sargassum natans and Sargassum fluitans form essential habitats for attached and mobile fauna, but their large accumulations and strandings threaten the local biodiversity and cause economic losses. These stranded masses may introduce or facilitate the growth of bacteria that are not normally abundant in coastal regions. The study on the microbiome of holopelagic Sargassum provides insights into the potential health risks in coastal environments.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alan Condron, Jenna C. Hill
Summary: High-resolution seafloor mapping reveals evidence of massive icebergs drifting south along the eastern United States, with sediment core analysis and numerical modeling providing insights into iceberg transport mechanisms and past climate changes.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Leishan Jiang, Tim Li
Summary: The tropical Atlantic sea surface temperature anomaly is influenced by two dominant modes: basin-warming mode and meridional dipole mode, affecting the following winter's climate. The basin-warming mode induces a La Nina through Kelvin wave response and wind-evaporation-SST-convection feedback, while the dipole mode has little impact. Studies show that the differences in these modes play a role in the development of ENSO events in the Pacific Ocean.
JOURNAL OF CLIMATE
(2021)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Elizabeth A. Maroon, Stephen G. Yeager, Gokhan Danabasoglu, Nan Rosenbloom
Summary: The subpolar North Atlantic experienced extreme cold during 2015, known as the cold blob. Despite high sea surface temperature skill in other years, the prediction model failed to predict the cold conditions. The rarity of the event in 2015 was likely due to the exceptional state of the North Atlantic Oscillation in the winter, which was not simulated in the prediction model.
JOURNAL OF CLIMATE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Da Nian, Sebastian Bathiany, Maya Ben-Yami, Lana L. Blaschke, Marina Hirota, Regina R. Rodrigues, Niklas Boers
Summary: Observations and models indicate that the Amazon rainforest could transition to a savanna-like state due to climate and land use changes. However, a collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation could stabilize the Amazon by increasing rainfall and decreasing temperature. This collapse may delay or prevent parts of the rainforest from dieback, contradicting the hypothesis of an Amazon dieback triggered by the circulation collapse.
COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Franz Philip Tuchen, Renellys C. Perez, Gregory R. Foltz, Peter Brandt, Rick Lumpkin
Summary: Tropical Instability Waves (TIWs) are the dominant source of intraseasonal variability in the central equatorial Atlantic and play a crucial role in redistributing heat in the upper ocean. A study using multidecadal records of various oceanic variables has shown a long-term intensification of intraseasonal variability, particularly due to increased TIW activity. This pattern is driven by enhanced barotropic energy conversion from the covariance of horizontal current fluctuations.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chuanmin Hu, Shuai Zhang, Brian B. Barnes, Yuyuan Xie, Mengqiu Wang, Jennifer P. Cannizzaro, David C. English
Summary: Pelagic Sargassum is an important habitat for marine animals in the Atlantic Ocean, but frequent beaching events around the Caribbean Sea have caused problems. Current assessment and monitoring methods rely on satellite imagery and algorithms, but there are limitations and weaknesses in detecting nearshore waters and dealing with cloud interference. A deep-learning model called U-net was developed to overcome these difficulties, and it showed improved accuracy and data coverage compared to the current model.
REMOTE SENSING OF ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Finnley Ross, Patrick Tarbuck, Peter I. Macreadie
Summary: This article investigates the feasibility of ocean afforestation, considering ecological, technical, economic, co-benefits and risks, as well as governance and social considerations. The article points out that while the concept of ocean afforestation has great potential, there are still unresolved issues and challenges in its practical application.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shani Rohatyn, Eyal Rotenberg, Dan Yakir, Yohay Carmel
Summary: Afforestation actions play a crucial role in climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation, but there are drawbacks such as the neglect of reduced albedo effects and the untapped potential of drylands for afforestation. A proposed method aims to identify suitable land for afforestation and quantify the net equivalent carbon stock change over an 80-year forest lifetime, considering carbon sequestration and albedo changes. By utilizing remote sensing tools and climate data, this method explores the climatic value of afforestation in drylands and aims to optimize carbon sequestration efforts.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
B. E. Lapointe, R. A. Brewton, L. W. Herren, M. Wang, C. Hu, D. J. McGillicuddy, S. Lindell, F. J. Hernandez, P. L. Morton
Summary: Research shows that since the 1980s, the nitrogen content of Sargassum spp. has increased, while the phosphorus content has decreased, leading to an increase in the N:P ratio, reflecting global anthropogenic nitrogen enrichment causing algal blooms in the wider Atlantic basin.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Kristopher B. Karnauskas, Ulla K. Heede, Lei Zhang
Summary: The warming of the eastern Pacific strongly influences the future changes in Atlantic hurricanes, particularly the effect of El Nino. The changes include the formation regions of hurricanes and the intensity of the El Nino/La Nina signal.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Mihai Dima, Denis R. Nichita, Gerrit Lohmann, Monica Ionita, Mirela Voiculescu
Summary: The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a key component of the climate system, is projected to weaken during the 21st century due to increased atmospheric CO2 concentration. Observational evidence suggests that the weakening started in the late 19th century, earlier than previously thought, with the estimated weakening larger than shown in numerical simulations.
NPJ CLIMATE AND ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Rajashree Naha, Shayne Mcgregor, Martin Singh
Summary: Recent analysis suggests that the influence of the tropical Atlantic Ocean on the tropical Pacific Ocean has become more pronounced after 1980, while the influence of the tropical Indian Ocean appears to have weakened. This study explores the modulation of these pantropical connections by decadal changes in the tropical Atlantic and Pacific Ocean sea surface temperatures (SSTs), and investigates the role of changes in Pacific decadal variability (PDV).
JOURNAL OF CLIMATE
(2023)
Article
Limnology
Svenja Halfter, Emma L. Cavan, Philip Butterworth, Kerrie M. Swadling, Philip W. Boyd
Summary: Zooplankton carcasses play a significant role in carbon sinking flux, acting as microbial hotspots with substantial sinking velocities of organic carbon particles to the deep ocean. Carcass flux is sensitive to changes in sinking velocity but appears less sensitive to fluctuations in microbial decomposition rate. Further research is needed on zooplankton mortality and factors influencing carcass sinking through the water column.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Robert F. Strzepek, Brook L. Nunn, Lennart T. Bach, John A. Berges, Erica B. Young, Philip W. Boyd
Summary: Understanding the impact of global ocean change on marine life has highlighted gaps in our knowledge of fundamental principles. Physiological research has stagnated due to the dominance of molecular biological techniques. Despite the potential of omics-based studies, converting physiological potential into measurable rates and biogeochemical fluxes remains a challenge.
JOURNAL OF PLANKTON RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
C. Biancacci, W. Visch, D. L. Callahan, G. Farrington, D. S. Francis, P. Lamb, A. McVilly, A. Nardelli, J. C. Sanderson, J. Schwoerbel, C. L. Hurd, B. Evans, C. Macleod, A. Bellgrove
Summary: Seaweed cultivation is gaining interest worldwide, and this study evaluates the suitability of native kelp Macrocystis pyrifera for aquaculture in Tasmania, Australia. The results show that yield and biochemical composition of the cultivated biomass are influenced by time, location, and depth, and specific harvesting time is needed to optimize yield and quality. These findings have important implications for the management and development of kelp aquaculture in Tasmania and globally.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jakop Schwoerbel, Wouter Visch, Jeffrey T. Wright, Alecia Bellgrove, J. Craig Sanderson, Catriona MacLeod, Catriona L. Hurd
Summary: This study investigated the impact of different zoospore densities on the development of Ecklonia radiata gametophytes and sporophytes, finding significant effects on gametophyte size and sporophyte production based on initial zoospore density. The importance of initial zoospore density in optimizing the nursery stage of kelp aquaculture was clearly highlighted in the results.
Review
Plant Sciences
Catriona L. Hurd, Jeffrey T. Wright, Cayne Layton, Elisabeth M. A. Strain, Damon Britton, Wouter Visch, Neville Barrett, Scott Bennett, Kim Jye Lee Chang, Graham Edgar, J. Helen Fitton, Dean Greeno, Ian Jameson, Craig R. Johnson, Sam S. Karpiniec, Gerald T. Kraft, Scott D. Ling, Catriona M. Macleod, Ellie R. Paine, Ahyoung Park, J. Craig Sanderson, Matthias Schmid, Fiona J. Scott, Victor Shelamoff, Damien N. Stringer, Masayuki Tatsumi, Camille A. White, Anusuya Willis
Summary: Tasmania is an island state in south-eastern Australia known for its extensive history of seaweed use and research. The Aboriginal peoples of Tasmania have utilized seaweed for thousands of years for various purposes, including food, shelter, and medicine. The ecological and physiological studies conducted in Tasmania have significantly contributed to the global understanding of seaweed systems, particularly in areas such as community resilience and responses to global change. The decline in seaweed canopy cover and the development of aquaculture initiatives are also notable features of Tasmania's seaweed industry.
Article
Fisheries
Ellie R. Paine, Damon Britton, Matthias Schmid, Elizabeth A. Brewer, Guillermo Diaz-Pulido, Philip W. Boyd, Catriona L. Hurd
Summary: This study compared the physiological responses of three seaweed species to ocean acidification and found that elevated CO2 concentrations did not benefit their growth and photosynthesis in a future ocean.
ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Fisheries
Wouter Visch, Cayne Layton, Catriona L. Hurd, Catriona Macleod, Jeffrey T. Wright
Summary: Global seaweed aquaculture production has significantly increased since 2002, mainly in Asian countries, and is predominantly carried out in nearshore areas with wave protection. To meet future demand, production needs to be moved to non-traditional regions and offshore waters. However, the challenges and uncertainties in cultivating seaweed in high-energy offshore environments must be addressed.
REVIEWS IN AQUACULTURE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Leo Lacour, Joan Llort, Nathan Briggs, Peter G. G. Strutton, Philip W. W. Boyd
Summary: At high latitudes, the gravitational sinking of particulate organic carbon has been considered as the sole particle export pathway of the biological carbon pump. However, recent studies suggest that particle injection pumps, such as the mixed layer and eddy subduction pumps, also contribute significantly to the downward flux of particulate organic carbon. In this study, we used year-round robotic observations and bio-optical signal analysis to concurrently investigate the functioning of these particle injection pumps and the gravitational pump in the Southern Ocean. Our results reveal the distinct seasonality and importance of different export pathways, providing insights into carbon sequestration efficiency over the annual cycle.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Letter
Limnology
Clara R. Vives, Christina Schallenberg, Peter G. Strutton, Philip W. Boyd
Summary: In the Southern Ocean, understanding the timing of phytoplankton blooms is crucial for studying ecosystem dynamics and carbon export. Previous studies have yielded inconsistent findings regarding bloom timing. This study compares bloom dynamics based on different diagnostics and highlights the importance of considering phytoplankton physiology when choosing proxies for their growth.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Limnology
Lennart T. Bach, David T. Ho, Philip W. Boyd, Michael D. Tyka
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Biology
Ellie R. Paine, Philip W. Boyd, Robert F. Strzepek, Michael Ellwood, Elizabeth A. Brewer, Guillermo Diaz-Pulido, Matthias Schmid, Catriona L. Hurd
Summary: Laboratory experiments show that insufficient iron availability in the open ocean is a major challenge for growing kelp for carbon sequestration. Carbon dioxide removal and emissions reduction are crucial for mitigating climate change. Ocean macroalgal afforestation is a CDR method that involves growing nearshore kelps offshore, but the limitation of dissolved iron supply is overlooked in discussions. The study finds that kelp growth and physiological functions are impaired at oceanic iron concentrations, which are 1000-fold lower than required by the kelp species. Additional iron fertilization may be necessary for successful ocean macroalgal afforestation.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alessandro Tagliabue, Kristen N. N. Buck, Laura E. E. Sofen, Benjamin S. S. Twining, Olivier Aumont, Philip W. W. Boyd, Salvatore Caprara, William B. B. Homoky, Rod Johnson, Daniela Konig, Daniel C. C. Ohnemus, Bettina Sohst, Peter Sedwick
Summary: Iron is important in regulating the ocean carbon cycle, with organic ligands playing a crucial role in stabilizing dissolved iron concentrations. However, the role of authigenic iron phases and the inconsistencies observed in dissolved iron cycling challenge the primary control of ligands. Through a study in the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study (BATS) region, it was found that upper-ocean dissolved iron dynamics are decoupled from ligands, indicating the need for a mechanism that allows dissolved iron to escape ligand stabilization and form a reservoir of settling iron particles. When this mechanism was implemented in a global-scale biogeochemical model, it successfully reproduced seasonal iron-cycle dynamics and global datasets where previous models failed.
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lennart T. Bach, Veronica Tamsitt, Jim Gower, Catriona L. Hurd, John A. Raven, Philip W. Boyd
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Allanah Joy Paul, Lennart Thomas Bach, Javier Aristegui, Elisabeth von der Esch, Nauzet Hernandez-Hernandez, Jonna Piiparinen, Laura Ramajo, Kristian Spilling, Ulf Riebesell
Summary: Upwelling in the ocean has significant impacts on the productivity of ecosystems in eastern boundary upwelling systems. Besides traditional nutrients, subsurface waters also contain micronutrients, organic matter, and seed microbial communities, which may modify the response of the ecosystem to nutrient inputs. This study found that the ratio of inorganic nutrients and the presence of microbial communities are the most influential factors in driving the response of plankton communities to upwelling.
Article
Ecology
Aaron Ferderer, Zanna Chase, Fraser Kennedy, Kai G. Schulz, Lennart T. Bach
Summary: Ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) is a proposed method to counteract climate change. In a closed experimental system, OAE was found to have significant but moderate effects on phytoplankton communities and heterotrophic bacteria, with the most pronounced effects observed on diatoms. However, the climate benefits of increasing the inorganic carbon sink of seawater outweigh the inadvertent effects of OAE on coastal phytoplankton communities.
