Upper ocean water masses shrinking in changing climate: Less efficient CO2 sink
The oceans help buffer the Earth from climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide and heat at the surface and transporting it to the deep ocean. New research indicates the North Atlantic Subtropical Mode Water, an upper ocean water mass, is shrinking in a changing climate and becoming a less efficient sink for heat and carbon dioxide.
Ocean Prosperity Programme Anniversary
Today [June 5] marks the one year anniversary of the Bermuda Ocean Prosperity Programme [BOPP], a partnership to create a binding marine spatial plan to sustainably manage Bermuda’s ocean environment and identify sustainable growth possibilities for ocean industries like fishing and tourism.
The Ocean Responds to a Warming Planet
New research indicates that upper ocean water masses are shrinking in a changing climate
Bermuda Ocean Prosperity Program Formed
Today [June 5] the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Waitt Institute, and Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences [BIOS], signed a Memorandum of Understanding [MOU] to form the Bermuda Ocean Prosperity Programme.
Cayman may be spot of hope in coral survival
BIOS scientists, Gretchen Goodbody-Gringley, visits the Central Caribbean Marine Institute in Little Cayman.
How many powerful storms can possibly form in the Atlantic each year?
Climate simulations and analyses of Atlantic hurricane activity indicate that the record number of tropical cyclones that occurred in 2005 (28 storms) is close to the maximum number that might occur in this region, given existing climate conditions.
What is the maximum possible number of Atlantic tropical cyclones? See the year 2005
Climate simulations and analyses of Atlantic hurricane activity indicate that the record number of tropical cyclones that occurred in 2005 (28 storms) is close to the maximum number that might occur in this region, given existing climate conditions.
Recommendations to Inform a UK Ocean Acidification Monitoring Strategy
A new report, written to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), outlines a framework for a national ocean acidification monitoring strategy for the United Kingdom. The report was submitted by the Defra Science Advisory Council Ocean Acidification sub group, of which BIOS scientist Nicolas Bates is a member.
Time for action on ocean risk
The world’s first Ocean Risk Summit held in Bermuda recently drew leaders from across political, economic, environmental and risk sectors to identify the potential exposures to ocean-related risk and tackle its broad-ranging consequences.
Scientists are telling us that the ocean is being transformed faster than anything our planet has experienced in 65 million years and, as such, the results could be transformational from multiple perspectives, including a broad new category of risk.
A new report titled Ocean Risk and the Insurance Industry, written by Falk Niehörster with the support of XL Catlin, was released on the opening day of the summit.
The report leaves no doubt about the urgent need for the insurance industry to equip itself for the severe and far-reaching impacts of ocean change — more intense storms, sea-level rise, loss of fish stocks, and ocean-borne viruses — and stresses that our industry has an opportunity to play a vital role by identifying risk-transfer solutions and mitigation strategies to avoid worst-case scenarios.
Climate change, extreme weather boost supply chain risks
SOUTHAMPTON, Bermuda — Climate risks are directly connected to supply chain risks that should be identified and mitigated as extreme weather events continue to become more severe and intense and cause rising business interruption losses, experts say.
The Fate of Carbon
Keep an eye out for this episode of CHANGING SEAS on a public broadcast network in your community, which features the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study (BATS) at BIOS.
BIOS’s Hydrostation S Receives Five More Years of Funding
National Science Foundation commits $4 million for iconic research program, now operating in sixth decade
Ocean Tech Podcast
We sat down with Dr. Gretchen Goodbody-Gringley and Executive Director Andrew Smith to talk about the technology they use and the data the generate.
Ocean circulation implicated in past abrupt climate changes
There was a period during the last ice age when temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere went on a rollercoaster ride, plummeting and then rising again every 1,500 years or so. Those abrupt climate changes wreaked havoc on ecosystems, but their cause has been something of a mystery. New evidence shows for the first time that the ocean's overturning circulation slowed during every one of those temperature plunges -- at times almost stopping.
NASA to map coral reefs from the air to show impact of climate change
Coral reefs have almost always been studied up close, by scientists in the water looking at small portions of larger reefs to gather data and knowledge about the larger ecosystems. But Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory is taking a step back and getting a wider view, from about 23,000 ft above. Read more at TheGuardian.com
Studying coral reefs from up in the sky
NASA and top scientists from around the world are launching a three-year campaign Thursday to gather new data on coral reefs like never before.
NASA Steps Up to Track the Shrinking of Earth’s Coral Reefs
The GREAT BARRIER REEF, transposed to North America’s west coast, would stretch from Baja California to British Columbia. “How do you study that big of an area by doing hour-long hikes?,” says Eric Hochberg, a marine biologist at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences.
New NASA Instrument Brings Coasts and Coral into Focus
The new Portable Remote Imaging Spectrometer (PRISM), created at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California, is an airborne instrument designed to observe hard-to-see coastal water phenomena. In NASA's upcoming Coral Reef Airborne Laboratory (CORAL) field experiment, PRISM will observe entire reef ecosystems in more of the world's reef area - hundreds of times more -- than has ever been observed before.
NASA takes 23,000-foot view of the world’s coral reefs
Coral reefs have almost always been studied up close, by scientists in the water looking at small portions of larger reefs to gather data and knowledge about the larger ecosystems. But NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory is taking a step back and getting a wider view, from about 23,000 feet above.
NASA Is Getting the “Before” Picture of the World’s Threatened Reefs
The CORAL mission, launching this month, is getting the big picture view of the Pacific’s coral reefs.
Marine ecologists take to the skies to study coral reefs
Satellites and research aeroplanes could offer a better, broader view of coral health.
NASA’s Game-Changing Plan To Save Coral Reefs
NASA’s high-tech endeavors normally look outward. But given the existential threat facing the world’s coral reefs, the space agency has decided to focus its efforts closer to home — and the result may be game changing.
NASA Gets Down to Earth This Year With Globe-Spanning Expeditions
$6M Grant Catalyzes New Study of Ocean Microbes at BIOS
BIOS brings together innovative technology and collaboration to address fundamental ocean ecosystem questions
New study links global ocean processes with local coral reef chemistry
Five years of data collected on reefs and offshore in Bermuda shows that coral reef chemistry – and perhaps the future success of corals – is tied not only to the human carbon emissions causing systematic ocean acidification, but also to seasonal and decadal cycles in the open waters of the Atlantic, and the balance of biochemical processes in the coral reef community.
BIOS probing hurricane risk in new study
BIOS is undertaking new research on hurricane risk on the Island, in addition to its traditional focus on global catastrophic risk.
Two Awards Expand Valuable Climate Observations at BIOS
Grants will sustain critical Gulf Stream measurements and revitalize the hurricane-ravaged Tudor Hill atmospheric observatory
Two new gliders arrive at BIOS
“Jack” and “Minnie” will be in Bermudian waters by the end of summer
The oceans can’t take any more: Fundamental change in oceans predicted
Our oceans need an immediate and substantial reduction of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. If that doesn't happen, we could see far-reaching and largely irreversible impacts on marine ecosystems, which would especially be felt in developing countries.
“Sea Butterflies” Showing Signs of Struggle
In the last decade, pteropod shells have revealed signs of a struggle: scientists have discovered pitted, rough shells in some pteropod populations.
BIOS Oceanographer recognized for innovative research linking Sargasso Sea microbes and carbon cycle
ASLO honors Craig Carlson with the 2015 G. Evelyn Hutchinson Award
ASLO honors Craig Carlson with the 2015 G. Evelyn Hutchinson Award
New global maps detail human-caused ocean acidification
New maps, based in part on long-term data from BIOS, show how changing seasons and geography impact acidification patterns and highlight where marine organisms may face the biggest challenges as carbon dioxide emissions continue to impact ocean chemistry.
BIOS Expert to Join Storm Discussion
Dr Mark Guishard, Program Manager of RPI2.0, is to join the panellists at a roundtable discussion about lessons learnt from last month’s storms.
As Bermuda braces for Gonzalo, underwater glider studies hurricane impact
An oceanographer is deploying an undersea glider to take measurements during the Category 3 storm, which is expected to hit Bermuda. Hopefully, the rare underwater perspective will yield insights that can be used to develop forecasting models.
Undersea glider studies hurricane impact
An underwater glider will examine the impact of hurricanes on our ocean.
Glider Deployed for Hurricane Gonzalo
While most items are being tied down in Bermuda this week as Hurricane Gonzalo takes aim at the island, a yellow undersea glider named “Anna” will swim straight into the storm.
CO2 levels in atmosphere rising at dramatically faster rate, U.N. report warns
Read more at the WashingtonPost.com.
Greenhouse gas levels rising at fastest rate since 1984
A surge in atmospheric CO2 saw levels of greenhouse gases reach record levels in 2013, according to new WMO figures. Read more at BBCNews.com.
Greenhouse Gas Levels In Atmosphere Surged To New High In 2013, World Meteorological Organization Reports
Read more at the HuffingtonPost.com.
Wind farm research presented to Government
BIOS collaborates with UCSB on a research project into the potential for an offshore wind farm.
Minister Reports On State Of Bermuda Coral
A recently released report on the health of coral reefs in the Caribbean over the past 40 years by the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN) looks at long-term changes in coral and fish populations across the region, and at the various environmental stressors that have impacted them.
BIOS Training Opportunity For Oceanographers
Dalhousie University and BIOS, both global leaders in marine science education and research, are launching a joint initiative that provides a new experiential learning program for students in oceanography.
Glider to explore relationship between oceans and weather
BIOS adds to research fleet capabilities with new glider
Devil’s Hole Acts As Natural Laboratory for Climate Change
BIOS scientist Rachel Parsons (Oceanic Microbial Observatory Lab Manager) is lead author on a study that looked at the microbial communities within Devil's Hole, Bermuda. Read more to learn how Devil's Hole acts as a natural laboratory for research related to climate change.
BIOS Time Series Helps Scientists Confirm Ocean Acidification
In a unique collaboration researchers from around the globe have studied data from seven time-series and found that despite the varying geographic locations, each of the time-series sites exhibited similar changes in ocean chemistry due to anthropogenic CO2, confirming what many scientists have believed for years: ocean acidification is indeed changing ocean chemistry.
Can Coral Reefs Delay the Damaging Effects of Ocean Acidification?
Research shows that reefs are able to counteract the trend toward acidity through their own biochemistry, but at a cost.
National Science Foundation Commits $14 Million Dollars to Ongoing Research at BIOS
NSF just announced continued support for the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study (BATS) research program at BIOS.