Many ocean areas contain a rich community of life in the sediments of the seafloor. Movement, burrowing, and other activities of organisms result in a seabed that is not uniform, as shown in the figure above. This variability can affect the acoustic properties of the sediments. Scientists are trying to better understand these benthic processes [...]
Orca (Orcinus orca) in Haines, Alaska, United States. Photo credit: Christopher Michel Scientists have proposed several hypotheses, including fight or flight (Ford & Reeves, 2008), for how killer whale (Orcinus orca) predation has influenced baleen whales and broader ecosystems. Southern right whales have a robust body shape, with girth sometimes [...]
Biofouling, the growth of marine organisms on in-water surfaces, is a perpetual and significant concern for all vessels. Hull biofouling can slow vessel speed, requiring the vessel to consume more fuel, resulting in an increased emission of greenhouse gasses. In addition to increasing drag on a vessel, biofouling by marine organisms within pipes can [...]
Global climate change is impacting the world’s coral reef ecosystems. Rapid ocean warming, and associated coral bleaching events, as well as increasing potential for impacts from tropical cyclones are causing significant damage to coral reefs. To better understand and mitigate these impacts, much work is being conducted in coral reef research, management, and conservation. [...]
On June 8, 2022, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary announced the successful use of an uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV, or drone), to deploy digital acoustic tags on 14 sei whales in the Northeast Atlantic. This marked a major innovation [...]
Iceberg calving is a natural process, occurring when a rift opens in the edge of a glacier, caused by wind or water erosion, melting ice, or other events, resulting in an iceberg breaking away and falling into the ocean. The rate at which icebergs calve from glaciers increases with increased air and water temperatures. Polar [...]
Background One of the ocean’s response to global climate change is a rise in average water temperature. Where in the ocean the warming occurs and the rate at which it occurs are of great interest to climatologists. Measuring ocean temperature to monitor and understand changes due to climate change presents some challenges because: • The [...]
Earthquakes and other geologic events produce acoustic signals that can be measured and monitored on land and underwater. Seismic energy from submarine earthquakes is converted into acoustic energy at the seafloor-water boundary. A Tertiary wave (or T-wave) is an acoustic signal associated with earthquakes. T-waves propagate efficiently in the ocean compared to seismic waves through [...]
Using Underwater Acoustics to Detect and Measure Global Ocean Methane Flux Close up imagery of methane hydrate. Scientists study methane hydrates as a potential natural gas source and for its potential role in releasing methane to the atmosphere during climate change events. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research. [...]
Hydrophone Provides Continuous, Live Stream of Deep Sea Sounds from Monterey Bay Location of the MARS hydrophone, on the Smooth Ridge, at the edge of Monterey Canyon, approximately 30 km (18 mi) from shore. Image credit: MBARI. The Monterey Accelerated Research System (MARS) cabled observatory, the first cabled oceanographic observatory on the U.S. [...]
