oceanographic-and-atmospheric-processes

Researchers say the Arctic Ocean crossed a biological tipping point in 2009, when nitrate levels in the water suddenly started dropping due to a drastic reduction in sea ice extent.

Scientists have explored space and mapped much of Earth, yet blue holes remain largely mysterious. A recent dive revealed discoveries that scientists are still trying to understand.

In honor of this annual U.N. event, we are highlighting our coverage of ocean research and education initiatives at the Columbia Climate School and Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.

Ocean eddies are ubiquitous in the ocean. Characterizing and quantifying their impact on the large-scale ocean circulation is key. Here we compute eddy-mean interactions for Conservative Temperature variance, including temperature variance transfers. This is done using the ANDRO dataset, which records mean temperature and horizontal displacement of Argo floats during their journey at parking dept…

The Ocean Observatories Initiative has been collecting data on physical, chemical, geological and biological conditions in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans for the past decade

Editor’s note: This article was updated on June 5. A new study combining NASA satellite observations, ocean surveys, and genetic testing on marine microorganisms found evidence that warming ocean waters may be limiting nutrient availability across much of the global ocean. The researchers report that this nutrient stress affects microscopic marine organisms and could influence […] The post NASA S…

Scientists warn that the Trump Administration's push to dismantle a vital network of ocean sensing instruments will stymie crucial weather and climate monitoring in the Pacific and Atlantic

The ocean covers about 71% of the Earth's surface and holds about 97% of our planet's total water. Despite the vastness of our oceans, they are being massively impacted by human activity. Microplastics have been found at the bottom of the Mariana Trench, fish populations are declining due to overfishing, and the oceans are warming […] The post Ocean Acidification Investigation appeared first on S…

A patch of ocean south-east of Greenland is the only place on Earth that is cooling, and it could be a sign that the warm water "conveyor belt" in the Atlantic is slowing down

A new review shows how ICESat-2, a satellite originally designed for ice monitoring, is reshaping ocean science by adding the missing vertical dimension to space-based observation. Using photon-counting light detection and ranging (lidar), the system can measure shallow-water depth, profile optical properties through the water column, and support studies of marine ecosystems.

Florida State University research published today in Science Advances demonstrates a new framework for predicting the motion of kilometer-scale underwater waves that complicate satellite readings of the ocean. By accurately modeling these subsurface waves, scientists can remove their interference from NASA's Surface Water and Ocean Topography, or SWOT, satellite, improving the satellite's signal …

The Trump administration is moving to dismantle an ocean observation system consisting of more than 900 instruments in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Data supplied by the system has been used to study key Atlantic currents that increasingly appear in danger of collapse as the climate warms. Just days after President Trump fired the independent board overseeing the National Science Foundation, t…

Description Sea level height data from the international Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite collected from March to May 2026 show higher, warmer water moving from the western Pacific Ocean to just off the coast of Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. This phenomenon is known as a warm Kelvin wave, signified in this animation of the data by […]

A surface mooring deployed by the Ocean Observatories Initiative. Credit: Sheri N. White © WHOI, Image from work supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation Ocean Observatories Initiative

npj Climate and Atmospheric Science, Published online: 03 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41612-026-01445-1 Monsoon-driven variations in the molecular composition of organosulfates in South China Sea marine aerosols

On 28 May 2026, AGU sent a letter to House leadership endorsing the NOAA Global Ocean Monitoring and Observing Research Act.  America’s ability to forecast severe weather, prepare for coastal hazards, and understand longterm climate trends depends on consistent, high-quality ocean data. Without sustained global observation systems, these capabilities erode, leaving communities, emergency managers…

The Ocean Observatories Initiative has been collecting data on physical, chemical, geological and biological conditions in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans for the past decade