Tag: Southern Ocean

Princeton University, NOAA and 8 other partner institutions seek to make the Southern Ocean better known scientifically and publicly through

A new study has found that turbulent mixing in the deep waters of the Southern Ocean, varies with the strength of surface eddies

Marine Protected Areas in Antarctica: Joint statement for MPAs establishment in the Southern Ocean, Antarctica

Concerns for the threats of violence The United States deeply regrets that Japan has decided to continue its controversial whaling in the Southern Ocean. The United States also expresses its deep concern about the possibility of violence in connection with such whaling."We are very concerned about Japan continuing its whaling program in the Southern Ocean Sanctuary," said Monica Medina, U.S. commissioner to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and principal deputy under secretary of commerce for NOAA. "These catches will only increase the growing friction within the IWC over how to deal with the large number of whales that continue to be killed while a moratorium remains in place. There is no reason to kill these creatures in order to learn about them. All the necessary science that we need for the management of whales can be achieved using non-lethal techniques."The United States is also concerned by statements by anti-whaling activists that suggest life-threatening tactics would be employed during protest activities in the Southern Ocean."The safety of vessels and life at sea is the highest priority for the United States." said Medina. "I ask all parties to respect the Commission's wishes and immediately refrain from any acts at sea that risk ...

The scientists found 12 volcanoes beneath the sea surface Scientists from British Antarctic Survey (BAS) havediscovered previously unknown volcanoes in the ocean waters around the remote South Sandwich Islands.Using sea-floor mapping technology during research cruises, the scientists found 12 volcanoes beneath the sea surface, some almost 10,000 feet high, and 3-mile-wide diameter craters left by collapsing volcanoes, a release from the survey group said Monday.The researchers also identified seven active volcanoes visible above the sea as a chain of islands, it said.Researchers say the findings are important for understanding what happens when volcanoes erupt or collapse under water and their potential for creating serious hazards such as tsunamis."There is so much that we don't understand about volcanic activity beneath the sea -- it's likely that volcanoes are erupting or collapsing all the time," survey researcher Phil Leat said at the International Symposium on Antarctic Earth Sciences in Edinburgh, Scotland."The technologies that scientists can now use from ships not only give us an opportunity to piece together the story of the evolution of our Earth, but they also help shed new light on the development of natural events that pose hazards for people living in more populated regions on the planet."Source: ...

There are an estimated 100-500 million tonnes of krill in the Southern Ocean A new discovery reveals that the shrimp-like creature at the heart of the Antarctic food chain could play a key role in fertilising the Southern Ocean with iron -- stimulating the growth of phytoplankton (microscopic plant-like organisms). This process enhances the ocean's capacity for natural storage of carbon dioxide.Reporting this month in the journal Limnology and Oceanography, an international team of researchers describe how Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba), once thought to live mostly in surface waters, regularly feed on iron-rich fragments of decaying organisms on the sea floor. They swim back to the surface with stomachs full of iron, releasing it into the water.Antarctic krill is the staple diet for fish, penguins, seals and whales; and is harvested by commercial fisheries for human consumption.Lead author from British Antarctic Survey, Dr Katrin Schmidt says, "We are really excited to make this discovery because the textbooks state krill live mainly in surface waters. We knew they make occasional visits to the sea floor but these were always thought as exceptional. What surprises us is how common these visits are -- up to 20% of the population can be migrating ...