Three-Dimensional Acoustic Tracking Sheds Light on Beaked Whale Dive Behavior and Acoustic Detection
NOAA Fisheries
Published: 9 February 2026
Researchers used passive 3D acoustic tracking to reconstruct beaked whale dive behavior in the Gulf of Mexico, providing the first detailed description of Gervais' beaked whale deep-diving anywhere in the world.
Keywords: beaked whales, passive acoustics, 3D tracking, deep diving, Gulf of Mexico, marine mammals, echolocation, cetacean research
World's Largest Animal Migration and Ocean Gyres Play Critical Roles in Global Carbon Cycle
Schmidt Ocean Institute
Published: 30 April 2026
Two back-to-back expeditions in the Southwest Atlantic studied how vertically migrating animals' gut microbiomes and phytoplankton in ocean gyres drive carbon export, revealing key mechanisms of the biological pump.
Keywords: carbon cycle, diel vertical migration, biological pump, ocean gyres, phytoplankton, deep-sea carbon, biogeochemistry, Southwest Atlantic
West Coast Waters Experiencing Another Large Marine Heatwave
NOAA Fisheries
Published: 3 March 2026
A massive marine heatwave has dominated U.S. West Coast waters since summer 2025, raising temperatures 3-4°F above normal and marking only the third time such a large section remained this warm without El Niño.
Keywords: marine heatwave, Pacific Ocean, West Coast, ocean temperature, California Current, harmful algal blooms, climate change
