Report reveals ‘unseen’ human benefits from ocean twilight zone
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Published: 22 January 2020
The ocean's twilight zone sequesters 2–6 billion tons of carbon yearly—far more than the Amazon—helping regulate Earth's climate. This hidden ecosystem also supports global fisheries and faces risks from unregulated exploitation.
Keywords: twilight zone, carbon sink, WHOI, climate regulation, deep ocean
Warming oceans are getting louder
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Published: 18 February 2020
Warming oceans cause snapping shrimp to snap more often and louder, increasing underwater noise. This could disrupt marine life communication and sonar operations, raising ecological and technological concerns.
Keywords: snapping shrimp, ocean warming, underwater noise, marine life, sonar
Microbes far beneath the seafloor rely on recycling to survive
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Published: 11 March 2020
Scientists discovered diverse microbes living 2,400 feet beneath the seafloor in Earth's lower crust. These organisms survive by recycling carbon and using scarce nutrients—shedding light on deep biosphere life and carbon cycling.
Keywords: microbes, oceanic crust, carbon cycling, deep biosphere, WHOI
