Scripps-Led Research Team to Study Sediment Plumes at Sea
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Published: 20 February 2026
Scripps oceanographers departed on R/V Sally Ride to study how sediment plumes from deep-sea mining disperse through the water column using Doppler sonar and novel sensor technology.
Keywords: deep-sea mining, sediment plumes, Doppler sonar, water column, environmental impact, R/V Sally Ride, physical oceanography
Offshore wind farms change current patterns across the North Sea
Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon
Published: 17 February 2026
First-ever long-term simulation shows offshore wind farms could slow North Sea surface currents by up to 20%, with wake effects spreading far beyond individual farms and altering sediment transport and marine ecosystems.
Keywords: offshore wind energy, North Sea, ocean currents, hydrodynamics, tidal wakes, coastal science, marine environment
Research breakthrough in survival rate of valuable red seaweed
Scottish Association for Marine Science
Published: 20 February 2026
SAMS scientists achieved a breakthrough in tank-based cultivation of Palmaria palmata (dulse), reducing spore mortality from 70% to 10% and observing biomass doubling weekly, opening the door to year-round commercial production.
Keywords: seaweed aquaculture, Palmaria palmata, dulse, marine biotechnology, red seaweed, hatchery, blue economy
