pacific ocean

Deforestation in Southeast Asia and Pacific Islands Could Make El Niño Southern Oscillation More Unpredictable, Study Finds

Deforestation in Southeast Asia and Pacific Islands Could Make El Niño Southern Oscillation More Unpredictable, Study Finds

Every two to seven years, a climate phenomenon known as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) occurs in the tropical Pacific Ocean. ENSO is associated with air pressure changes from east to west, reported Phys.org. El Niño events cause westerly trade winds blowing along the equator to become weaker, leading to wind speed and air pressure […]

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    On World Tuna Day, Let’s Fix Oversight of Tropical Species

    On World Tuna Day, Let’s Fix Oversight of Tropical Species

    By Rachel Hopkins Tropical tuna species—skipjack, bigeye and yellowfin tunas—are important economic assets for coastal communities across the globe, and even far from the ocean they are a favorite on supermarket shelves and in sushi bars. These three species—together worth close to $40 billion annually at the final point of sale—prompted eight Pacific island countries […]

    For Baby Sea Turtles, Beaches Become Safer While Ocean Hazards Mount

    For Baby Sea Turtles, Beaches Become Safer While Ocean Hazards Mount

    By Pamela T. Plotkin On beaches from North Carolina to Texas and throughout the wider Caribbean, one of nature’s great seasonal events is underway. Adult female sea turtles are crawling out of the ocean, digging deep holes in the sand and laying eggs. After about 60 days turtle hatchlings will emerge and head for the […]

    Radiation Along Fukushima Rivers Up to 200 Times Higher Than Pacific Ocean Seabed

    Radiation Along Fukushima Rivers Up to 200 Times Higher Than Pacific Ocean Seabed

    Radioactive contamination in the seabed off the Fukushima coast is hundreds of times above pre-2011 levels, while contamination in local rivers is up to 200 times higher than ocean sediment, according to results from Greenpeace Japan survey work released Thursday. “The extremely high levels of radioactivity we found along the river systems highlights the enormity […]