Oceans

Climate

Missing winds probably foiled 2014’s chance for El Niño

Lack of antitrade winds probably hampered 2014 El Niño.

Oceans

Plastic may take unexpected routes to marine garbage patches

By redefining ocean boundaries, researchers offer new insight to how litter moves through the oceans and who’s to blame for the floating clumps of trash.

Physics

Unusual turbulence seen along North Carolina coast

Storm winds in Currituck Sound, North Carolina, may have created just the right conditions for scientists to see a rare type of turbulence in ocean waves for the first time.

Animals

Seeing past the jellyfish sting

Jellies don’t get nearly as much love as their cousins, the corals, but they deserve credit for providing homes to some creatures, dinner to others and more. They’re an integral part of the oceans.

Oceans

Viruses might tame some algal blooms

The rapid demise of a giant, carbon-spewing algal bloom points to the influence of viral wranglers.

Oceans

World’s largest ocean dead zone may shrink as Earth warms

North Pacific dead zone may grow smaller, not expand, as climate change weakens Pacific Ocean trade winds.

Oceans

Mercury at ocean surface may have tripled since preindustrial times

Questions remain over dangers of toxic metal in environment.

Oceans

Whales and ships don’t mix well

A 15-year study of blue whales off California has found that major shipping lanes cut through feeding grounds.

Ecosystems

Offshore wind farms may be seal feeding grounds

Harbor seals were tracked visiting offshore wind farms, probably to find food, researchers say.

Oceans

Saharan dust explains Bahamas’ paradoxical existence

Windswept dust from the Sahara Desert may fertilize bacteria that built the Bahamas.

Environment

Microplastics lodge in crab gills and guts

Crabs can absorb microplastic particles through their gills and by eating polluted mussels.

Environment

Plastic goes missing at sea

A survey of the world’s oceans finds far less polymer trash than expected, and researchers don’t know where the rest of the plastic is.