Near-record ‘dead zone’ predicted in Gulf of Mexico
Scientists are predicting a near-record Gulf of Mexico “dead zone” where the water holds too little oxygen to sustain marine life.
Line in Sand Appears at Rosewood Miramar Beach, and Locals Aren’t Happy About It
Coastal access is a hot-button issue in California, whether it’s Miramar Beach, Goleta Beach County Park or Hollister Ranch. The California Coastal Act states that beaches and the sand below the mean high tide line are open to the public, even if people own private property along the beach. Not everyone knows that — or is willing to abide by the law.
Microplastics Have Invaded The Deep Ocean — And The Food Chain
The largest habitat for life on Earth is the deep ocean. It’s home to everything from jellyfish to giant bluefin tuna. But the deep ocean is being invaded by tiny pieces of plastic — plastic that people thought was mostly floating at the surface, and in amounts they never imagined.
Microplastic throughout Monterey Bay
A new study shows that microplastic particles are not only common from the surface to the seafloor, but they’re also being eaten by animals and incorporated into marine food webs. The most abundant types of plastic found in the water samples match those commonly used in consumer products. Most plastic waste comes from land, although it may travel far on ocean currents.
Scientists start the clock on human impact
Though it’s clear we’re currently living in it, scientists have long debated when the Anthropocene, the epoch of human dominance over the planet, first began. The Anthropocene Working Group (AWG), a panel of scientists, recently voted to official recognize the epoch and suggested starting it in the middle of the 20th century
Home teeters on edge of Lake Michigan
A home in Michigan is teetering off a 50-foot eroded cliff caused by big waves in Lake Michigan.
Big Talbot Island’s Blackrock Trail; By Cecelia Dailey
The locals call it “lava beach”—a misnomer which leads some to believe the unique formation found here are igneous in origin. But these mystifying “black rocks” crumble to the touch, staining the hands, feeling gritty with sand. Although many are black, these “rocks” are sometimes light colored, deep red or burnt brown.
Newborn Hawaii beach is already polluted with tiny pieces of plastic
There’s this romantic idea of the remote tropical beach, clean and pristine. That kind of beach doesn’t exist anymore. Pohoiki adds to the growing body of evidence that plastic is most likely ubiquitous on beaches: even ones that look virgin.
Mass die-off of puffins recorded in the Bering Sea
A mass die-off of seabirds in the Bering Sea may be partially attributable to climate change, according to a new study.