Pacific Ocean – Neptune 911!

Pacific West Coast Acidification Rate Larger than Other Oceans

By Charmaine Coimbra on December 17, 2019 • ( 0 )

The ocean absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which reduces pH levels and concentrations of calcium carbonate, a mineral used by shellfish to calcify their shells. As more carbon is released into the atmosphere, concentrations of calcium carbonate decrease and the shells of organisms like foraminifera get thinner, a trend Osborne saw clearly in the sediment cores she examined.

“The shell thickness record instantly showed a long-term declining trend,” she said. “It was really obvious across entire record.”

Massive Marine Heat Wave Returns

By Charmaine Coimbra on September 9, 2019 • ( 0 )

The current expanse of warm water stretches from Alaska to Southern California to Hawaii. It appears similar to conditions five years ago when the original “blob” was first taking shape, federal scientists said, although so far, the warmer-than-normal waters extend down only about 150 feet below the surface, rather than 600 feet five years ago.

Underwater Sound System with Hopes of Reducing Whale Injury from Ships

By Charmaine Coimbra on August 21, 2019 • ( 0 )

A listening station on the channel floor is able to capture whale calls as far away as 30 miles (48 kilometers), the Los Angeles Times reported Friday. That device is connected by cable to a buoy floating above that transmits data by satellite to scientists on shore.

30 Dead Gray Whales Along West Coast

By Charmaine Coimbra on April 24, 2019 • ( 1 )

Editor’s note: The consistently disturbing news of marine mammals dying off or stranding in mass appears to be a global event. Gray whales are an iconic species that have survived throughout the centuries, including the great whale hunts of the… Read More ›

“Drastic” Dolphin Strandings in So Cal

By Charmaine Coimbra on February 26, 2019 • ( 0 )

Six dolphins — four dead and two alive — have washed up in Huntington, Newport and Laguna beaches. Two more were reported in Seal Beach but washed back out to sea.

The high number led PMMC officials on Monday, Feb. 25, to declare the strandings “drastic and unexpected.”

The Many Faces of the Elephant Seal

By Charmaine Coimbra on February 21, 2019 • ( 0 )

Each photo is by Charmaine Coimbra. These photos were shot with either a 300 mm or 40-150 mm lens. Regulations and guidelines have been developed with specific recommendations and distances for viewing whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, sea lions, sea… Read More ›

Dead-Zones on US West Coast Now Normal

By Charmaine Coimbra on October 30, 2018 • ( 0 )

Scientists say West Coast waters now have a hypoxia season, or dead-zone season, just like the wildfire season. Hypoxia is a condition in which the ocean water close to the seafloor has such low levels of dissolved oxygen that the… Read More ›

Unseasonal Warm Waters off British Columbia Coast

By Charmaine Coimbra on October 26, 2018 • ( 0 )

The blob is back. A meteorologist says unseasonable conditions in B.C. are likely once again causing a large area of the Pacific Ocean to heat up, emulating a phenomenon from past years called the “blob.” That mass of warm water was blamed… Read More ›

Bluefin Tuna Make West Coast Comeback

By Charmaine Coimbra on October 17, 2018 • ( 0 )

SAN DIEGO (Reuters) – Large Pacific bluefin tuna not seen in California waters for decades have reappeared, to the delight of fishing enthusiasts and scientists, as global conservation efforts have proven effective for one of the ocean’s priciest and… Read More ›

“Ocean Cleanup”

By Charmaine Coimbra on September 10, 2018 • ( 0 )

The Ocean Cleanup, which has raised $35 million in donations to fund the project, including from Salesforce.com chief executive Marc Benioff and PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel, will deploy 60 free-floating barriers in the Pacific Ocean by 2020.