November 6, 2014
Ocean Roundup: New Deep-Sea Coral Discovered, Alvin Submersible Highlighted for Oceanographic Research, and More
– Nicaragua will soon begin constructing a new canal that connects the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, and will be nearly 200 miles long by the time it’s completed. However, both environmental and social impact studies have not yet been completed, and it’s estimated that at least 30,000 people will be displaced by its construction. Spiegel Online International
– Federal regulators officially shut down the Gulf of Maine’s northern shrimp season yesterday for the second year in a row. Officials cited declining populations and warming ocean temperatures in shutting down the fishery. The Associated Press
– Scientists believe they’ve found the missing link in the fossil record between land-based reptiles and sea-based ichthyosaurs—dolphin-like reptiles that lived during the time of dinosaurs. Researchers report that they’ve found a fossil of an amphibious ancestor of ichthyosaurs in China that spent time in and out of the water. The Washington Post
– Researchers discovered a new deep-sea coral species in waters off California, which scientists say provides valuable habitat for deep-sea communities. Reseachers also discovered a new skate and catshark nursery. ScienceDaily
Long Read:
– NPR takes a detailed look at Alvin, the first research submarine that carried scientists below the ocean’s surface, and details some of its greatest discoveries, like deep-sea vents and capturing photos of Titanic wreckage. And though 95 percent of the ocean remains unexplored, argues the author, the budget for space exploration in 2013 came in at about $12 billion higher than for ocean exploration. NPR