Ocean Life News in Brief: October-15-2015

Ocean Conservancy Estimates 2025 Plastic Ocean Contamination Levels

A new report of the Ocean Conservancy which teamed up this time with McKinsey Center for Business and Environment assures that by 2025 the Ocean could contain one ton of plastic for every three tons of finfish.

European Space Agency ESA-SMOS Works to Predict Ocean Weather from Space 

The European Space Agency ESA communicated on the project SMOS and other satellites which are “together providing insight into how surface winds evolve under tropical storm clouds in the Pacific Ocean”. ESA assures that the satellite information will help predict extreme weather. 

Cambridge University Paper Estimates Hydrocarbon Production by Oceanic Bacteria

Scientists of the University of Cambridge published a new paper which addressed the production of hydrocarbons made by photosynthetic ocean bacteria. “Scientists have calculated that millions of tons of hydrocarbons are produced annually by photosynthetic bacteria in the world's oceans,” Cambridge University assured. University of Cambridge teamed up with International scientists to take on the study. Cyanobacteria were the main focus of the paper. Researchers of MIT and University of Warwick collaborated with the the paper which was published by the Journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Chile Viña del Mar Hosts Second Ocean Conference 

Chile hosted the Second Ocean Conference in Viña del Mar where two massive ocean reserves -one in Chile and the other in New Zealand were presented. The event took place from October 5 to October 6. 

NASA Horizons Revealed Massive Canyon on Pluto´s Moon Signaling to Hydric Erosion 

NASA released images and conclusions of Pluto´s moon evolution. Images taken by the Horizons Spacecraft “indicated a colossal geological upset in Charon's past (Moon of Pluto)”. Images reveal a grand canyon believed to have been physically eroded by hydric forces. 

NASA Back on BRUIE Tests: “Rover That Could Explore Iced-Ocean Environments” 

NASA JPL released on September 24 -once again video footage of BRUIE Buoyant Rover for Under-Ice Exploration testing. “Researchers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory are developing the Buoyant Rover for Under-Ice Exploration, a technology that could one day explore oceans under the ice layers of planetary bodies. The prototype was tested in arctic lakes near Barrow, Alaska,” NASA JPL stated. 

National Geographic Registers Turtle Glow in Pacific Ocean 

Biologists of the University of New York communicated biofluorescence exhibitions in a turtle specie present in the waters of the Island Salomon in the Pacific Ocean. Researchers assure that the turtle is cable of “bright glow". The turtle is registered as a variety of “hawsbill” Carey Turtle and would be the first reptile to exhibit bio-fluorescence. More tests are urged as fluorescence could be part of turtle empowerments. The discovery was registered by National Geographic. 

NASA Confirms Evidence of Liquid Salted Water Flowing on Mars Today 

On September 28 NASA confirmed that liquid water flows today in Mars. “...narrow, 100 meter-long streaks called recurring slope lineae flowing downhill on Mars are inferred to have been formed by contemporary flowing water...Recently, planetary scientists detected hydrated salts on these slopes at Hale crater, corroborating their original hypothesis that the streaks are indeed formed by liquid water,” NASA communicated. The high resolution infra-red-red-blue/green images were composed as a result of data relayed to Earth by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter MRO. NASA described the images as “ the strongest evidence yet that liquid water flows intermittently on present-day Mars”.“ “This is a significant development, as it appears to confirm that water -though salty -- is flowing today on the surface of Mars,” NASA top authorities stated. 

Eel-Shark Fished off Home-Limits in Southeastern Australian Waters 

In Southeast Australian Ocean waters a fisherman assures to have fished out a eel-shark. The Eel-Shark is registered to live at depths up to 400 meters in coasts of New Zealand and Japan as well as the Pacific Ocean basin, UK and Spain Basins in the Atlantic. 

Hurricane Season Introduces Tropical Storm Joaquin: From Bahamas to Touch East US

The 2015 Hurricane Season introduced the Tropical Storm Joaquin. Storm Joaquin was formed in the Atlantic Waters mainly in the Northeast of the Bahamas. Its pathways and trajectory estimated touchdown in US territories of Virginia and North Carolina as well as other East US Coast areas. 

Extreme Sailing Series World Tour Stop 7 Hits Istanbul 

International Sailing Press jumped all over the 7th Stop of the Extreme Sailing 2015 World Tour. Stop 7 took to Istanbul waters. 

Sail World at Lorient IMOCA Event Speaks on Innovations 

Sail World reported on the design showdown for the IMOCA Category which took place in the Lorient. 24 Sailors competed with boats of modern and old design schools. “Out with the new, in with the old,” Sail World reported.