Biology Book Review Physiology
The whirling world of starfish larvae whorls
A close look at starfish larvae reveals the beautiful patterns they create while moving through the water. These tiny vortex…
Author: Nicole Couto
I’m interested in how physical processes occurring in different parts of the ocean affect local ecosystems and climate. For my PhD research at Rutgers University (New Brunswick, NJ), I am studying the circulation and pathways of heat transport in the waters of the West Antarctic Peninsula continental shelf, one of the fastest warming regions of the planet. When I'm not thinking about the ocean, I do a lot of swim-bike-running and compete very uncompetitively on the Rutgers Triathlon team.
Biological oceanography Fisheries Harmful Algal Bloom Human Health Physical oceanography
A toxic toasty blob: warm water in the Pacific provides a happy home for poisonous algae
A warm blob at the ocean surface, fishery closures, and unhappy marine mammals – what do all these things have…
Climate Change Glaciers Physical oceanography technology
Melting ice shelves could be slowing down ocean circulation: Elephant seals lend a flipper to find out
Wanted: Antarctic researchers to study the formation of deep water in the coastal Antarctic seas. Job requirements: Plenty of blubber…
Book Review
The Antarctic Peninsula is cooling… for now
Temperature records from the Antarctic Peninsula show that the region has been cooling since the end of the 20th century.…
Book Review
What to feed a fish
Stocks of small ocean-caught fish that are used to make fish feed for aquaculture are at risk of overexploitation. New…
Book Review Climate Change Glaciers Sea-level Rise
Watermelon snow – Colorful algae speed up the melting of glaciers
Red snow algae can form massive blooms on ice sheets every summer as the snow starts to melt. But their…
Book Review
Antarctic krill, stuck with rocks in a hard place
Krill have been washing up on the coast of an Antarctic island with pebbles stuck in their digestive tracts. As…
Conservation Coral Ecology Fisheries
How badly do coral reefs and sharks need each other?
Overfishing threatens the populations of reef sharks that act as the top of the food chain on coral reefs. Their…
Atmospheric Science Book Review Climate Change Glaciers Physical oceanography Sea Ice
Not all freshwater is created equal
Glacial runoff, precipitation, and sea ice melt all contribute to the freshwater content of the upper ocean along the west…
Behavior Ecology Physical oceanography technology
Little penguins have little tolerance for high temperatures
New technology lets researchers track the 3D motion of penguins in the ocean to learn exactly where they catch their…
Atmospheric Science Coastal Management Cyclones Hazards Human impacts Modeling ocean engineering Physical oceanography
Storm Troopers! Robots collect ocean data during hurricanes
Hurricane prediction models are constantly improving as we create more innovative ways to study the growth and development of storms.…
Book Review
Seabird poop and coral reefs
Scientists have known for a long time that nutrient-rich guano can significantly change the ecology of areas where seabirds nest…
Climate Change Physical oceanography Remote Sensing
Miles-deep currents seen from miles high
The system of currents that moves water and heat around the globe and regulates global climate may be slowing down.…
Book Review
Some like it hot, and that might help
For fish in the 21st century, the riskiest places to live might not be the ones that are warming the…
Atmospheric Science Human impacts Physical oceanography
Get ready for some “extremely” wet and warm days! (Maybe)
Recently, a lot of research has been focused on predicting average winter temperature and rainfall in the U.S. during El…
Paleoceanography
Tiny shells tell the history of Antarctic ice
Over the past 10,000 years, the West Antarctic Ice Sheet has gone through long periods of growth and long periods…