Posted on Mar 27, 2023
Northwest scientists unlock new insights into deep-sea thermal vents, fusion, sneaky waves and...
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Deep-sea hydrothermal vents are some of the most unforgiving environments on the planet. Superheated fluid leaves the Earth’s crust and mixes with the near-freezing seawater. Yet there’s growing evidence these volcanic outflows are where life on Earth originated.
Researchers at Portland State University have discovered an astounding array of microbial life thriving at different hydrothermal vent sites around the world. Using genomic analysis, they identified 3,635 different bacteria and archaea. Of that group, at least 500 had never been noted before, and they found evidence of two totally new phyla (a really broad category of life).
In addition, their work showed that these microbes depend on each other for survival — like little underwater communes.
Researchers at Portland State University have discovered an astounding array of microbial life thriving at different hydrothermal vent sites around the world. Using genomic analysis, they identified 3,635 different bacteria and archaea. Of that group, at least 500 had never been noted before, and they found evidence of two totally new phyla (a really broad category of life).
In addition, their work showed that these microbes depend on each other for survival — like little underwater communes.
Northwest scientists unlock new insights into deep-sea thermal vents, fusion, sneaky waves and...
Posted from opb.org
Science
Geology
Portland State University
Posted 1 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Sneaky waves
If you’ve been to the beach in Northern California, Oregon or Washington, you’ve probably seen signs warning about the dangers of “sneaker waves.” These larger-than-normal waves that can catch people off guard and even kill them. And they often seem to happen at random.
But researchers at Oregon State University have now identified conditions that are ripe for these waves to form.
When large storms are kicking up in the South Pacific and off Alaska, they create conditions where two kinds of waves — the surface waves that break every few seconds on the beach and the larger, underlying infragravity waves — get into better sync. This makes the underlying waves even stronger, leading to sneaker waves. But conditions along the Northwest coast matter as well. Calm weather is needed so the two types of waves aren’t forced out of sync.
The researchers hope the new information can be used to create an early-warning system for when sneaker waves are on their way to shore."
..."Sneaky waves
If you’ve been to the beach in Northern California, Oregon or Washington, you’ve probably seen signs warning about the dangers of “sneaker waves.” These larger-than-normal waves that can catch people off guard and even kill them. And they often seem to happen at random.
But researchers at Oregon State University have now identified conditions that are ripe for these waves to form.
When large storms are kicking up in the South Pacific and off Alaska, they create conditions where two kinds of waves — the surface waves that break every few seconds on the beach and the larger, underlying infragravity waves — get into better sync. This makes the underlying waves even stronger, leading to sneaker waves. But conditions along the Northwest coast matter as well. Calm weather is needed so the two types of waves aren’t forced out of sync.
The researchers hope the new information can be used to create an early-warning system for when sneaker waves are on their way to shore."
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