School of Ocean and Earth Science (SOES)

Invasions of voracious predatory crabs due to global warming could threaten the unique continental-shelf ecosystems of Antarctica, according to newly published findings.

“King crabs are ecologically important predators and form the basis of economically significant commercial fisheries,” said Dr Sven Thatje, an evolutionary ecologist at the…

A study led by Dr Stuart Painter of the National Oceanography Centre helps explain the formation of huge phytoplankton blooms off the southeast coast of South America during the austral summer (December–January). The region supports the highly productive Patagonian Shelf marine ecosystem, which includes a globally important fishery.

Coccolithophores…

RRS Discovery sets sail for the South Atlantic on 17 October to investigate the metals vital to marine life. These metal micronutrients act as fertilizers in the ocean affecting global climate and in turn, societies and economies around the world.

The 39-day expedition leaves Cape Town crossing the South Atlantic to Montevideo studying the…

Tom Chamberlain, a third year undergraduate studying geophysics at the University of Southampton, has this summer joined an expedition on the EV Nautilus to explore regions in the Sea of Marmara and the Eastern Aegean, Turkey.

The expedition is the brainchild of Professor Bob Ballard of the Inner Space Center at the University of Rhode…

University of Southampton scientists based at the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, along with US and Indonesian collaborators have uncovered clues as to why some undersea earthquakes generate huge tsunamis. Their findings may help explain why the 2004 Sumatra ‘Boxing Day Tsunami’ was so devastating.

Early in the morning of 26 December 2004…

Scholars from five research institutions led by the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) in Southampton have analysed a rare 20kg bronze ram from an ancient Mediterranean warship. Known as the ‘Belgammel’ Ram, it is named after the site where it was discovered off the coast of Libya, near Tobruk.

Ancient oared warships, such as the triremes beloved…

Spore-like reproductive cysts of enigmatic organisms called acantharians rapidly sink from surface waters to the deep ocean in certain regions, according to new research.

Scientists suspect that this is part of an extraordinary reproductive strategy, which allows juveniles to exploit a seasonal food bonanza.

The research shows that deep…