Latest news with #AlessandroSilvano
Newsweek
09-07-2025
- Science
- Newsweek
Fact Check: Did an Ocean Current Reverse?
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. For years, climate experts have been sounding the alarm about the worsening impacts of global warming, and a report made by a European news wire agency over the weekend heightened the concerns in an alarming manner after reporting the first-ever reversal of an ocean current that could have "catastrophic" impacts. The Claim On July 5, IntelliNews published a report titled "Southern Ocean current reverses for first time, signaling risk of climate system collapse." The report states that the Deep Western Boundary Current (DWBC), a key component to the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) that circulates water within the Atlantic Ocean, reversed direction for the first time ever, a "catastrophic" event that would accelerate global warming and disrupt global weather patterns. The alarming report cited a press release from El Institut de Ciències del Mar, a Spanish state research institute, which referenced a recent study published in the peer-reviewed Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) by the University of Southampton. A stock photo of icebergs in Antarctica, where the Southern Ocean is located. A stock photo of icebergs in Antarctica, where the Southern Ocean is located. Oleksandr Matsibura/Getty The Facts What is the AMOC? The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) describes the AMOC as a "component of ocean circulation, which constantly moves water, heat, salt, carbon, and nutrients north-south within the ocean basins, and ultimately between the ocean basins and around the globe." The AMOC brings warm water north and cold water south. In a video about how the currents work, NOAA said that "as the ocean warms, the circulation may slow down, making it less effective at drawing carbon dioxide and especially heat out of the atmosphere." A reversal of the circulation would certainly be cause for concern. However, the PNAS study does not mention reversing ocean currents or the AMOC. What the study found Instead, the study discusses surface salinity of the Southern Ocean. Between the 1980s and 2015, the surface of the polar Southern Ocean was freshening, or growing less salty. The study said this coincided with an expansion of Antarctic sea ice. New satellite data referenced in the study found a "marked increase in surface salinity" across the Southern Ocean over the past decade, which has "weakened upper-ocean stratification, coinciding with a dramatic decline in Antarctic sea ice coverage." "Our study found that surface salinity in the Southern Ocean has been increasing while sea ice has declined," the PNAS study's lead author Alessandro Silvano told Newsweek. "This was unexpected, as melting sea ice is generally thought to freshen the ocean surface. The results suggest that our understanding of the Antarctic system—and how it may evolve—is incomplete." Reports of an erroneous press release It is unclear if IntelliNet is referencing the June 30 PNAS study, considering it mentions a July 2 study in the report, although it doesn't cite the source. A report from German news site said the IntelliNet article was based on an erroneous press release from El Institut de Ciències del Mar about the June 30 study that allegedly included a flawed quote from study co-author Antonio Turiel regarding ocean circulation. Turiel told Newsweek that the flawed quote was partly a result of mistranslation. "Our original press note contained some wrong sentences, partly caused by mistranslation, partly caused by a wrong use of words on my side. That's the reason of the correction," he said. Turiel added that the paper also found evidence that "isopycnals have shoaled, so effectively there is a change in the structure of Southern Ocean." This doesn't indicate a change in direction for the current, Turial said, but that "it is likely that there is a change in the configuration of the currents." A spokesperson with El Institut de Ciències del Mar told Newsweek that the press release has been updated, and Turiel's quote was corrected. However, the IntelliNews report still claims the current has been reversed. Silvano told Newsweek the story has "several issues." "We do not talk about DWBC in our recently published work. The AMOC is not collapsing this year," Silvano said. "There have been issues over the social media and press," he added. The Ruling False. The recent PNAS study does not claim the DWBC is collapsing, as reported by IntelliNews. However, the study's findings are still concerning. "If this salinity increase continues, it could enhance vertical mixing, drawing heat from deeper ocean layers to the surface and further accelerating sea ice melt," Silvano told Newsweek. "This suggests the potential for a self-sustaining feedback loop, where reduced sea ice cover perpetuates further loss. Diminished sea ice coverage can have important consequences, including ocean warming, increased iceberg formation, and threats to marine wildlife." FACT CHECK BY Newsweek
India Today
08-07-2025
- Science
- India Today
Antarctic water is dramatically getting saltier. It's not good news
A dramatic transformation is unfolding in the Southern Ocean, where scientists have discovered that surface waters around Antarctica are becoming saltier, despite a rapid and unprecedented decline in sea revelation, made possible by data from the European Space Agency's SMOS (Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity) satellite, upends long-held assumptions about the region's response to climate change.A Surprising ReversalTraditionally, melting sea ice is expected to freshen ocean surface waters, as freshwater from the ice dilutes the salty sea. Monitoring the Southern Ocean is notoriously difficult. (Photo: Getty) advertisement However, since 2015, Antarctica has lost an area of sea ice comparable to Greenland, one of the most extensive environmental changes in recent of becoming fresher, the surface waters south of 50 S latitude have grown saltier, according to a research team led by the University of shift is 'deeply troubling,' said Dr. Alessandro Silvano, lead author of the study published in PNAS. 'Melting ice should freshen the ocean, not make it saltier. Yet SMOS satellite data reveal the opposite is occurring.'A Dangerous Feedback LoopThe increase in surface salinity is altering the ocean's cold, fresh water floats above warmer, saltier water, trapping heat in the ocean's depths and promoting sea ice formation. Accelerated global warming as less ice means more heat is absorbed by the ocean. (Photo: Getty) Now, saltier surface waters allow heat from below to rise more easily, melting sea ice from beneath and making it harder for new ice to has coincided with the unexpected return of the Maud Rise polynya—a vast area of open water in the Weddell Sea not seen since the 1970s—highlighting just how abnormal current conditions ConsequencesThe loss of Antarctic sea ice has far-reaching implications:Disrupted ocean currents and altered climate patterns global warming as less ice means more heat is absorbed by the ocean and released to the to Antarctic wildlife, including penguins, as vital habitats the Southern Ocean is notoriously difficult, but the integration of SMOS satellite data with in-situ measurements has enabled the creation of a comprehensive 15-year dataset. The loss of Antarctic sea ice has far-reaching implications. (Photo: Getty) This breakthrough, achieved through advanced algorithms developed by the University of Southampton and the Barcelona Expert Centre, is part of ESA's Science for Society Silvano warns, 'We might be closer to passing a tipping point than expected and have potentially entered a new state defined by persistent sea ice decline, sustained by a newly discovered feedback loop.'As Antarctica undergoes rapid, unexpected changes, continuous satellite and in-situ monitoring will be essential to understand and predict the consequences for our planet.- EndsTrending Reel
USA Today
02-07-2025
- Science
- USA Today
Scientists find a 'dangerous feedback loop' in sudden sea ice melt
Over the past few years, researchers have discovered dramatic and "unexpected" shifts in the Southern Ocean, with saltiness rising and sea ice in steep decline. It's about as remote as it gets, yet what happens in the Southern Ocean near Antarctica impacts all of us. And what's going on down there? Over the past few years, researchers have discovered dramatic and "unexpected" shifts in the Southern Ocean, with saltiness rising and sea ice in steep decline, according to a new study. It matters, researchers say, because losing Antarctic sea ice is a planetary problem: "If this salty, low-ice state continues, it could permanently reshape the Southern Ocean – and with it, the planet," said study lead author Alessandro Silvano of the University of Southampton in a statement. "The effects are already global: stronger storms, warmer oceans, and shrinking habitats for penguins and other iconic Antarctic wildlife," he said. Record low sea ice Since 2015, Antarctica has displayed record-low sea ice extent, according to the study, which appeared in the peer-reviewed journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. In fact, since 2015, Antarctica has lost sea ice equal to the size of Greenland – the largest environmental shift seen anywhere on Earth in the last few decades. The Southern Ocean is also getting saltier, and this unexpected change is making the problem worse. 'Saltier surface water allows deep ocean heat to rise more easily, melting sea ice from below," Silvano said. "It's a dangerous feedback loop: less ice leads to more heat, which leads to even less ice." What is sea ice? Sea ice is frozen ocean water that melts each summer, then refreezes each winter. Antarctic sea ice is typically at its smallest in late February or early March, toward the end of summer in the Southern Hemisphere. Sea ice loss – especially in the Arctic but also in the Antarctic – is one of the clearest signals of global warming, the National Climate Assessment reported in 2018. In addition to human-caused warming of the Earth's atmosphere and oceans, multiple factors – including the geography of Antarctica, the region's winds, as well as air and ocean temperatures – affect the ice around Antarctica. Maud Rise polynya opens up The dramatic loss of sea ice around Antarctica has occurred with the re-emergence of the Maud Rise polynya in the Weddell Sea – a huge hole in the sea ice nearly four times the size of Wales, which hadn't occurred since the 1970s, the study reports. A polynya is an area of open water surrounded by sea ice. 'The return of the Maud Rise polynya signals just how unusual the current conditions are," Silvano said. Penguins rely on sea ice In Antarctica, it's penguins that rely on sea ice. Due to the dramatic loss of sea ice there, several colonies of emperor penguins face "quasi-extinction" in the decades to come, a study released in 2023 reported. More: With hurricane season brewing, Pentagon stops sharing satellite weather data Satellite data will be cut off Alberto Naveira Garabato, co-author of the study from the University of Southampton, said, 'The new findings suggest that our current understanding may be insufficient to accurately predict future changes.' However, the U.S. Defense Department is cutting off weather forecasters from data gathered by its special satellites that can "see" through the clouds. "(The new study) makes the need for continuous satellite monitoring all the more pressing, so we can better understand the drivers of recent and future shifts in the ice-ocean system,' Garabato said.
India Today
02-07-2025
- Science
- India Today
Dramatic, unexpected events unfolding in Southern Ocean due to climate change
Researchers have uncovered a dramatic and unexpected shift in the Southern Ocean, with surface waters becoming saltier and Antarctic sea ice retreating at a record 2015, Antarctica has lost sea ice equal to the size of Greenland—the largest environmental change observed on Earth in recent decades, the Southern Ocean's surface was freshening, helping to grow and sustain sea ice. This fresh layer acted as a barrier, trapping heat in deeper waters and protecting sea ice from melting. However, new satellite data and robotic ocean sensors now reveal a sharp reversal: surface salinity is rising, stratification is weakening, and sea ice is vanishing at unprecedented The research, led by the University of Southampton and published June 30 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shows that saltier surface water allows deep ocean heat to rise more easily, melting sea ice from below. There is a sudden rise in surface salinity south of 50 latitude. (Photo: Nasa) 'It's a dangerous feedback loop: less ice leads to more heat, which leads to even less ice,' explained Dr. Alessandro Silvano, the study's lead cycle has been further highlighted by the return of the Maud Rise polynya—a massive hole in the sea ice nearly four times the size of Wales — which had not appeared since the loss of Antarctic sea ice has immediate global consequences. Sea ice reflects sunlight, helping to regulate the planet's temperature. Its decline means more heat is absorbed by the ocean, intensifying storms, accelerating global warming, and shrinking habitats for penguins and other Antarctic rapid changes are also reshaping ocean currents and weather systems far beyond the polar are now urging for continuous satellite and in-situ monitoring to better understand these changes, as current climate models did not predict such a rapid shift.'If this salty, low-ice state continues, it could permanently reshape the Southern Ocean—and with it, the planet,' warned Dr. research points to the urgency of revising scientific models and maintaining robust observation networks to track the evolving climate crisis.- EndsMust Watch
See - Sada Elbalad
02-07-2025
- Science
- See - Sada Elbalad
Southern Ocean Waters Are Getting Warmer and Saltier, Study Warns
Rana Atef Researchers have discovered another unexpected shift in the Southern Ocean. Surface water salinity is rising, and sea ice is in steep decline. The latest discovery came as Antarctica is deeply suffering from the consequences of climate change and global warming. Since 2015, Antarctica has lost sea ice equal to the size of Greenland. This proves that the Southern Ocean is also getting saltier, and this unexpected change is worsening the crisis. For decades, the ocean's surface was less salty, helping sea ice grow. Now, scientists say that situation has sharply reversed. Using European satellite data, research led by the University of Southampton has discovered a sudden rise in surface salinity south of 50° latitude. This is parallel with a dramatic loss of sea ice around Antarctica and the re-emergence of the Maud Rise polynya in the Weddell Sea. The findings have been published on 30 June in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Dr. Alessandro Silvano from the University of Southampton who led the research said, "Saltier surface water allows deep ocean heat to rise more easily, melting sea ice from below. It's a dangerous feedback loop: Less ice leads to more heat, which leads to even less ice. "The return of the Maud Rise polynya signals just how unusual the current conditions are. If this salty, low-ice state continues, it could permanently reshape the Southern Ocean—and with it, the planet. The effects are already global: stronger storms, warmer oceans, and shrinking habitats for penguins and other iconic Antarctic wildlife." read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean News "Tensions Escalate: Iran Probes Allegations of Indian Tech Collaboration with Israeli Intelligence"
