Anthropocene Markers
encircled the globe after the first nuclear weapons tests was considered the leading geological marker for a new geological epoch, the Anthropocene, the time when human impact on the earth became profound.Geologists have been able to measure a distinctive spike in the concentration of plutonium in ocean sediments from the US tests in the Marshall Islands in the 1940s and 1950s.Plutonium is anthropogenic - it doesn't exist on its own in nature.Plutonium isotopes can remain in ocean sediments for thousands of years due to their long half-lives, and this week, researchers from Edith Cowan University (ECU)
Plutonium Levels in Sediments Remain Elevated 70 Years After Nuclear Tests
Researchers from Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Australia have confirmed plutonium levels in sediment up to 4,500 times greater than the Western Australian coastline.Three plutonium-based nuclear weapons tests were conducted at the Montebello Islands in the 1950's, which introduced radioactive contamination to the surrounding environment. The first nuclear test, coded Operation Hurricane, had a weapon's yield of some 25kT, and formed a crater in the seabed, while the second and third tests, dubbed Operation Mosaic G1 and G2, had weapons yields of around 15kT and 60kT, respectively.The three
OceanAlpha Hosts First Marine USV Demonstration in the Middle East
Side Scan Sonar, and Teledyne PDS software. With Trimble Centrepoint RTX signal correction, the system achieved 4 cm positioning accuracy, making it an ideal solution for complex offshore oil & gas and marine survey challenges. During dynamic trial, the vessel simultaneously executed seabed mapping, sediment analysis, underwater structure detection.Real-time data from these operations streamed to the indoor Remote Operation Centre (ROC), where attendees viewed synchronized displays of navigation paths, sonar scans, and seabed maps—demonstrating how the USV’s end-to-end workflow can enhance
NOC Expedition Marks 40 Years of Abyssal Science Project
a Met Office monitoring buoy that supports weather forecasting and ocean monitoring at the site, including measuring carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and upper ocean.The expedition will also do its more routine work recovering and deploying a wide range of scientific instrumentation to collect water and sediment samplers, physical and chemical sensors for the highest quality data. Ecological observations will be collected using baited experiments and remote seafloor imaging systems, all of which make testing new technologies possible as well as extending the crucial time series
Ocean Robots Explore the Role of ‘Marine Snow’ in Carbon Storage
time.”The cameras were fixed at 100 and 300 m deep on a 3,300 m-long mooring in the sea between Newfoundland and Greenland.The ReBELS float has been programmed to carry out more frequent and varied depth profiles than standard floats and is also equipped with advanced sensors, including an optical sediment trap to help us to understand the amount of sinking particles when the float is drifting at the same depth.One of the gliders will stay near the mooring, while another one will follow a drifting profiling float, capturing detailed, high-resolution data on particle movement, ocean circulation
NOC: Natural Disasters Responsible for 25% of Subsea Cable Damage
study warns that climate change is intensifying many natural hazards, increasing risks to these vital networks.The threats from natural hazards range from earthquakes and submarine landslides to powerful underwater currents triggered by river floods.“These events can damage cables, bury them under sediment, or render them inoperable,” said Dr. Isobel Yeo, a researcher at NOC and co-lead on the project. “With climate change driving more extreme weather, rising sea levels and sediment-laden river discharges, the frequency and severity of these hazards are expected to grow, amplifying the
Trawling-Induced Sediment Resuspension Reduces CO2 Uptake
When bottom trawls are dragged across the seafloor, they stir up sediments. This not only releases previously stored organic carbon, but also intensifies the oxidation of pyrite, a mineral present in marine sediments, leading to additional emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2).These are the findings of a new study conducted by the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel. Based on sediment samples from Kiel Bight in the Baltic Sea, the researchers investigated the geochemical consequences of sediment resuspension.Their conclusion: areas with fine-grained sediments, which play a crucial role in CO2
Kim Heng’s Rebuilt Geotechnical Survey Vessel Sets Sail
features a 60-ton knuckle boom crane with man-riding capability, and is capable of accommodating up to 59 personnel, complete with a 55 m2 soil laboratory.The vessel includes a PS Logger for measuring in-situ seismic velocities and geotechnical properties, a Vibrocore system for collecting continuous sediment cores up to 6 meters, as well as comprehensive seabed and sub-seabed sampling systems for accurate geotechnical and environmental data collection.The fully-dedicated geotechnical survey vessel will be Korean-flagged
Reefblocks: Conservation Results After Two Years Since Installation
habitat for aquatic organisms.Reefblocks have proven their strength in extreme weather and are ready for broader deployment.Storm Resilience: All 17 Reefblocks remained stable during severe storms, including Storm Poly (July 2023).Wave Attenuation: The reef structure reduces wave action and promotes sediment build-up behind it, contributing to coastal protection and erosion prevention.Stronger Shorelines: The Reefblocks enhance the resilience of coastlines against storms and flooding.Ready for Global Application: The innovation is prepared for larger-scale rollouts worldwide.The project's success
February 2025
