Photo Credit: NOAA

A relatively new type of El Niño, which has its warmest waters in the central-equatorial Pacific Ocean, rather than in the eastern-equatorial Pacific, is becoming more common and progressively stronger, according to a new study by NASA and NOAA. The research may improve our understanding of the relationship between El Niños and climate change, and has potential significant implications for long-term weather forecasting.

The scientists say the stronger El Niños help explain a steady rise in central Pacific sea surface temperatures observed over the past few decades in previous studies — a trend attributed by some to the effects of global warming. While Lee and McPhaden observed a rise in sea surface temperatures during El Niño years, no significant temperature increases were seen in years when ocean conditions were neutral, or when El Niño’s cool water counterpart, La Niña, was present.

“Our study concludes the long-term warming trend seen in the central Pacific is primarily due to more intense El Niños, rather than a general rise of background temperatures,” said Lee.

http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2010/20100825_elnino.html#

The scheme involves the equivalent of fingerprinting the animals, storing images of their unique dorsal fins on a database.

Once established tourists and fishermen would be able to access the information online, helping international shark groups to track the animals.

The University of Bristol is developing the software which experts hope will give them a unique insight into the species’ population and one day give them the truth on numbers of the animals and their movements.
It is hoped that the unparalleled record of the sharks and their territories could eventually help lift the lid on key behaviours never before witnessed – like great whites mating or giving birth.
Swiss marine biologist Michael Scholl, founder and director of the White Shark Trust, spent 10 years photographing over 1,500 great white’s using his ‘finprinting’ technique.
His detailed record of white shark observations – paired together with a dorsal fin ID for each animal – is the world’s biggest database ever recorded on great white’s and will be the basis for the new computer system.

See here for more:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/7938316/Plan-to-fingerprint-every-Great-White-Shark.html

The remains of a prehistoric child that were found in an underwater cave in Mexico four years ago have now been removed by a team of divers.

The skeletal remains of the boy, dubbed the Young Hol Chan, are more than 10,000 years old and are among the oldest human bones found in the Americas.

Scientists hope that the well-preserved corpse will offers clues to ancient human migration.

See here for pictures: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1305929/Ancient-skeleton-prehistoric-child-removed-Mexican-underwater-cave.html#ixzz0xq3p1vuc

A short, acoustic series of images and video representing much of the life and activities you will find within the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary by NOAA  Data Analyses  Specialist, Chad King.

The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) is a Federally protected marine area offshore of California’s central coast. Stretching from Marin to Cambria, the MBNMS encompasses a shoreline length of 276 miles and 6,094 square miles of ocean. Supporting one of the world’s most diverse marine ecosystems, it is home to numerous mammals, seabirds, fishes, invertebrates and plants in a remarkably productive coastal environment. The MBNMS was established for the purpose of resource protection, research, education, and public use of this national treasure. The MBNMS is part of a system of 13 National Marine Sanctuaries and one marine national monument, administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

For more information, please visit http://montereybay.noaa.gov/

and for more videos and images like these, see: http://www.youtube.com/user/simon299