The Gulf of Maine is changing rapidly. In September, the Gulf of Maine North Atlantic Time Series team completed its 20th year and 200th trip across the Gulf. This project is revealing the intertwined processes that drive this important ecosystem, and how they are responding to global climate change.

Phytoplankton’s ability to store iron drives global chemical cycles and shapes the ecology of the ocean. This year, our scientists discovered that differences in iron storage methods affect species’ resilience against shortages. This finding helps us predict how the oceans will respond to climate change.

Our researchers are experts in a suite of cutting-edge technologies that are frequently referred to as “omics.” This year, they used these techniques to decode massive sets of genetic information and answer complex questions about a wide variety of organisms and processes in oceans around the world.

Kelp forests are declining across much of the planet due to climate change and human activities. In the northern Gulf of Maine, however, they may actually be returning. Our scientists are conducting a two-year survey of coastal waters to assess the current state of kelp forests and learn how Maine can best maintain a sustainable seaweed aquaculture industry.

Red tide is caused by the proliferation of a harmful microalgae. As global climate changes, the Gulf of Maine is warming and becoming more acidic, which scientists believe may favor toxic algae species. Our researchers are studying harmful algal blooms to learn how to protect the Gulf of Maine, as well as the communities and economies it supports.

Oil spills dramatically impact the environment and local communities. Since the Deepwater Horizon spill in 2010, our researchers have contributed substantially to the nascent field of oil spill science. They have uncovered processes that transform oil and revealed its fate in the deep sea, improving the accuracy of spill models and informing response efforts.

Maine’s coastal waters are becoming more acidic due to climate change, jeopardizing the aquaculture industry. Our scientists are partnering with shellfish farmers to capitalize on the unique ocean remediation opportunity offered by growing seaweed, which also creates a new revenue stream and nutritious product in a time of increasing food insecurity.

Throughout the ocean, microbes produce the construction materials needed to shape their habitats. Our researchers are studying iron-oxidizing bacteria, some of the ocean’s most productive tiny architects. By learning how these bacteria build their complex structures, they aim to develop useful nanomaterials that could revolutionize batteries and water filtration.

Wild fish stocks are dwindling around the world, threatening billions who rely on fish for protein and nutrition. Aquaculturists are working to supplement this crucial food source, which comes with its own challenges. Our scientists are studying algae as a sustainable source of essential nutrients for fish aquaculture.

The Arctic climate is changing faster than anywhere else in the world. One of the most significant consequences may be to something commonplace yet enigmatic: clouds. Our researchers traveled
to the North Pole this
year to study how ocean microbes impact cloud formation, illuminating the future of the region.

Data collected by citizen scientists can make it possible to forecast ecosystems just like meteorologists forecast the weather. Our scientists are collecting sightings of jellyfish and ticks to fuel algorithms that predict the likelihood of future encounters. This dynamic approach empowers the public to partner with us on impactful science.

Copepods are a tiny crustacean vital to many marine ecosystems, as well as Earth’s carbon cycle. Their future may be compromised by ocean warming, acidification, and other impacts of global climate change. Our research is untangling these effects and determining how they will shape the future of these crucial animals.