Increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere may cause more harm to marine coral reef communities than previous research had indicated, according to research in the journal Global Biogeochemical Cycles. Coral growth could be reduced by as much as 40 percent from pre-industrial levels over the next 65 years. (American Geophysical Union release)

Marine geologists have confirmed the existence of an active underwater volcano east of Samoa. The volcano is located about 28 miles east of Ta'u Island and rises more than 16,400 feet from the seafloor to within 2,000 feet of the ocean surface. (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution release)