Observed transmissions and ocean-ice-acoustic coupled modelling in the Beaufort Sea.

An ocean-ice-acoustic coupled model is configured for the Beaufort Sea. The model uses outputs from a data assimilating global scale ice-ocean-atmosphere forecast to drive a bimodal roughness algorithm for generating a realistic ice canopy. The resulting range-dependent ice cover obeys observed roughness, keel number density, depth, and slope, and floe size statistics.

Modeling the Evolution of Rates of Continuous Trait Evolution.

Rates of phenotypic evolution vary markedly across the tree of life, from the accelerated evolution apparent in adaptive radiations to the remarkable evolutionary stasis exhibited by so-called "living fossils." Such rate variation has important consequences for large-scale evolutionary dynamics, generating vast disparities in phenotypic diversity across space, time, and taxa. Despite this, most methods for estimating trait evolution rates assume rates vary deterministically with respect to some variable of interest or change infrequently during a clade's history.

Minimal COVID-19 quieting measured in the deep offshore waters of the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf.

Using a 2-year time series (2019-2020) of 1-min sound pressure level averages from seven sites, the extension of COVID-related quieting documented in coastal soundscapes to deep (approximately 200-900 m) waters off the southeastern United States was assessed. Sites ranged in distance to the continental shelf break and shipping lanes. Sound level decreases in 2020 were observed at sites closest to the shelf break and shipping lanes but were inconsistent with the timing of shipping changes related to a COVID-19 slowdown.