marine science
Credit: Wayne S. Grazio/Flickr
Rising ocean temperatures signal potential global disruptions
As oceans warm at unprecedented rates, experts fear widespread ecological impacts.
Katrin Bennhold, David Gelles and Raymond Zhong report for The New York Times.
In short:
- Ocean temperatures are rising sharply, with a significant jump observed from March 2023, posing increased risks to marine life and ecosystems.
- Recent shipping emission regulations have inadvertently contributed to ocean warming by reducing sulfur dioxide that helped reflect sunlight.
- Scientists are alarmed by the rapid ocean warming, which has led to widespread coral bleaching affecting global fisheries.
Key quote:
"We're seeing changes in ocean temperatures that none of the climate models can explain."
— David Gelles, journalist
Why this matters:
The health of our oceans is closely tied to overall environmental stability and human health, influencing everything from weather patterns to global biodiversity. Read more: Surprise! Unexpected ocean heat waves are becoming the norm.
Keep reading...Show less
Is ocean iron fertilization back from the dead as a CO₂ removal tool?
After a hiatus of more than 10 years, a new round of research into ocean iron fertilization is set to begin, with scientists saying the controversial geoengineering approach has the potential to remove “gigatons per year” of carbon dioxide from Earth’s atmosphere.
Scientists studying Antarctic Circumpolar Current to take closer look at 'heat flux gates' letting in warmer water
The powerful Antarctic Circumpolar Current in the Southern Ocean acts like a force field, keeping warmer waters out of the polar region. But scientists are concerned a "gateway" is opening up.
Photo by R. David Cummins on Unsplash
New era begins for ‘dead zone’ tracking in Chesapeake Bay
The main objective is to give Bay scientists a clearer understanding of where and when low-oxygen conditions occur.
Credit: Michiel Vos / Ocean Image Bank
Mapping seagrass, the world’s forgotten underwater ecosystem
Seagrasses are one of the world’s most productive underwater ecosystems, but they've long been overlooked.
Official U.S. Navy Page/Flickr/Commercial use & mods allowedhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/
The hurricane and the saildrone
Understanding the secrets of a warming ocean means steering straight into the biggest hurricanes. Enter the saildrone.
Oregon State University/Flickr/Commercial use & mods allowedhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/
Shining the light on baby crabs
In British Columbia, a monitoring project with light traps may illuminate the future of the prized crustaceans.
ORIGINAL REPORTING
MOST POPULAR
CLIMATE
