The world's oceans are experiencing unprecedented stress from extreme heat, oxygen loss, and acidification due to human activities like burning fossil fuels and deforestation.
A fifth of the world’s ocean surface is highly susceptible to these combined threats.
Extreme conditions in the upper 300 meters of affected ocean areas now last three times longer and are six times more intense compared to the 1960s.
The compounding threats particularly impact the tropics and the north Pacific.
Key quote:
“Oceans aren’t just a nice backdrop for your selfies in summer, we rely upon them for our lives.”
— Andrea Dutton, geologist and climate scientist at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
Why this matters:
The ocean's health is critical for maintaining global climate stability and supporting marine life. The increasing frequency and intensity of these extreme conditions threaten marine ecosystems and the livelihoods dependent on them.
