oceans
Newsletter
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Norway faces backlash over plans to mine the Arctic seafloor
Norway's plan to allow deep-sea mining in Arctic waters has raised concerns about its potential harm to marine life, including whales and other species that rely on the seafloor ecosystem.
In short:
- Norway has designated over 100,000 square miles of Arctic waters for deep-sea mining, which could begin by 2025.
- Environmental groups, including Greenpeace, warn that noise and habitat destruction from mining operations could severely impact marine ecosystems.
- Deep-sea species, many of which are slow-growing and vulnerable, may face irreversible damage from such activities.
Key quote:
“You can’t break up the seafloor without risking everything, including species not even yet discovered or described, through connections that we are only beginning to understand.”
— David Santillo, marine and freshwater biologist at Greenpeace Research Laboratories
Why this matters:
Deep-sea mining poses a significant threat to fragile Arctic ecosystems. Disruptions from noise, light and habitat destruction could lead to irreversible harm, jeopardizing marine biodiversity and food chains critical to ocean health.
Related: Humans may start mining the deep sea despite limited knowledge
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Newsletter
Human activity pushes Earth's life-support systems past critical limits
Scientists warn that industrial civilization may have breached seven of nine planetary boundaries vital for Earth's stability, including ocean acidification, which threatens marine ecosystems.
In short:
- Ocean acidification is nearing a critical threshold, endangering marine organisms, especially in the Southern and Arctic Oceans.
- Six other planetary boundaries, including climate change and biosphere integrity, have already been crossed, destabilizing global systems.
- Stratospheric ozone levels remain stable, but worsening ocean acidification weakens the oceans' role in absorbing atmospheric CO2.
Key quote:
"This illustrates the connection between ocean acidification and biosphere integrity."
— Levke Caesar, climate physicist at PIK
Why this matters:
Crossing planetary boundaries risks disrupting the stable conditions Earth has maintained for 12,000 years, jeopardizing human civilization. Acidifying oceans threaten marine food webs and reduce their capacity to absorb CO2, worsening climate change impacts.
Related EHN coverage:
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A mysterious avalanche in Greenland sparked a seismic hum that shook the planet for nine days
A colossal rock-ice avalanche in eastern Greenland triggered a megatsunami and a strange seismic hum that puzzled scientists worldwide for over a week.
In short:
- A 25 million cubic meter rock-ice avalanche crashed into a fjord, generating a megatsunami with waves as high as 200 meters.
- The seismic rumble from this event persisted for nine days, baffling seismologists until a rare standing wave (seiche) was identified as the cause.
- The event highlights the hidden dangers of climate change, as melting ice contributed to the avalanche's sudden collapse.
Key quote:
“Climate change is lurking in the background of this story.”
— Kristian Svennevig, Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland
Why this matters:
The Greenland event was a reminder of just how interconnected the planet’s systems are—and how even the most remote places can send shockwaves across the globe, literally. In an era where the planet is increasingly unpredictable, it was a moment of intellectual curiosity that also serves as a stark warning of what’s to come as we push Earth's limits. Read more: Scientists probe ancient history of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet and find unsettling news about sea level rise.
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There's a plan to turn oceans into climate sponges, but will it work?
Scientists and startups are exploring ways to turn rivers and oceans into carbon sinks by adding limestone to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere.
Brad Plumer and Raymond Zhong report for The New York Times.
In short:
- A startup in Nova Scotia plans to use limestone to capture carbon dioxide from rivers, which could reduce emissions if scaled up.
- The method is part of a growing trend of ocean-based carbon removal strategies, but challenges remain in scaling and proving the technology.
- Environmentalists worry about potential risks to marine life from altering ocean chemistry, as there’s still much to learn about side effects.
Key quote:
“They all have their problems, they all have consequences. But I think we just have to also weigh these against the consequences of doing nothing, which are to me catastrophic.”
— Ken Buesseler, a senior scientist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Why this matters:
With climate change accelerating, some experts say innovative carbon removal technologies are critical. While this sounds like a game-changer, it raises big questions. We're talking about massive bodies of water being tinkered with on a molecular level. Read more: Geoengineering: The escape route.
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Newsletter
Credit: Roman Synkevych/Unsplash
Climate change is fueling extreme weather and chaos in the jet stream
As the planet warms, shifts in the jet stream are leading to catastrophic flooding and other extreme weather events in regions like West Africa and Europe, according to climate scientist Michael Mann.
In short:
- Warming oceans increase atmospheric moisture, intensifying rainfall and flooding events.
- Disruption of the jet stream, worsened by Arctic warming, causes erratic weather patterns and extremes in temperature and precipitation.
- Low-resource countries, especially in the Global South, are hardest hit by these climate impacts, lacking the infrastructure to respond effectively.
Key quote:
"The chaos that is present in Van Gogh's Starry Night is the sort of chaos that is present in our atmosphere right now and again, climate change appears to be making that sort of behavior more common."
— Michael Mann, climate scientist
Why this matters:
Rising global temperatures are making extreme weather events more frequent and severe. Poorer countries, which contributed the least to climate change, suffer the most from its effects, highlighting a need for equitable global climate action and support.
Related:
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Credit: Paul Summers/Unsplash
Thwaites Glacier faces faster melting, could worsen sea level rise
Scientists warn that the Thwaites Glacier’s rapid retreat could raise sea levels by up to six feet by 2100, threatening coastal communities and ecosystems.
In short:
- The Thwaites Glacier, a keystone for the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, has been retreating for 80 years, with recent acceleration.
- A complete collapse by the 23rd century could raise sea levels dramatically, displacing millions of people in coastal areas.
- Scientists warn of irreversible changes triggered by greenhouse gas emissions, affecting global sea level rise projections.
Key quote:
“It’s really concerning that the latest models are all kind of pointing toward irreversible retreat having been triggered already.”
— James Kirkham, University of Cambridge climate researcher and chief science advisor to the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative
Why this matters:
A major glacier collapse could lead to catastrophic sea level rise, overwhelming cities and ecosystems. The ongoing retreat signals urgent need for climate action to mitigate the worst-case scenario.
Related EHN coverage:
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Scientists find IVF coral better survives marine heatwaves than older coral colonies
Young corals bred with in vitro fertilization and planted on reefs in the Caribbean have shown a remarkable ability to survive record heatwaves, outperforming older, natural coral colonies.
In short:
- A study found that 90% of IVF-bred corals remained healthy during a Caribbean heatwave, while only 25% of older corals survived.
- IVF coral uses increased genetic diversity to adapt better to rising temperatures compared to traditional cloning methods.
- Researchers emphasize the need for climate action, as frequent heatwaves threaten long-term coral survival.
Key quote:
“We need to address the underlying causes of global climate change. But I think it’s important that we’re supplementing coral populations in the meantime, because it might be able to buy us some time.”
— Dr. Margaret Miller, research director, Secore International
Why this matters:
Coral reefs support marine biodiversity and protect coastlines. As climate change intensifies, techniques like coral IVF may help sustain these ecosystems in the short term, but global warming must be addressed for long-term success.
Related EHN coverage:
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