https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/earth_climate/el_nino_and_la_nina/ Learn how El Nino and La Nina can contribute to severe weather leading to heavy storms in some regions and droughts in others. Read about the causes and effects of El Nino and La Nina. en-us Mon, 20 Apr 2026 03:06:02 EDT Mon, 20 Apr 2026 03:06:02 EDT 60 https://www.sciencedaily.com/images/scidaily-logo-rss.png https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/earth_climate/el_nino_and_la_nina/ For more science news, visit ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/04/260406192902.htm A colossal ocean current encircling Antarctica—stronger than all the world’s rivers combined—played a far more complex role in shaping Earth’s climate than scientists once thought. New research shows it didn’t form just because ocean gateways opened, but required shifting continents and powerful winds to align. This shift helped pull carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, contributing to a major cooling event that transformed Earth into the ice-covered world we know today. Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:07:40 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/04/260406192902.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/04/260403224449.htm Asteroid impacts may have helped kick-start life on Earth by creating hot, chemical-rich environments ideal for early biology. These impact-generated hydrothermal systems could have lasted thousands of years—long enough for life’s building blocks to form. Scientists now think these environments may have been common on early Earth, making them a strong candidate for where life began. The idea could also guide the search for life on other worlds. Fri, 03 Apr 2026 22:44:49 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/04/260403224449.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260326075546.htm Stable sea ice along Alaska’s coast is disappearing faster than expected, with the season shrinking by weeks and even months in recent decades. The ice is forming later in the fall and, in some places, breaking away earlier in spring. This trend is now hitting areas like the Beaufort Sea that were once relatively stable. For local communities, it means more dangerous travel, uncertain hunting conditions, and greater exposure to coastal erosion. Fri, 27 Mar 2026 03:04:02 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260326075546.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260228082714.htm A popular climate theory suggested that melting Antarctic glaciers would release iron into the ocean, sparking algae blooms that pull carbon dioxide from the air. New field data from West Antarctica reveal that meltwater provides far less iron than scientists once believed. Instead, most of the iron comes from deep ocean water and sediments, not from the melting ice itself. The discovery raises new questions about how Antarctica influences climate change. Sat, 28 Feb 2026 09:59:08 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260228082714.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260226042454.htm Antarctica’s Hektoria Glacier stunned scientists by retreating eight kilometers in just two months, with nearly half of it collapsing in record time. The rapid breakup was driven by a flat, underwater bedrock surface that allowed the glacier to suddenly float and fracture from below. Satellite and seismic data captured the dramatic chain reaction in near real time. The findings raise concerns that much larger glaciers could one day collapse just as quickly. Thu, 26 Feb 2026 11:47:11 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260226042454.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260222092321.htm A new 30-year analysis reveals that melting land ice is now the main force behind rising global sea levels. Researchers discovered that oceans rose about 90 millimeters since 1993, with most of the increase coming from added water mass rather than just warming expansion. Ice loss from Greenland and mountain glaciers accounts for the vast majority of this gain. Even more concerning, the rate of sea-level rise is accelerating. Tue, 24 Feb 2026 00:08:38 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260222092321.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260212025613.htm Long before agriculture, humans were transforming Europe’s wild landscapes. Advanced simulations show that hunting and fire use by Neanderthals and Mesolithic hunter-gatherers reshaped forests and grasslands in measurable ways. By reducing populations of giant herbivores, people indirectly altered how dense vegetation became. The findings challenge the idea that prehistoric Europe was an untouched natural world. Thu, 12 Feb 2026 09:14:45 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260212025613.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260206232249.htm Arctic sea ice helps cool the planet and influences weather patterns around the world, but it is disappearing faster than ever as the climate warms. Scientists have now developed a new forecasting method that can predict how much Arctic sea ice will remain months in advance, focusing on September when ice levels are at their lowest. By combining long-term climate patterns, seasonal cycles, and short-term weather shifts, the model delivers real-time predictions that outperform existing approaches. Fri, 06 Feb 2026 23:56:20 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260206232249.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260201231230.htm As demand for critical metals grows, scientists have taken a rare, close look at life on the deep Pacific seabed where mining may soon begin. Over five years and 160 days at sea, researchers documented nearly 800 species, many previously unknown. Test mining reduced animal abundance and diversity significantly, though the overall impact was smaller than expected. The study offers vital clues for how future mining could reshape one of the planet’s most fragile ecosystems. Mon, 02 Feb 2026 10:22:57 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260201231230.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260129080422.htm Scientists studying ancient ocean fossils found that the Arabian Sea was better oxygenated 16 million years ago, even though the planet was warmer than today. Oxygen levels only plunged millions of years later, after the climate cooled, defying expectations. Powerful monsoons and ocean circulation appear to have delayed oxygen loss in this region compared to the Pacific. The discovery suggests future ocean oxygen levels may not follow a simple warming-equals-deoxygenation rule. Thu, 29 Jan 2026 09:12:18 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260129080422.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251228020008.htm The Arctic is changing rapidly, and scientists have uncovered a powerful mix of natural and human-driven processes fueling that change. Cracks in sea ice release heat and pollutants that form clouds and speed up melting, while emissions from nearby oil fields alter the chemistry of the air. These interactions trigger feedback loops that let in more sunlight, generate smog, and push warming even further. Together, they paint a troubling picture of how fragile the Arctic system has become. Mon, 29 Dec 2025 17:21:39 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251228020008.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251218060602.htm Cosmic “touchdown airbursts” — explosions of comets or asteroids above Earth’s surface — may be far more common and destructive than previously thought, according to new research. Unlike crater-forming impacts, these events unleash extreme heat and pressure without leaving obvious scars, making them harder to detect. Fri, 19 Dec 2025 01:30:09 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251218060602.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251212022244.htm Fossils from Qatar have revealed a small, newly identified sea cow species that lived in the Arabian Gulf more than 20 million years ago. The site contains the densest known collection of fossil sea cow bones, showing that these animals once thrived in rich seagrass meadows. Their ecological role mirrors that of modern dugongs, which still reshape the Gulf’s seafloor as they graze. The findings may help researchers understand how seagrass ecosystems respond to long-term environmental change. Fri, 12 Dec 2025 02:58:26 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251212022244.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251211100618.htm A sudden, unexplained mass die-off is decimating sea urchins around the world, including catastrophic losses in the Canary Islands. Key reef-grazing species are reaching historic lows, and their ability to reproduce has nearly halted in some regions. Scientists suspect a pathogen but haven’t yet confirmed the culprit. The fate of these reefs may hinge on solving this unfolding pandemic. Fri, 12 Dec 2025 04:28:03 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251211100618.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251113071611.htm Hektoria Glacier’s sudden eight-kilometer collapse stunned scientists, marking the fastest modern ice retreat ever recorded in Antarctica. Its flat, below-sea-level ice plain allowed huge slabs of ice to detach rapidly once retreat began. Seismic activity confirmed this wasn’t just floating ice but grounded mass contributing to sea level rise. The event raises alarms that other fragile glaciers may be poised for similar, faster-than-expected collapses. Fri, 14 Nov 2025 03:09:57 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251113071611.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251108012850.htm Scientists have discovered that deep-sea mining plumes can strip vital nutrition from the ocean’s twilight zone, replacing natural food with nutrient-poor sediment. The resulting “junk food” effect could starve life across entire marine ecosystems. Sat, 08 Nov 2025 02:37:59 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251108012850.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251106003941.htm Researchers warn Antarctica is undergoing abrupt changes that could trigger global consequences. Melting ice, collapsing ice shelves, and disrupted ocean circulation threaten sea levels, ecosystems, and climate stability. Wildlife such as penguins and krill face growing extinction risks. Scientists stress that only rapid emission reductions can avert irreversible damage. Thu, 06 Nov 2025 11:23:51 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251106003941.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251023031627.htm Sea levels are rising faster than at any time in 4,000 years, scientists report, with China’s major coastal cities at particular risk. The rapid increase is driven by warming oceans and melting ice, while human activities like groundwater pumping make it worse. In some areas, the land itself is sinking faster than the ocean is rising. Still, researchers see progress as cities like Shanghai adopt new technologies to stabilize the ground and prepare for the future. Thu, 23 Oct 2025 23:11:04 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251023031627.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251007081831.htm Researchers at KAUST have confirmed that the Red Sea once vanished entirely, turning into a barren salt desert before being suddenly flooded by waters from the Indian Ocean. The flood carved deep channels and restored marine life in less than 100,000 years. This finding redefines the Red Sea’s role as a key site for studying how oceans form and evolve through extreme geological events. Wed, 08 Oct 2025 04:27:10 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251007081831.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251001092211.htm Swiss glaciers lost nearly 3% of their volume in 2025, following a snow-poor winter and scorching summer heatwaves. The melt has been so extreme that some glaciers lost more than two meters of ice thickness in a single season. Scientists caution that the decline is destabilizing mountains, raising risks of rock and ice avalanches. Long-term monitoring efforts are now more critical than ever. Thu, 02 Oct 2025 03:00:27 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251001092211.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250926035026.htm Scientists have uncovered an unexpected witness to Earth’s distant past: tiny iron oxide stones called ooids. These mineral snowballs lock away traces of ancient carbon, revealing that oceans between 1,000 and 541 million years ago held far less organic carbon than previously thought. This discovery challenges long-standing theories linking carbon levels, oxygen surges, and the emergence of complex life. Fri, 26 Sep 2025 19:30:19 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250926035026.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250916221828.htm The Dead Sea isn’t just the saltiest body of water on Earth—it’s a living laboratory for the formation of giant underground salt deposits. Researchers are unraveling how evaporation, temperature shifts, and unusual mixing patterns lead to phenomena like “salt snow,” which falls in summer as well as winter. These processes mirror what happened millions of years ago in the Mediterranean, leaving behind thick salt layers still buried today. Thu, 18 Sep 2025 09:44:44 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250916221828.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250906013453.htm Satellite data reveals sea-level rise has unfolded almost exactly as predicted by 1990s climate models, with one key underestimation: melting ice sheets. Researchers stress the importance of refining local projections as seas continue to rise faster than before. Sat, 06 Sep 2025 01:34:53 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250906013453.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250902085147.htm Snowfall shortages are now destabilizing some of the world’s last resilient glaciers, as shown by a new study in Tajikistan’s Pamir Mountains. Using a monitoring station on Kyzylsu Glacier, researchers discovered that stability ended around 2018, when snowfall declined sharply and melt accelerated. The work sheds light on the Pamir-Karakoram Anomaly, where glaciers had resisted climate change longer than expected. Wed, 03 Sep 2025 02:36:49 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250902085147.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250830001201.htm A new study projects that the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC)—the system of currents that includes the Gulf Stream—could shut down after 2100 under high-emission scenarios. This shutdown would drastically reduce heat transport northward, leaving Europe vulnerable to extreme winters, summers of drying, and shifts in tropical rainfall. Climate models show the tipping point is linked to collapsing winter convection in the North Atlantic, which weakens vertical mixing and creates a feedback loop that accelerates decline. Mon, 01 Sep 2025 10:41:25 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250830001201.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250830001159.htm Sargassum has escaped the Sargasso Sea and exploded across the Atlantic, forming the massive Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt. Fueled by nutrient runoff, Amazon outflows, and climate events, these blooms now reshape ecosystems, economies, and coastlines on a staggering scale. Mon, 01 Sep 2025 09:44:05 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250830001159.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250812234532.htm Advanced computer modeling suggests that by 2080, waves driven by sea level rise could flood Ahu Tongariki and up to 51 cultural treasures on Rapa Nui. The findings emphasize the urgent need for protective measures to preserve the island’s identity, traditions, and tourism economy. Wed, 13 Aug 2025 01:44:06 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250812234532.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250806094119.htm Deep beneath the ocean's surface, a groundbreaking DNA study reveals that the deep sea is far more globally connected than once thought. By analyzing thousands of brittle stars preserved in museum collections, scientists discovered these ancient creatures have silently migrated across the planet's seafloor for millions of years, forming a vast evolutionary network from Iceland to Tasmania. Thu, 07 Aug 2025 02:25:04 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250806094119.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250726234415.htm For over two decades, satellites have quietly documented a major crisis unfolding beneath our feet: Earth's continents are drying out at unprecedented rates. Fueled by climate change, groundwater overuse, and extreme drought, this trend has carved out four massive "mega-drying" regions across the northern hemisphere, threatening freshwater supplies for billions. Groundwater loss alone now contributes more to sea level rise than melting ice sheets, and unless urgent global water policies are enacted, we could face a catastrophic freshwater bankruptcy. Sun, 27 Jul 2025 04:38:36 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250726234415.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250724232418.htm A new eco-friendly plastic called LAHB has shown it can biodegrade even in the extreme environment of the deep ocean, unlike conventional plastics that persist for decades. In real-world underwater testing nearly a kilometer below the surface, LAHB lost more than 80% of its mass after 13 months, while traditional PLA plastic remained completely intact. The secret? Colonies of deep-sea microbes actively broke down the material using specialized enzymes, converting it into harmless byproducts like CO and water. Thu, 24 Jul 2025 23:24:18 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250724232418.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250706230305.htm Long-lost 1960s aerial photos let Copenhagen researchers watch Antarctica’s Wordie Ice Shelf crumble in slow motion. By fusing film with satellites, they discovered warm ocean water, not surface ponds, drives the destruction, and mapped “pinning points” that reveal how far a collapse has progressed. The work shows these break-ups unfold more gradually than feared, yet once the ice “brake” fails, land-based glaciers surge, setting up meters of future sea-level rise that will strike northern coasts. Mon, 07 Jul 2025 01:06:46 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250706230305.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250704235554.htm For decades, scientists believed the Arctic Ocean was sealed under a massive slab of ice during the coldest ice ages — but new research proves otherwise. Sediment samples from the seafloor, paired with cutting-edge climate simulations, show that the Arctic actually remained partially open, with seasonal sea ice allowing life to survive in the harshest climates. Traces of ancient algae, thriving only when light and water mix, reveal that the region was never a frozen tomb. This discovery not only reshapes our understanding of Earth’s past but offers vital clues about how the Arctic — and our planet — may respond to climate extremes ahead. Sat, 05 Jul 2025 09:40:26 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250704235554.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250701020711.htm A massive and surprising change is unfolding around Antarctica. Scientists have discovered that the Southern Ocean is getting saltier, and sea ice is melting at record speed, enough to match the size of Greenland. This change has reversed a decades-long trend and is letting hidden heat rise to the surface, melting the ice from below. One of the most dramatic signs is the return of a giant hole in the ice that hadn’t been seen in 50 years. The consequences are global: stronger storms, warmer oceans, and serious trouble for penguins and other polar wildlife. Wed, 02 Jul 2025 08:54:10 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250701020711.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250627021853.htm At current emission rates, we're just over three years away from blowing through the remaining carbon budget to limit warming to 1.5°C. This new international study paints a stark picture: the pace of climate change is accelerating, seas are rising faster than ever, and the Earth is absorbing more heat with devastating consequences from hotter oceans to intensified weather extremes. Fri, 27 Jun 2025 02:18:53 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250627021853.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250623233210.htm Ancient coral fossils from the remote Seychelles islands have unveiled a dramatic warning for our future—sea levels can rise in sudden, sharp bursts even when global temperatures stay steady. Mon, 23 Jun 2025 23:32:10 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250623233210.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250618094450.htm A breakthrough study has uncovered that the Southern Ocean's power to pull carbon dioxide from the atmosphere fluctuates dramatically depending on winter sea ice. When sea ice lingers longer into winter, the ocean absorbs up to 20% more CO2, thanks to a protective effect that blocks turbulent winds from stirring up deeper, carbon-loaded waters. This subtle seasonal shield plays a vital role in buffering our planet against climate change. But here s the twist: winter data from the Southern Ocean is notoriously scarce due to its brutal conditions, meaning we might be missing a key piece of Earth s climate puzzle. Wed, 18 Jun 2025 09:44:50 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250618094450.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250602155513.htm New research adds to our understanding of how rapidly rising sea levels due to climate change foreshadow the end of the Great Barrier Reef as we know it. The findings suggest the reef can withstand rising sea levels in isolation but is vulnerable to associated environmental stressors arising from global climate change. Mon, 02 Jun 2025 15:55:13 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250602155513.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250602155338.htm Flooding in coastal communities is happening far more often than previously thought, according to a new study. The study also found major flaws with the widely used approach of using marine water level data to capture instances of flooding. Mon, 02 Jun 2025 15:53:38 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250602155338.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250602154610.htm Researchers showed that hydrogen sulfide, which is associated with numerous health conditions, is emitted from California's largest lake at levels far higher and more frequently than previously reported. Mon, 02 Jun 2025 15:46:10 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250602154610.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250529155413.htm Hurricane Ida wreaked an estimated $75 billion in total damages and was responsible for 112 fatalities -- including 32 in New Jersey and 16 in New York state. Yet the hurricane could have been even worse in the Big Apple, find scientists. Thu, 29 May 2025 15:54:13 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250529155413.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250522124838.htm A modeling study shows that global warming will make it harder to reduce ground-level ozone, a respiratory irritant that is a key component of smog, by cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Thu, 22 May 2025 12:48:38 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250522124838.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250514155300.htm The increasing frequency of once-in-a-decade agricultural and ecological drought has underscored the urgency of studying hydrological changes. A research team has analyzed the estimated changes in land water storage over the past 40 years by utilizing space geodetic observation technology and global hydrological change data. This innovative method has revealed a rapid depletion in global soil moisture, resulting in a significant amount of water flowing into the oceans, leading to a rise in sea levels. The research provides new insights into the driving factors behind the alarming reduction in terrestrial water storage and rise in sea levels. Wed, 14 May 2025 15:53:00 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250514155300.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250506135744.htm Researchers have released their 2024 U.S. sea level 'report cards,' providing updated analyses of sea level trends and projections for 36 coastal communities. Encompassing 55 years of historical data in a new, interactive dashboard, the report cards aid planning and adaptation efforts by forecasting rates of sea level rise to 2050. Tue, 06 May 2025 13:57:44 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250506135744.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250502133930.htm The disappearance of sea ice in polar regions due to global warming not only increases the amount of light entering the ocean, but also changes its color. These changes have far-reaching consequences for photosynthetic organisms such as ice algae and phytoplankton. Fri, 02 May 2025 13:39:30 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250502133930.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250430141832.htm In 2013, a sea star wasting syndrome decimated populations of Pisaster along the west coast of North America and along the Monterey Peninsula in California, where this study was conducted. The orange and purple stars have a hungry appetite for mussels in the rocky intertidal. Without the voracious sea stars lurking around, mussel populations exploded, expanding in cover from around five percent to more than 18 percent within three years. In the wake of the sea star die-off, mussels became a major prey surplus for sea otters, revealing a surprising link between the adjacent rocky intertidal and kelp forest ecosystems. The new research into the phenomenon shows how the loss of a keystone predator (Pisaster) in one ecosystem can impart changes to another (sea otters), linking ecosystems. Wed, 30 Apr 2025 14:18:32 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250430141832.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250429102851.htm Scientists believe they have found a way to improve warning systems for vulnerable communities threatened by humid heatwaves, which are on the rise due to climate change and can be damaging and even fatal to human health. The study analysed how patterns of recent rainfall can interact with dry or moist land conditions to influence the risk of extreme humid heat in the global tropics and subtropics. Tue, 29 Apr 2025 10:28:51 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250429102851.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250428220430.htm A powerful earthquake, combined with rising sea levels, could significantly increase flood risks in the Pacific Northwest, impacting thousands of residents and properties in northern California, Oregon, and Washington, according to new research. The study found that a major earthquake could cause coastal land to sink up to 6.5 feet, expanding the federally designated 1 percent coastal floodplain, an area with a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, by 35 to 116 square miles. Mon, 28 Apr 2025 22:04:30 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250428220430.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250424121152.htm When bottom trawls are dragged across the seafloor, they stir up sediments. This not only releases previously stored organic carbon, but also intensifies the oxidation of pyrite, a mineral present in marine sediments, leading to additional emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2). Thu, 24 Apr 2025 12:11:52 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250424121152.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250421162820.htm To protect against rising sea levels in a warming world, coastal cities typically follow a standard playbook with various protective infrastructure options. For example, a seawall could be designed based on the latest climate projections, with the city officials then computing its cost-benefit ratio and proceeding to build, accordingly. The problem? Future climate conditions might differ substantially from the used projections, according to a civil engineering doctoral student. Mon, 21 Apr 2025 16:28:20 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250421162820.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250414124715.htm A new study has shed unprecedented light on the highly variable and climate-sensitive routes that substances from Siberian rivers use to travel across the Arctic Ocean. The findings raise fresh concerns about the increasing spread of pollutants and the potential consequences for fragile polar ecosystems as climate change accelerates. Mon, 14 Apr 2025 12:47:15 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250414124715.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250414124337.htm New DNA probes allow for efficient surveying of the hidden lives of squids and octopuses in the deep sea. This development provides an effective tool for marine ecological research and conservation efforts. Mon, 14 Apr 2025 12:43:37 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250414124337.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250414124214.htm Deep sea mining operations are expected to increase the negative impact on environmental indicators by up to 13 per cent, a change categorized as having 'great' significance, relative to the 'without' DSM scenario, notably through increased coastal vulnerability, pollution, and biodiversity loss. Mon, 14 Apr 2025 12:42:14 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250414124214.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250411175457.htm For the highly populated coastal country of Bangladesh, once-in-a-century storm tides could strike every 10 years -- or more often -- by the end of the century, scientists report. Fri, 11 Apr 2025 17:54:57 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250411175457.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250410130755.htm Urgent action is needed to protect endangered species, human health and industry from the impacts of the Caspian Sea shrinking, research has found. Thu, 10 Apr 2025 13:07:55 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250410130755.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250409114948.htm Milky seas are a rare bioluminescent phenomenon where vast areas of the ocean glow at night, sometimes for months. This glow, likely caused by Vibrio harveyi bacteria, has been reported by sailors for centuries but remains poorly understood due to its rarity and remote locations, mainly in the Indian Ocean. Researchers have compiled a 400-year database of sightings, using historical records and satellite data, revealing that milky seas are linked to climatic patterns like the Indian Ocean Dipole and El Nino. Wed, 09 Apr 2025 11:49:48 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250409114948.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250407114532.htm New research has highlighted more than 43% of Queensland, Australia's current productive aquaculture sites are expected to be impacted by sea level rise. Of the projected inundation caused by sea level rise, it is estimated 98 per cent of prawn sites and 50 per cent of prawn production would be impacted. Mon, 07 Apr 2025 11:45:32 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250407114532.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250331122041.htm One of the ocean currents in the Arctic Ocean is at risk of disappearing this century because of climate change, according to a new study. As a result, the North Atlantic could be flooded with freshwater which would weaken the global ocean circulation. Mon, 31 Mar 2025 12:20:41 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250331122041.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250327164534.htm Researchers found increased meltwater and rain explain 60% of a decades-long mismatch between predicted and observed temperatures in the ocean around Antarctica. Thu, 27 Mar 2025 16:45:34 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250327164534.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250324152445.htm A storm, even once it has passed, can leave traces in the ocean that last for thousands of years. These consist of sediment layers composed of coarse particles, which are different from the finer sediments associated with good weather. In the Caribbean, an international research team has now examined such sediments using a 30 m long core from a 'blue hole' offshore Belize. The analysis shows that over the past 5,700 years, the frequency of tropical storms and hurricanes in the region has steadily increased. For the 21st century, the research team predicts a significant rise in regional storm frequency as a result of climate change. Mon, 24 Mar 2025 15:24:45 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250324152445.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250312123841.htm Climate change may lead to more precipitation and more intense floods. A new study shows that to understand the details of this relationship, it is important to distinguish between different types of rainfall and flood events -- namely, between short-term events that occur on a time scale of hours, and longer-term events that last several days. In each case, climate change has a different impact. Wed, 12 Mar 2025 12:38:41 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250312123841.htm