New analysis reveals Arctic winter sea ice coverage declined significantly due to record lows in 2025 and 2026, reversing a brief slowdown. The study suggests that Arctic winter sea ice loss is continuing in a warming climate.
A new study reveals that freshwater exported from the Black Sea into the Aegean Sea during the Early Holocene triggered major environmental changes across the Eastern Mediterranean. The findings challenge previous views on the formation of Sapropel 1, a widespread organic-rich sediment layer deposited during this period.
A new study by NTU Singapore reveals that major earthquakes can trigger decades-long land sinking in Southeast Asia, affecting relative sea-level projections. This phenomenon may underestimate coastal flood risks for low-lying regions if not accounted for in sea-level modeling.
Researchers have discovered that young sea stars' hollow tube develops into their later organs, similar to human embryonic development. By comparing the development of hydro-vascular organs across different species, scientists hope to better understand how organs form and maintain their shape.
Researchers have found that bat sea star ovaries and human ovaries share similar genetics, cell types, and signaling processes, despite their ancient evolutionary split. The study reveals a network of interconnected neurons in the ovary that may play a role in regulating egg development and ovulation.
A new study has analyzed over 2100 samples to build a genetic dataset containing more than 500 million unique genes, revealing the immense potential of deep-sea biodiversity for developing new technologies. The research found that despite vast genetic diversity, deep-sea organisms rely on stable, core designs to survive extreme conditi...
A recent study reveals that human-induced sea level rise has significantly increased the frequency of storm surge events, with a fourfold increase in historical 100-year events. This shift is largely attributed to rising sea levels, which now occur every eight years rather than once every century.
The Arctic winter sea-ice extent reached a new record low in 2026, following the previous record low in March 2025. Temperatures in the Sea of Okhotsk and Baffin Bay-Labrador Sea region remained higher than average, limiting the southward expansion of sea ice.
Researchers detect early signs of immune and neurological disruption in sunflower sea stars before physical symptoms appear, shedding light on the mysterious disease. The study identifies Vibrio pectenicida as a driver of the disease, but notes that its direct link to genomic changes remains unclear.
Landfast sea ice is sticking to Alaska's northern coast for less time each year, according to 27 years of data analyzed by University of Alaska Fairbanks scientists. The Chukchi and Beaufort seas have seen a decline in landfast sea ice coverage, with the extent of Beaufort Sea landfast sea ice decreasing by 39 days over the past 9 years.
Researchers developed a new AI-based SLA forecasting model that outperforms existing approaches and can be widely applied to other prediction tasks. The Multistep-Earthformer model achieves high-accuracy short- and medium-range sea level anomaly forecasting by optimizing training strategies.
Researchers found a strong inverse correlation between Arctic sea ice extent and Indian summer monsoon rainfall on interannual timescales. Decreased Arctic sea ice variability during June to July leads to increased rainfall over western and northwestern India, indicating a westward shift in the monsoon season.
Research shows Australian sea lion pups can learn foraging behaviour from their mothers, a discovery that could aid conservation efforts. The pups adapt to their mother's foraging style, changing their feeding patterns and habitats.
Researchers from the US and UK have created a method to predict September Arctic sea ice extent with high accuracy, improving monitoring of sea ice health and its impact on global climate. The model captures effects from subseasonal to seasonal timescales and outperforms other models.
Despite sea ice losses, Svalbard polar bears' body conditions have improved due to increased fat reserves and access to land-based prey. The study found that the number of ice-free days in the Barents Sea region increased, but the mean body condition index of adult polar bears rose following 2000.
A study found that a global pandemic is quietly wiping out sea urchins around the world, with populations nearing local extinction in the Canary Islands. The 2022-2023 mass mortality event affected the entire population of the species across the archipelago, causing a 74% decrease in La Palma and a 99.7% decrease in Tenerife.
A new species of ancient sea cow has been discovered in Qatar, revealing that sea cows have shaped the Arabian Gulf's seagrass ecosystems for over 20 million years. The fossil site, Al Maszhabiya, yielded more than 170 different locations containing sea cow fossils.
Researchers found that sea salt particles interact with urban pollution, chemically reacting to form toxic compounds. After the COVID-19 lockdown, reduced pollution allowed more naturally occurring sea salt components to persist, offering potential implications for human health and climate.
Researchers found that regional differences in environmental conditions, rather than diet quality, drive divergent health trends in California Sea Lions. Despite similar diets, populations in Mexico are declining while those in the US are thriving.
A new geochemical technique reveals that Arctic sea-ice coverage waxed and waned with atmospheric warming over the last 300,000 years, not ocean heat. This finding suggests that future reductions in Arctic sea ice will enhance biological nutrient consumption.
Researchers analyzed liver and skeletal muscle samples from dead sea otters and found high levels of toxic 'forever' chemicals, linked to increased disease mortality. Concentrations were three times higher near major cities and shipping routes, highlighting a significant health risk to the species.
New research reveals many encouraging signs for ochre sea star populations, with many baby boomers reaching adulthood and population numbers exceeding pre-wasting disease abundances. However, the average body sizes of the sea stars are still smaller than before, and the populations coast-wide are generally less steady from year to year.
New research shows that near-term mitigation could spare future generations around 0.6 meters of sea-level rise caused by emissions between 2020 and 2090 following current policies. The study provides a direct link between today's policy choices and sea levels hundreds of years from now.
A new Cornell University study models impacts of different emissions trajectories, finding that delayed reductions substantially reduce chances of avoiding thresholds for sea-level rise. The study estimates a 50% probability of reaching a 0.4-meter sea-level rise threshold by 2050 if emissions aren't reduced by 2050.
A new study reveals that Antarctic sea ice plays a critical role in predicting global warming, with a greater extent of sea ice leading to more significant warming. The research found that ocean heat uptake and thermal sea level rise will be higher than previously estimated by 2100, with implications for policy and science.
The Red Sea experienced a massive disruption 6.2 million years ago, completely changing its marine life and transforming into a barren salt desert. The catastrophic flood from the Indian Ocean rapidly refilled the basin, restoring normal marine conditions within less than 100,000 years.
A study found that sea foam from several beaches in North Carolina's coastal region contain higher levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) compared to the water below. Researchers detected PFAS concentrations in sea foam reaching tens to thousands of times higher than in regular seawater.
KIOST has developed an ultrasonic washing device that effectively removes salt from sea sand, reducing water usage and processing time by up to four times. The technology uses cavitation-driven ultrasonic waves to desalinate sea sand, resulting in a significant improvement over traditional methods.
A NUS-led study analyzed coral samples from the Maldives, extending the sea-level record by 60 years and revealing an acceleration of rising sea levels since 1959. The findings show that the Indian Ocean has been highly responsive to climatic changes, with significant sea level rise of 30cm since the mid-20th century.
Researchers discover Vibrio pectenicida as the causative agent behind sea star wasting disease, a devastating epidemic that has killed billions of sunflower sea stars. The discovery is crucial for recovering these species and their kelp forest ecosystems, which provide habitat for thousands of marine creatures and contribute millions t...
Researchers from Utrecht University and colleagues have reconstructed sea level variations on thousand-year timescales over the past 540 million years. They used geological tree rings to estimate short-term variability, which proved consistent with fossil-based reconstructions.
Research reveals common patterns between ice shelf, sea ice, and ocean swell conditions prior to three large-scale iceberg calving events. Long periods of sea ice loss surrounding the ice shelves were found in the months leading up to the events.
Research on record-low years of Antarctic sea ice reveals warming of the Southern Ocean, increased ice-shelf calving, and stronger phytoplankton blooms. Low sea-ice area negatively affects krill and fish populations, ultimately impacting their predators and humans operating in Antarctica.
Researchers have discovered a sudden rise in surface salinity south of 50° latitude, coinciding with a dramatic loss of sea ice around Antarctica. The findings suggest a dangerous feedback loop where less ice leads to more heat, which leads to even less ice.
The Barents Sea system – gateway to the changing Arctic book documents six years of interdisciplinary research on the Barents Sea. Researchers used various platforms, including drones, satellites, and underwater robots, to collect data and make predictions about future changes.
A research team from the Alfred Wegener Institute found that a current in the Barents Sea affects Arctic sea ice formation. Warmer Atlantic water flowing into the Barents Sea can warm it up and lead to less new sea ice formation, causing existing ice to melt faster.
The 2024 US sea level 'report cards' provide updated analyses of sea level trends and projections for 36 coastal communities. Most locations continue a trend of accelerating sea level rise, with notable exceptions in southeastern states and West Coast localities.
A study led by Monterey Bay Aquarium shows that the collapse of one marine predator can benefit another. Sea otters thrive in response to increased availability of mussels after a mussel boom is triggered by the loss of ochre sea stars, demonstrating keystone interdependence.
A new study reveals that winter sea surface temperatures in the Tasman Sea play a key role in influencing Antarctic Peninsula temperatures. Higher-resolution climate models better simulate atmospheric wave trains triggered by Tasman Sea SST changes.
A new study suggests that sunflower sea stars are surviving disease outbreaks in British Columbia's Central Coast fjords due to the unique oceanographic conditions. The fjords' mix of cold water and freshwater runoff provides a refuge for the species, allowing them to venture deeper and escape the effects of sea star wasting disease.
The deep sea accounts for 90% of ocean volume and hosts diverse ecosystems. However, human activities like mining and climate change threaten these areas. Scientists emphasize the need for major investment in deep-sea research to address knowledge gaps and inform sustainable management strategies.
Researchers warn that thinner Arctic sea ice may lead to a tipping point in the AMOC, weakening global ocean circulation and impacting climate in Scandinavia. The Beaufort Gyre, an important feature of the Arctic Ocean, is currently losing large amounts of sea ice due to warmer temperatures.
Researchers have reconstructed Meltwater Pulse 1a, a catastrophic sea level rise that occurred around 14,500 years ago. The study suggests that an initial melting of the Laurentide ice sheet over North America triggered a global cascade of ice loss, with surprising linkages between ice sheets across hemispheres.
Researchers have made highly accurate calculations of global sea level rise in the early Holocene using a unique dataset from the North Sea region. The findings show that rates of sea level rise peaked at over 1 metre per century during two phases, with a total rise of around 38 metres over 11,000 years.
Researchers have discovered a common gene linked to human kidney disease is also present in sea anemones, allowing their hair cells to detect water movement. This finding suggests an evolutionarily ancient role for the gene in sensing fluid movement, predating the common ancestor of mammals and sea anemones.
A new study reveals that Arctic sea ice loss drives drier weather over California, especially in winter, and wetter conditions over Spain and Portugal. The research isolates the effect of Arctic sea ice melting from other climate change factors.
New research reveals that human disturbances near southern sea otters can increase their energetic costs, potentially affecting their health and survival. The likelihood of disturbance decreases with distance from the otters, but even small craft within 29 meters can have a significant impact.
Researchers have found unique fish species in deep-sea oxygen-depleted zones of a Red Sea coral reef system. Lanternfish and other species thrive in conditions where oxygen levels are less than 2 μmol kg’¹
New CU Boulder research reveals sea otters play a vital role in kelp forest recovery, with their influence varying by region. The study found that sea otters in Southern California had a slower impact on kelp forests due to complex web interactions with other species.
The Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) has made a comprehensive dataset on the tidal flats of the Dutch Wadden Sea available, providing valuable insights into biodiversity and ecosystem changes. The SIBES project has collected data since 2008, revealing shifts in benthic animal species due to climate change.
Researchers tracked 131 juvenile sea turtles and found they may be active swimmers during their early life stage, challenging existing hypotheses. The study provides important data for assessing risks from human activity and informing conservation efforts.
A new bioenergetic model reveals that sea ice loss and feeding limitations are the primary drivers of a ~50% polar bear population decline since the mid-1990s. The study's findings have implications for conservation efforts, suggesting that individual energetic constraints can shape population-level outcomes.
A deadly ciliate parasite has decimated sea urchin populations in the Caribbean, Red Sea, and Indian Ocean, with mortality rates reaching over 90%. The International team of researchers is working to track the disease and preserve sea urchins, which play a crucial role in maintaining coral reef health.
A new study projects global sea-level rise between 0.5 and 1.9 meters by 2100 under a high-emissions scenario, with the very likely range being 90% probability for the event to occur. The fusion approach combines strengths of existing models with expert opinions, offering a clearer picture of future sea-level rise.
A 500,000-year fossil record study by HKU paleobiologists sheds light on temperature changes and food input shaping deep-sea ecosystems in the Southern Ocean. The research warns that human-induced warming may harm delicate deep-sea ecosystems with potential impacts of marine carbon removal.
Researchers at the University of Washington used a global climate model to simulate how ocean and air temperatures affect sea ice in the Southern Ocean. They found that warm Southern Ocean conditions and patterns in winds can explain 70% of the record-low winter sea ice extent in 2023, with similar predictions made for 2024.
Research reveals deep-sea viruses play a crucial role in facilitating energy cycling and mediating gene evolution in marine ecosystems. They can promote the release of carbon or nutrients into the ocean through infection, increasing survivability of hosts via horizontal gene transfer and lysogenic infection.
Sedimentary organic carbon distribution varies by region in eastern China seas, with higher concentrations in mud areas. Organic carbon burial fluxes are calculated to be 8.20 Mt C a⁻¹, accounting for 5.3% of global seabed burial flux.
Researchers discovered that sea robins' legs are covered in sensory papillae with taste receptors, allowing them to detect and uncover food. The findings reveal an ancient gene controlling leg development and sensory organ formation, shedding light on the evolution of complex traits in wild organisms.