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‘Rivers in the sky’ influence marine heatwaves

A new study by Duke University researchers found that atmospheric rivers contribute to marine heatwaves, with a strong association in winter months. The team's analysis of satellite data revealed that active atmospheric rivers often precede peak marine heatwave temperatures, suggesting a causal link.

SourceDuke University·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 28, 2026

Heat is coming for Hawaiian corals but study finds there may be time to adapt

A recent study using high-resolution modeling suggests that Hawaiian corals may be able to adapt to increasing temperatures, even under a high emissions scenario. However, the rate of adaptation varies across different coastal locations, with those around Hawaiʻi Island projected to experience higher heat stress.

SourceUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa·JournalScientific Reports·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 21, 2026

Cast away: Tracing the voyage of a plastic bottle cap and its hitchhiking marine species

Scientists used clues from label data, chemical analysis of tiny shells, and ocean current simulations to trace the voyage of a plastic bottle cap. The study found 307 organisms, including a polychaete worm not found in Japanese waters before, highlighting the potential for micro-ecosystems to be transported over extended periods.

SourceNagoya University·JournalMarine Pollution Bulletin·TypeCase study·DateJul 7, 2026

The Global Ocean Observing System is more fragile than we thought

A new study reveals that the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) is more fragile than thought, with its dependence on data from various nations making it vulnerable to losses. The system's vulnerability is not just about data volume, but also geographic reach, emphasizing the need for a genuinely global, coordinated system.

Ocean eddies are amplifying climate extremes in coastal seas, study finds

Intensifying ocean eddies are amplifying climate extremes in key coastal ecosystems by redistributing heat and nutrients. This process enhances productivity in some areas while trapping heat closer to the surface, leading to rapid warming and altered regional weather patterns.

SourceUniversity of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science·JournalNature Climate Change·TypeObservational study·DateApr 15, 2026

The ‘thermal hustle’: FIU researchers track how great hammerhead sharks outsmart ocean temperature swings

Researchers tracked movement, acceleration, depth, and water temperature for nine hammerheads in Florida and the Bahamas waters. They found great hammerheads can effectively hunt fast-moving prey like blacktip sharks in winter and tarpon in summer, suggesting they may tolerate changing climates better than other species.

SourceFlorida International University·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·TypeObservational study·DateMar 31, 2026

New oceanic data assimilation system improves prediction accuracy

A new global ocean data assimilation system has been developed to improve the accuracy of sea-surface temperature and sea-level anomaly forecasts. The YHGO platform integrates a fully nonlinear and non-Gaussian data assimilation method with a mass-conserving ocean model, leading to improved performance compared to existing systems.

SourceOcean-Land-Atmosphere Research (OLAR)·JournalOcean-Land-Atmosphere Research·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateDec 14, 2025

The riddle of rising extreme heat days in Europe: Remote “triggers” and local “amplifiers”

A new study reveals a significant interdecadal shift in European summer hot days around 1998, driven by remote climate signals and exacerbated by regional land–atmosphere processes. Soil moisture decreased over Europe, intensifying the land–air coupling strength, leading to enhanced hot days.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAtmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters·DateNov 20, 2025

The chilling effect of air pollution

A new study shows that reducing air pollution has decreased the brightness of marine clouds, leading to accelerated warming. Scientists attribute 70% of this change to aerosols, and researchers are exploring ways to make clouds shinier without polluting the air.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalNature Communications·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 5, 2025

Reality check on our approach to saving Nemo’s home

A recent study found that coral reef restoration efforts are hindered by small-scale programs, high costs, and targeting already compromised reefs. The researchers argue that scaling up restoration efforts is unlikely to offset climate change-driven losses, and suggest bolstering ecosystem resilience through complementary strategies.

SourceFlinders University·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 8, 2025

New study reveals shift in subtropical North Atlantic Ocean over the next decade

A new study analyzes nearly four decades of deep ocean observations to reveal significant cooling and freshening of deep water in the Subtropical North Atlantic. The results suggest that warmer, saltier deep waters may reach the region within the next decade, potentially influencing large-scale sea level changes.

SourceUniversity of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science·JournalCommunications Earth & Environment·TypeObservational study·DateMar 26, 2025

What happens in the ocean when two cyclones collide

When two tropical cyclones collide in the Indian Ocean, they can intensify considerably, leading to extreme interactions between the ocean and atmosphere. The study found that effects occurred that have only been observed with much stronger cyclones, including a cooling effect of three degrees Celsius and upwelling of deep water masses.

SourceUniversity of Oldenburg·JournalTellus A Dynamic Meteorology and Oceanography·TypeCase study·DateDec 10, 2024

Young coral use metabolic tricks to resist bleaching

Coral larvae reduce metabolism and increase nitrogen uptake to resist bleaching in high temperatures. This adaptation allows the coral to conserve energy and resources, while also limiting algal overgrowth and maintaining symbiotic relationships.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 12, 2024

Researchers link El Niño to accelerated ice loss in tropics

Researchers have confirmed that El Niño causes a drastic reduction in the snow-covered area of the Quelccaya Ice Cap in the Peruvian Andes. The study used NASA Landsat satellites to measure the ice cap's sensitivity to climate shifts, finding that it lost about 58% of its snow cover between 1985 and 2022.

SourceOhio State University·JournalThe Cryosphere·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 8, 2024

Sea surface temperature record in the southwestern Pacific: Coral colony from Fiji reveals warmest temperatures in over 600 years

A coral colony from Fiji has provided a new record of sea surface temperatures in the southwestern Pacific, revealing that 2022 was the warmest year in over 600 years. The reconstruction uses data from the giant coral Diploastrea heliopora, which records long-term climatic and environmental changes.

SourceJohannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz·JournalScience Advances·DateSep 18, 2024

New perspectives for using corals in climate research

A research team from the University of Göttingen has developed a new method to analyze the oxygen isotope composition of coral skeletons, allowing for more accurate temperature reconstructions and insights into biomineralization processes. This breakthrough enables scientists to correct for 'vital effects' that can distort climate data.

SourceUniversity of Göttingen·JournalGeochemical Perspectives Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 7, 2024

Ice shell thickness reveals water temperature on ocean worlds

Researchers at Cornell University have devised a novel way to determine ocean temperatures of distant worlds based on the thickness of their ice shells. This technique can be used to enhance NASA's mission findings about Europa and Enceladus, two Jovian and Saturnian moons that could potentially support life.

SourceCornell University·JournalJournal of Geophysical Research Planets·DateFeb 29, 2024

Why regional differences in global warming are critical

New data analysis reveals that regional temperature patterns are crucial for evaluating climate models, with warmer temperatures in the North Atlantic and a cooler North Atlantic found to be more accurate. This approach provides better insights into the spatial impact of climate change and its effects on ecosystems and human societies.

SourceMARUM - Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen·JournalNature Geoscience·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateDec 5, 2023