Oceans

A satellite-derived image of Earth showing the Atlantic Ocean and surrounding continents, overlaid with false-colour data indicating phytoplankton concentrations. Bright greens and yellows highlight dense blooms near coastlines, particularly where the Amazon River meets the sea. Deep blues and purples mark nutrient-poor waters farther offshore. This image, based on NASA SeaWiFS data from 2003–2006, visualises chlorophyll levels that reflect the abundance of microscopic phytoplankton. These organisms photosynthesise using chlorophyll, and their seasonal growth is fuelled by land-borne nutrients and winter mixing. Blooms peak in spring and decline by early summer as nutrients are depleted and grazers multiply.

Ocean Colour Change

Warming oceans are shifting plankton distributions, making polar waters greener and subtropical regions bluer.

A serene sunset over a calm body of water, with the golden-orange glow of the sun illuminating the surface. Silhouetted mountains form a jagged horizon in the distance, and a small boat drifts peacefully across the water. The scene evokes a sense of tranquillity and natural beauty.

Burning Seas

Ocean temperatures in 2024 reached record highs, signalling escalating global warming, with severe consequences for weather, ecosystems, and vulnerable communities.

A vast, turbulent expanse of the Southern Ocean, with deep blue waves crested by white foam, under a grey, misty sky that blends with the horizon.

Tangled Currents

Microplastics are endangering the Southern Ocean’s ecosystem.

A vibrant desert landscape with rolling orange dunes and sparse vegetation is overshadowed by dramatic red clouds swirling in the bright blue sky, with a tranquil ocean visible in the distance.

The Forge of the Sea

Wind-blown iron dust helps oceans absorb carbon and support life. Its availability changes with distance, affecting climate predictions.

The Earth Rises to Meet the Sea

Predicting sea level rise is complex due to Antarctic Ice Sheet behaviour and Earth’s uneven structure. New models show land shape affects ice melt rates, improving accuracy.

Dissolving Depths

Increased carbon emissions are acidifying oceans, weakening the shells of plankton and marine life, threatening ecosystems.

Soiled Stowaways

Overseas shipping containers may introduce harmful organisms to local environments, potentially causing huge risks to biosecurity protection.

Echoes from the Deep

Deep-sea mining tests reveal that such activities can have broader and more significant impacts on marine life than previously assumed.

Deep-sea Soot

Up to one a half million tonnes of carbon, soot, and other particles from combustion end up in deep-sea trenches every year.

Binding the Coast

Seagrass can reduce cliff erosion by up to 70% thanks to its root mats binding the sand.