England may flood in February.
Steve Allen/Shutterstock
The Met Office has predicted that England is to be affected by flooding this February.
Ballast water discharge from transoceanic ships introduces invasive species to the Great Lakes.
(Shutterstock)
Ballast water release from ocean vessels has been a major source of invasive species in the Great Lakes for over 60 years.
A Canadian flag waves in the high winds in Dartmouth, N.S. on Sept. 24, 2022.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan
Hurricanes don’t usually maintain high wind speeds as they make their way toward Atlantic Canada. But ocean warming may be linked to the increasing intensity of storms like Fiona.
Kalk Bay, Western Cape, South Africa.
Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
The trend globally is for countries to be explicit about their maritime interests, underpinned by a sound security strategy.
The Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence is one of, if not the largest estuarine system on Earth. It plays an intrinsic role in the history of Canada and is the cradle of Quebec’s economy, and its identity.
(Gwénaëlle Chaillou)
Climate change is causing the deep waters in parts of the St. Lawrence River to lose their oxygen, and it’s damaging the health of the ecosystem.
An image from satellite data shows the strong Loop Current and swirling eddies.
Christopher Henze, NASA/Ames
With La Niña helping clear the way for a busy hurricane season, this wide current of warm water could spell disaster for the northern Gulf Coast.
Boston got socked with nearly 2 feet of snow in late January 2022.
Scott Eisen/Getty Images
Winters are getting warmer, yet Bostonians were digging out from nearly 2 feet of snow from a historic blizzard in late January. Why is the Northeast seeing more big snowstorms like this?
Snowfall in the Sahara desert.
derdour rachid/Shutterstock
In order for snow to form, two distinctive weather properties are needed: cold temperatures and moist air. The Sahara can tick these boxes.
Steven Benjamin/Not for reuse
Sardines from the cold waters off South Africa’s Atlantic coast are attracted to cold water upwelling in the Indian Ocean. When the upwelling ends, they are trapped in water that is too warm for them.
Like many marine species, oysters are affected by nanoplastics that pollute the oceans.
(Shutterstock)
Nanoplastics and arsenic can affect some of the most basic functions of oysters.
Hurricanes Katia, Irma and Jose on Sept. 8, 2017.
NOAA
To get a sense of how bad the 2021 hurricane season will be, keep an eye on the African monsoon, ocean temperatures and a possible late-blooming La Niña.
Ex-hurricane Ophelia striking the British Isles on October 16, 2017.
NOAA National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS)
Storms which originate in the tropics and reach Europe aren’t as rare as scientists once thought.
Fishing boats in Henninsgsvær, Lofoten Islands, Norway.
Paul Hart
A novel approach to fisheries management would see fishers taking control of their own catches.
Two people walk their bicycles along a flooded street on the waterfront of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., as Hurricane Irma passes through on Sept. 10, 2017.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
Economic recovery and carbon neutrality are linked. Both depend on the ocean’s ability to continue to regulate climate.
The possibility of accurate predictions will aid planning adaptation for severe weather conditions
Tim Graham/Getty Images
With research that offers new insights, there is increased hope for improved climate predictions and better preparation for severe weather conditions.
The Galapagos Marine Reserve is home to nearly 3,000 marine species.
(Shutterstock)
Marine protected areas will be important for achieving the ocean Sustainable Development Goals.
shutterstock.
Oceans 21 is a Conversation international series examining the history and future of the world’s ocean.
Fishing boats coming into Le Guilvinec, Brittany, France, at the end of the day.
Photoneye/Shutterstock
The Atlantic Ocean is still growing physically, but humans are over-harvesting its rich fisheries. The most famous one – North Atlantic cod – has become a textbook example of harmful overfishing.
Arctic sea ice levels have been falling for several decades.
GraphicaArtis/Getty Images
The pattern of autumn sea ice growth has been completely disrupted. The director of the National Snow and Ice Data Center explains what’s happening.
Eelgrasses covered with small snails, which keep the leaves clean by feeding on algae that live on them.
Jonathan Lefcheck
Healthy seagrasses form underwater meadows teeming with fish and shellfish. A successful large-scale restoration project in Virginia could become a model for reseeding damaged seagrass beds worldwide.