oceans
Newsletter
Credit: Francesco Ungaro/Unsplash
Vietnam’s coral reefs are disappearing as warming waters and pollution take their toll
Once-thriving coral reefs off Vietnam’s Nha Trang coast are rapidly deteriorating due to climate change, pollution, and overfishing, leaving marine life struggling to survive.
Yannick Peterhans and Aniruddha Ghosal report for The Associated Press.
In short:
- Vietnam’s coral reefs, part of the biodiverse Coral Triangle, are dying due to rising ocean temperatures, pollution from coastal development, and overfishing.
- Only 1% of Vietnam’s reefs remain healthy, with bleaching events increasing in frequency and intensity, preventing coral recovery.
- Conservation efforts, including marine protected areas and coral nurseries, face challenges from illegal fishing and continued environmental degradation.
Key quote:
“It’s a compounding problem. It takes more than a year for them to fully recover.”
— Clint Oakley, coral researcher at Victoria University of Wellington
Why this matters:
Coral reefs, often called the rainforests of the sea, play an indispensable role in marine biodiversity, supporting a vast array of life while also serving as natural barriers that protect coastal communities from storms and erosion. But these ecosystems are under siege. Rising ocean temperatures and acidification — both consequences of climate change — are weakening coral, making it harder for reefs to recover from bleaching events. Meanwhile, pollution, destructive fishing practices, and unchecked coastal development further accelerate their decline.
Vietnam's plight is emblematic of a global crisis. Around the world, reefs are vanishing at unprecedented rates, leaving marine life struggling to adapt and coastal economies — many of which rely on tourism and fisheries — facing deep uncertainty. The loss of these reefs threatens food security, livelihoods, and the very structure of marine ecosystems that billions of people depend on.
Learn more: UN urges global action to protect coral reefs facing extinction
Keep reading...Show less
Newsletter
Credit: Matt Hardy/Unsplash
Climate change is weakening a major ocean current, researchers find
The Antarctic Circumpolar Current, the world’s strongest ocean current, could slow by 20% by 2050 due to melting Antarctic ice, potentially worsening global climate disruptions.
In short:
- The Antarctic Circumpolar Current helps regulate global climate by distributing heat and carbon dioxide in the ocean, but melting ice is disrupting its flow.
- Researchers using climate models found that freshwater from Antarctic ice shelves is altering ocean density, slowing the current and accelerating warming.
- Scientists warn that this slowdown could trigger more extreme weather patterns, disrupt marine ecosystems, and further speed up Antarctic ice loss.
Key quote:
“The ocean is extremely complex and finely balanced. If this current ‘engine’ breaks down, there could be severe consequences, including more climate variability, with greater extremes in certain regions, and accelerated global warming due to a reduction in the ocean’s capacity to act as a carbon sink.”
— Bishakhdatta Gayen, associate professor at the University of Melbourne and co-author of the study
Why this matters:
Ocean currents are vital for regulating climate by moving heat and nutrients around the globe. The Antarctic Circumpolar Current plays a key role in keeping Antarctica’s ice sheets stable and absorbing excess heat from the atmosphere. If it slows, more warm water could reach the Antarctic shelf, melting ice even faster and raising sea levels. Disruptions to this current could also alter global weather patterns, making storms more intense and unpredictable. The changes could impact marine ecosystems, shifting fish populations and threatening food security for millions.
Read more: Polar ice melt may collapse key ocean current by 2050, scientists warn
Keep reading...Show less
Top Story
NOAA layoffs raise legal concerns and could weaken public safety
Hundreds of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) employees, including weather forecasters and climate researchers, were abruptly fired last week, raising alarms about public safety and the legality of the dismissals.
Bob Berwyn and Lauren Dalban report for Inside Climate News.
In short:
- NOAA fired about 650 employees, affecting weather forecasting, hurricane tracking, and fisheries management, while a federal judge temporarily blocked further terminations.
- Critics argue the firings will reduce the accuracy of severe weather predictions, hinder climate research, and disrupt the collection of critical environmental data.
- The cuts follow policy recommendations from conservative groups seeking to privatize weather forecasting and diminish NOAA’s climate research.
Key quote:
“It is pretty straightforward to say that NOAA scientists are public servants who help manage natural resources on behalf of the American people, and that we are less safe and less sustainable without them on the job.”
— Catherine Macdonald, conservation biologist
Why this matters:
NOAA provides essential weather forecasts and climate data that protect lives and support industries from agriculture to aviation. Its work underpins industries such as agriculture, shipping, and aviation, providing real-time forecasts that help mitigate risks. Beyond weather, NOAA also monitors ocean health, manages fisheries, and studies long-term climate trends, shaping policies that address climate change and environmental protection.
A weakened NOAA could mean gaps in forecasting, reduced disaster preparedness, and diminished scientific oversight of climate-related policies. It could also disrupt the global exchange of weather data, as NOAA collaborates closely with international agencies. At a time when climate-related disasters are growing in frequency and severity, any reduction in NOAA’s capacity could leave communities more vulnerable and policymakers less equipped to respond.
Learn more: NOAA scientists face restrictions on foreign collaboration
Keep reading...Show less
Newsletter
Credit: 3quarks/Big Stock Photo
Warming oceans disrupt plankton, the foundation of marine life
Plankton, the microscopic organisms that sustain marine food webs, are being reshaped by climate change, with new satellite data revealing how warming oceans alter their distribution and threaten ecosystems.
In short:
- NASA's PACE satellite provides unprecedented detail on phytoplankton diversity, helping scientists track changes in ocean ecosystems.
- Rising sea temperatures are shifting plankton populations, expanding "ocean deserts" while intensifying coastal phytoplankton blooms, some of which produce toxins harmful to marine life and humans.
- Disruptions to plankton affect the entire food chain, from small fish to whales, with North Atlantic right whales already struggling to find the lipid-rich plankton they rely on.
Key quote:
“One can make the link between relentless CO2 increase and what’s happening to the right whales right now. And what’s happening to Calanus.”
— Jeffrey Runge, zooplankton ecologist and recently retired University of Maine professor
Why this matters:
Plankton are the invisible engine of ocean life, producing much of the planet’s oxygen and serving as food for everything from tiny fish to massive whales. As climate change warms the oceans, plankton populations are shifting, affecting fisheries, marine biodiversity, and even global carbon cycles. The decline of energy-rich zooplankton like Calanus finmarchicus threatens species like the North Atlantic right whale, already on the brink of extinction. Understanding these shifts is crucial for predicting broader ecological consequences.
Learn more: Plankton may be unable to weather rising ocean temperatures
Keep reading...Show less
Top Story
Credit: Torsten Dederichs/Unsplash
Record ocean heatwaves fuel storms, disrupt ecosystems, and cost billions
The world’s oceans saw a dramatic rise in marine heatwaves over the past two years, leading to deadly storms, mass coral bleaching, and disruptions to marine life and fisheries, a new study finds.
In short:
- Marine heatwave days in 2023-24 were 3.5 times higher than in any previous recorded year, with nearly 10% of the ocean reaching record-high temperatures.
- Warmer waters intensified storms, causing deadly floods and billions in damage, while also increasing whale and dolphin strandings as animals followed shifting prey.
- Coral reefs and marine species suffered widespread harm, with some mitigation efforts — such as relocating coral — showing promise but lacking adequate resources.
Key quote:
“The more regularly our marine ecosystems are being hit by marine heatwaves, the harder it is for them to recover from each event.”
— Kathryn Smith, UK’s Marine Biological Association and lead author of the study
Why this matters:
Warmer oceans are reshaping the planet in ways that extend far beyond the coastline. As ocean temperatures climb, storms grow more intense, rainfall patterns shift, and vital marine ecosystems struggle to adapt. The consequences are felt worldwide, from flooded neighborhoods to disrupted food supplies. Coastal communities, particularly those reliant on fishing and tourism, face economic uncertainty as the ocean they depend on becomes increasingly volatile. Scientists warn that these trends will only accelerate without significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
Related EHN coverage: Surprise! Unexpected ocean heat waves are becoming the norm
Keep reading...Show less
Credit: NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory/Flickr
Funding reductions threaten vital climate research at NOAA
The Trump administration is targeting the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) with significant budget cuts and a political crackdown on climate science, actions that could have far-reaching global consequences.
In short:
- NOAA, a leading U.S. climate research agency, faces a proposed one-third budget reduction, threatening its critical services in weather forecasting, species protection, and ocean mapping.
- The Trump administration's so-called "department of government efficiency" (DOGE) has begun evaluating NOAA's contracts and grants, particularly those referencing "climate change," "diversity," and "environmental agreement," to ensure compliance with executive orders.
- Staff have been directed to report weekly achievements, with non-compliance potentially leading to resignation, and some agency leaders have been placed on administrative leave.
Key quote:
"They don't know what they are doing – they just want to bring in a hammer and smash it."
— Craig McLean, former director of NOAA research
Why this matters:
NOAA's work underpins vital public services, including accurate weather forecasts and disaster response. Dismantling its capabilities appears to be part of a broader trend by the Trump administration to undermine climate science and environmental research. This crackdown extends to federal agencies, universities, and international programs, raising concerns about the future of critical research fields and the potential long-term impacts on public health and safety.
Read more:
Keep reading...Show less
Newsletter
Credit: Edgar Bullon/Big Stock Photo
EPA's wildfire debris cleanup plan sparks backlash in Los Angeles
Residents in Los Angeles are protesting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's decision to use a popular beach as a staging site for toxic wildfire debris, citing concerns over contamination of air, soil, and water.
In short:
- The EPA plans to remove hazardous materials from the Palisades and Eaton fires, which destroyed over 16,000 structures, in just one month.
- Will Rogers State Beach and Topanga Beach, between Santa Monica and Malibu in Pacific Palisades, have been chosen as debris sorting sites, raising concerns about exposure to asbestos, heavy metals, and other toxins.
- Experts and local groups warn that improper handling could spread contaminants into the ocean, groundwater, and surrounding communities.
Key quote:
“Topanga Lagoon is one of the last coastal wetland areas that exists, and so the protection of that area is incredibly important for us. It’s also been a site getting ready for restoration work for the last 15 years.”
— Annelisa Moe, associate director of science and policy at Heal the Bay
Why this matters:
Wildfire debris isn’t just ash — it can contain asbestos, heavy metals, and other hazardous substances that threaten public health and ecosystems. Strong winds and rain can carry these toxins into the air, soil, and water, endangering both people and wildlife. With the EPA expediting cleanup efforts, some worry about long-term environmental and health risks. The debate underscores the challenge of managing wildfire recovery in a way that addresses both urgency and safety.
Related: Toxic pollution persists after Los Angeles wildfires devastate communities
Keep reading...Show less
ORIGINAL REPORTING
MOST POPULAR
CLIMATE
