On the second day of the Indian Ocean Conference in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka, high-level delegations and also think tanks from about 25 different countries are taking part in the sixth edition of the conference. Watch WION's principal diplomatic correspondent Siddhant Sibbal in a conversation with Sri Lanka's ports, shipping, and aviation minister Nimal Siripala De Silva.

6th Indian Ocean Conference: Sri Lankan minister Nimal Siripala De Silva talks on India-Lanka relationship

With sea surface temperatures swelling to new highs, scientists warn carbon pollution has potential to turn oceans into a global warming "Time bomb".

'Oceans becoming ticking time bombs'

World's ocean surface temperature has reached an all-time high since satellite records first began, The Guardian reported citing government data. The average temperature at the ocean's surface has been at 21.1 degrees Celsius since the beginning of April, according to preliminary data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).&nbsp;

With this, the temperatures surpassed the previous record high of 21 degrees which was established in 2016. The rising ocean temperatures are causing marine heatwaves all around the world.&nbsp;

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-korea-natural-partners-held-substantive-talks-with-eam-south-korean-foreign-minister-park-jin-to-wion-580323">India, Korea natural partners, held substantive talks with Jaishankar: South Korean FM Park Jin to WION</a>

Prof Matthew England, a climate scientist at the University of New South Wales, said, “The current trajectory looks like it’s headed off the charts, smashing previous records."&nbsp;

Three years of La Nina conditions in the wide tropical Pacific, which cause a more intense hurricane season, have assisted in lowering temperatures. This has&nbsp;reduced&nbsp;the impact of increasing greenhouse gas emissions.

A probable El Nino trend in the tropical Pacific later this year could boost the likelihood of extreme weather and further threaten world heat records, according to experts.&nbsp;The northern US and Canada are seeing drier and warmer weather than typical as a result of El Nino conditions.&nbsp;

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-asks-aides-to-hire-laura-loomer-an-anti-muslims-for-campaign-role-580360">Trump asks aides to hire Laura Loomer, an anti-Muslim, for campaign role</a>

Dr Mike McPhaden, a senior research scientist at NOAA, said, “The recent ‘triple dip’ La Niña has come to an end. This prolonged period of cold was tamping down global mean surface temperatures despite the rise of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere."

“Now that it’s over, we are likely seeing the climate change signal coming through loud and clear.”

El Nino, which occurred from 2014 to 2016, coincided with the second-hottest worldwide averaged ocean temperatures, according to NOAA data. The data is mostly generated by satellite observations, although it is additionally supported by measurements taken by boats and buoys. The polar areas are not included in the statistics.

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The ocean has absorbed more than 90% of the excess heat brought on by the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere as a result of burning fossil fuels and deforestation. According to a research from the previous year, the amount of heat building up in the water was speeding and penetrating deeper, fueling extreme weather. 
 
 
 
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World's ocean surface temperature has reached an all-time high since satellite records first began, The Guardian reported citing government data. The average temperature at the ocean's surface has been at 21.

World's ocean surface temperature has reached an all-time high since satellite records first began, The Guardian reported citing government data. The average temperature at the ocean's surface has been at 21.1 degrees Celsius since the beginning of April, according to preliminary data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). With this, the temperatures surpassed the previous record high of 21 degrees which was established in 2016. The rising ocean temperatures are causing marine heatwaves all around the world. Also Read | India, Korea natural partners, held substantive talks with Jaishankar: South Korean FM Park Jin to WION Prof Matthew England, a climate scientist at the University of New South Wales, said, “The current trajectory looks like it’s headed off the charts, smashing previous records." Three years of La Nina conditions in the wide tropical Pacific, which cause a more intense hurricane season, have assisted in lowering temperatures. This has reduced the impact of increasing greenhouse gas emissions. A probable El Nino trend in the tropical Pacific later this year could boost the likelihood of extreme weather and further threaten world heat records, according to experts. The northern US and Canada are seeing drier and warmer weather than typical as a result of El Nino conditions. Also Read | Trump asks aides to hire Laura Loomer, an anti-Muslim, for campaign role Dr Mike McPhaden, a senior research scientist at NOAA, said, “The recent ‘triple dip’ La Niña has come to an end. This prolonged period of cold was tamping down global mean surface temperatures despite the rise of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere." “Now that it’s over, we are likely seeing the climate change signal coming through loud and clear.” El Nino, which occurred from 2014 to 2016, coincided with the second-hottest worldwide averaged ocean temperatures, according to NOAA data. The data is mostly generated by satellite observations, although it is additionally supported by measurements taken by boats and buoys. The polar areas are not included in the statistics. Watch | Pakistan: National Security Committee to launch new military operation against militants × The ocean has absorbed more than 90% of the excess heat brought on by the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere as a result of burning fossil fuels and deforestation. According to a research from the previous year, the amount of heat building up in the water was speeding and penetrating deeper, fueling extreme weather. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

World’s ocean surface temperature smashes record, reaches an all-time high of 21.1ºC

Slowly but gradually, Africa is splitting into two. As per research, two major sections of the continent are peeling apart, which could eventually form a new ocean. The colossal breakup is associated with the East African Rift System (EARS), one of the largest rifts in the world.

How Africa is forming two new continents & an ocean as it slowly divides into two

The thwaites glacier in Antarctica, nicknamed the doomsday glacier is on the edge as warm water from the ocean has seeped into its weak spots. Alyson Le Grange tells you more.

Antarctica's 'doomsday glaciers' is in trouble

According to a recent study, scientists have warned that deep-sea mining could be doing irreparable damage to blue whales and other rare marine creatures. The noise produced by mining the seabed can in turn interfere with whales’ ability to communicate with one another leading to extreme damage. @mohammed11saleh brings you this report.

Deep-sea mining pose 'risk to ocean ecosystems': Study

Marine biologists in Argentina have returned two green turtles to the ocean who were rescued after they became entangled in fishing nets. Watch this report to know more.

WION Climate Tracker | Two rescued sea turtles released back to ocean in Argentina after detox

Marine sanctuaries are supposed to protect ocean life but what can they do when this life moves away as climate change heats our planet's seas, many marine species are permanently migrating in the search of cooler habitats.

WION Climate Tracker: Marine life flee warming oceans; climate change heats planet's seas

Australia is planning to set aside 30% of the land and oceans for conservation. The announcement was made by the Australian environment minister. As per the reports, Australia is suffering species decline.

WION Climate Tracker: Australia plans to set aside 30% of its territory for conservation

Now a new study has shown that nearly about three times the amount of water that is found in the ocean actually lies under the Earth's crust.

Most of the Earth's water is underground?

More than 80% of the oceans still remains unexplored by the humans. Coral reefs are at the risk of being destroyed by the climate change. There is a new discovery to restore coral reefs and scientists can train corals to spawn.

WION Climate Tracker: Scientists trigger spawning of 6 species of corals

A new scientific expedition is all set to explore the depths of the Maldives' ocean. It will help understand what lies below the waves, deeper than the swimming areas for scuba divers.

New scientific expedition to explore depths of the Maldives' ocean

Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling are all set to share the screen again for the prequel movie&nbsp;of 'Ocean 11', and several news agencies have confirmed the news. Margot and Ryan are part of Greta Gerwigs's fourthcoming film 'Barbie', in the film, Gosling is playing the role of Ken, while the 'Suicide Squad'&nbsp;actress is playing Barbie.&nbsp; 
 
Warner Bros reboot will be directed by Jay Roach and will be penned by Carie Solomon.&nbsp; 
 
More details about the plot have been kept underwraps.&nbsp; 
 
However, as per Variety, the story is set in 1960s Europe, far from Las Vegas, where the first movie was based which was directed by Lewis Milestone&nbsp;and starring&nbsp;Rat Pack: Frank Sinatra. 
 
In addition to starring, Margot is also producing the film under her LuckyChap banner. Apart from her, Tom Ackerley and Michelle Graham are also producing. Village Roadshow is also exec producer.&nbsp;

The movie was rebooted in 2001 with George Clooney, Julia Roberts and&nbsp;Brad Pitt in the lead roles. After that, three 'Ocean`s'&nbsp;movies were released. 'Ocean`s Twelve'&nbsp;(2004), 'Ocean`s Thirteen' (2007) and&nbsp;'Ocean`s 8'&nbsp;(2018) with all&nbsp;female lead stars Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway and Mindy Kaling. 
 
In May, the news about new reboot film in works came out. As per the reports, the film's production will start from next year in spring.&nbsp; 
Gosling was last seen in Netflix drama 'The Gray Man' which was directed Joe and Anthony Russo. He has also re-teams with the makers for the sequel to his Netflix hit.

(With inputs from the agencies)

Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling are all set to share the screen again for the prequel movie of 'Ocean 11', and several news agencies have confirmed the news. Margot and Ryan are part of Greta Gerwigs's fourthcoming film 'Barbie', in the film, Gosling is playing the role of Ken, while the 'Suicide Squad' actress is playing Barbie.

Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling are all set to share the screen again for the prequel movie of 'Ocean 11', and several news agencies have confirmed the news. Margot and Ryan are part of Greta Gerwigs's fourthcoming film 'Barbie', in the film, Gosling is playing the role of Ken, while the 'Suicide Squad' actress is playing Barbie. Warner Bros reboot will be directed by Jay Roach and will be penned by Carie Solomon. More details about the plot have been kept underwraps. However, as per Variety, the story is set in 1960s Europe, far from Las Vegas, where the first movie was based which was directed by Lewis Milestone and starring Rat Pack: Frank Sinatra. In addition to starring, Margot is also producing the film under her LuckyChap banner. Apart from her, Tom Ackerley and Michelle Graham are also producing. Village Roadshow is also exec producer. The movie was rebooted in 2001 with George Clooney, Julia Roberts and Brad Pitt in the lead roles. After that, three 'Ocean`s' movies were released. 'Ocean`s Twelve' (2004), 'Ocean`s Thirteen' (2007) and 'Ocean`s 8' (2018) with all female lead stars Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway and Mindy Kaling. In May, the news about new reboot film in works came out. As per the reports, the film's production will start from next year in spring. Gosling was last seen in Netflix drama 'The Gray Man' which was directed Joe and Anthony Russo. He has also re-teams with the makers for the sequel to his Netflix hit. (With inputs from the agencies)

After 'Barbie', Ryan Gosling & Margot Robbie to star in ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ sequel

The ocean has tolerated the impact of human-made global warming for a long time. As excessive heat and energy has warmed the oceans, the change in ocean temperature leads to some unparalleled chain of events.

WION Climate Tracker| Climate change impacting World's ocean; rising temperatures damage coral reefs

The bottom of the sea is home to a huge number of species, but new research shows that there may be many more kind of marine creatures who are yet to be discovered. A new study, conducted by Natural History Museum of the United Kingdom, says that scientists have found around 30 new species who reside at the bottom of the ocean. The findings were published in the journal Zookeys and it states that the scientists found 48 different species during the course of their research.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/two-new-studies-say-covid-19-virus-originated-from-wuhan-animal-market-501032" hreflang="en">Two new studies confirm Covid virus originated from Wuhan animal market</a>

&nbsp;According to The Guardian, the species found by the scientists included animals from the same families as centipedes as well as jellyfish, segmented worms and a variety of different corals.

“This research is important not only due to the number of potentially new species discovered, but because these megafauna specimens have previously only been studied from seabed images. Without the specimens and the DNA data they hold, we cannot properly identify the animals and understand how many different species there are,” Dr Guadalupe Bribiesca-Contreras, lead author of the study and researcher at the Natural History Museum, told The Guardian.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-states-monkeypox-transmission-not-limited-to-gay-men-says-not-the-case-everywhere-501026">WHO states monkeypox transmission not limited to gay men</a>

The implications of this finding are quite far-reaching as it can limit the amount of sea mining being conducted at present. A number of companies are looking to extract minerals from the seabed but that can stop if authorities believe that the processes are detrimental for the new-found species.

The other fascinating part about the research was the use of a remote operated vehicle for the collection of data and it was also able to navigate the entire area without any major issues.

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The bottom of the sea is home to a huge number of species, but new research shows that there may be many more kind of marine creatures who are yet to be discovered.

The bottom of the sea is home to a huge number of species, but new research shows that there may be many more kind of marine creatures who are yet to be discovered. A new study, conducted by Natural History Museum of the United Kingdom, says that scientists have found around 30 new species who reside at the bottom of the ocean. The findings were published in the journal Zookeys and it states that the scientists found 48 different species during the course of their research. Also read | Two new studies confirm Covid virus originated from Wuhan animal market According to The Guardian, the species found by the scientists included animals from the same families as centipedes as well as jellyfish, segmented worms and a variety of different corals. “This research is important not only due to the number of potentially new species discovered, but because these megafauna specimens have previously only been studied from seabed images. Without the specimens and the DNA data they hold, we cannot properly identify the animals and understand how many different species there are,” Dr Guadalupe Bribiesca-Contreras, lead author of the study and researcher at the Natural History Museum, told The Guardian. Also read | WHO states monkeypox transmission not limited to gay men The implications of this finding are quite far-reaching as it can limit the amount of sea mining being conducted at present. A number of companies are looking to extract minerals from the seabed but that can stop if authorities believe that the processes are detrimental for the new-found species. The other fascinating part about the research was the use of a remote operated vehicle for the collection of data and it was also able to navigate the entire area without any major issues. WATCH WION LIVE HERE -

More than 30 new species discovered living at the bottom of the ocean

A long-delayed conference on how to restore the faltering health of global oceans kicked off in Lisbon on Monday, with the head of the UN saying the world's seas are in crisis.

"Today we face what I would call an&nbsp;ocean&nbsp;emergency," UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres told thousands of policymakers, experts and advocates at the opening plenary, describing how seas have been hammered by climate change and pollution.&nbsp;

Humanity depends on healthy oceans.&nbsp;

They generate 50 percent of the oxygen we breathe and provide essential protein and nutrients to billions of people every day.

Covering 70 percent of Earth's surface, oceans have also softened the impact of climate change for life on land.&nbsp;

But at a terrible cost.

Absorbing around a quarter of CO2 pollution -- even as emissions increased by half over the last 60 years -- has turned sea water acidic, threatening aquatic food chains and the&nbsp;ocean's capacity to absorb carbon.&nbsp;

And soaking up more than 90 percent of the excess heat from global warming has spawned massive marine heatwaves that are killing off precious coral reefs and expanding dead zones bereft of oxygen.

"We have only begun to understand the extent to which climate change is going to wreak havoc on&nbsp;ocean&nbsp;health," said Charlotte de Fontaubert, the World Bank's global lead for the blue economy.

Making things worse is an unending torrent of pollution, including a garbage truck's worth of plastic every minute, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).&nbsp;

On current trends, yearly plastic waste will nearly triple to one billion tonnes by 2060, according to a recent report by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).&nbsp;

Wild fish stocks

Microplastics -- now found inside Arctic ice and fish in the&nbsp;ocean's deepest trenches -- are estimated to kill more than a million seabirds and over 100,000 marine mammals each year.

Solutions on the table range from recycling to global caps on plastic production.&nbsp;

Global fisheries will also be in the spotlight during the five-day UN&nbsp;Ocean&nbsp;Conference, originally slated for April 2020 and jointly hosted by Portugal and Kenya.&nbsp;

"At least one-third of wild fish stocks are overfished and less than 10 percent of the&nbsp;ocean&nbsp;is protected," Kathryn Matthews, chief scientist for US-based NGO Oceana, told AFP.

"Destructive and illegal fishing vessels operate with impunity in many coastal waters and on the high seas."

One culprit is nearly $35 billion in subsidies. Baby steps taken last week by the World Trade Organization (WTO) to reduce handouts to industry will hardly make a dent, experts said.

The conference will also see a push for a moratorium on deep-sea mining of rare metals needed for a boom in electric vehicle battery construction.

Scientists say poorly understood seabed ecosystems are fragile and could take decades or longer to heal once disrupted.

Another major focus will be "blue food", the new watchword for ensuring that marine harvests from all sources -- wild caught and farmed -- are sustainable and socially responsible.

Protected areas

Aquaculture yields -- from salmon and tuna to shellfish and algae -- have grown by three percent a year for decades and are on track to overtake wild marine harvests that peaked in the 1990s, with each producing roughly 100 million tonnes per year.

The Lisbon meeting will be attended by ministers and even a few heads of state, including French President Emmanuel Macron, but is not a formal negotiating session.

But participants will push for a strong oceans agenda at two critical summits later this year -- the COP27 UN climate talks in November, hosted by Egypt, followed by the long-delayed COP15 UN biodiversity negotiations, recently moved from China to Montreal.

Oceans are already at the heart of a draft treaty tasked with halting what many scientists fear is the first "mass extinction" event in 65 million years. A cornerstone provision would designate 30 percent of the planet's land and&nbsp;ocean&nbsp;as protected areas.

But preparatory negotiations in Nairobi ended on Sunday in deadlock.&nbsp;

"The agreement is at risk of collapsing on the question of finance," the environmental diplomacy lead for WWF France told AFP.&nbsp;

For climate change, the focus will be on carbon sequestration -- boosting the&nbsp;ocean's capacity to soak up CO2, whether by enhancing natural sinks such as mangroves or through geoengineering schemes.

At the same time, scientists warn, a drastic reduction in greenhouse gases is needed to restore&nbsp;ocean&nbsp;health.

A long-delayed conference on how to restore the faltering health of global oceans kicked off in Lisbon on Monday, with the head of the UN saying the world's seas are in crisis.

A long-delayed conference on how to restore the faltering health of global oceans kicked off in Lisbon on Monday, with the head of the UN saying the world's seas are in crisis. "Today we face what I would call an ocean emergency," UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres told thousands of policymakers, experts and advocates at the opening plenary, describing how seas have been hammered by climate change and pollution. Humanity depends on healthy oceans. They generate 50 percent of the oxygen we breathe and provide essential protein and nutrients to billions of people every day. Covering 70 percent of Earth's surface, oceans have also softened the impact of climate change for life on land. But at a terrible cost. Absorbing around a quarter of CO2 pollution -- even as emissions increased by half over the last 60 years -- has turned sea water acidic, threatening aquatic food chains and the ocean's capacity to absorb carbon. And soaking up more than 90 percent of the excess heat from global warming has spawned massive marine heatwaves that are killing off precious coral reefs and expanding dead zones bereft of oxygen. "We have only begun to understand the extent to which climate change is going to wreak havoc on ocean health," said Charlotte de Fontaubert, the World Bank's global lead for the blue economy. Making things worse is an unending torrent of pollution, including a garbage truck's worth of plastic every minute, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). On current trends, yearly plastic waste will nearly triple to one billion tonnes by 2060, according to a recent report by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Wild fish stocks Microplastics -- now found inside Arctic ice and fish in the ocean's deepest trenches -- are estimated to kill more than a million seabirds and over 100,000 marine mammals each year. Solutions on the table range from recycling to global caps on plastic production. Global fisheries will also be in the spotlight during the five-day UN Ocean Conference, originally slated for April 2020 and jointly hosted by Portugal and Kenya. "At least one-third of wild fish stocks are overfished and less than 10 percent of the ocean is protected," Kathryn Matthews, chief scientist for US-based NGO Oceana, told AFP. "Destructive and illegal fishing vessels operate with impunity in many coastal waters and on the high seas." One culprit is nearly $35 billion in subsidies. Baby steps taken last week by the World Trade Organization (WTO) to reduce handouts to industry will hardly make a dent, experts said. The conference will also see a push for a moratorium on deep-sea mining of rare metals needed for a boom in electric vehicle battery construction. Scientists say poorly understood seabed ecosystems are fragile and could take decades or longer to heal once disrupted. Another major focus will be "blue food", the new watchword for ensuring that marine harvests from all sources -- wild caught and farmed -- are sustainable and socially responsible. Protected areas Aquaculture yields -- from salmon and tuna to shellfish and algae -- have grown by three percent a year for decades and are on track to overtake wild marine harvests that peaked in the 1990s, with each producing roughly 100 million tonnes per year. The Lisbon meeting will be attended by ministers and even a few heads of state, including French President Emmanuel Macron, but is not a formal negotiating session. But participants will push for a strong oceans agenda at two critical summits later this year -- the COP27 UN climate talks in November, hosted by Egypt, followed by the long-delayed COP15 UN biodiversity negotiations, recently moved from China to Montreal. Oceans are already at the heart of a draft treaty tasked with halting what many scientists fear is the first "mass extinction" event in 65 million years. A cornerstone provision would designate 30 percent of the planet's land and ocean as protected areas. But preparatory negotiations in Nairobi ended on Sunday in deadlock. "The agreement is at risk of collapsing on the question of finance," the environmental diplomacy lead for WWF France told AFP. For climate change, the focus will be on carbon sequestration -- boosting the ocean's capacity to soak up CO2, whether by enhancing natural sinks such as mangroves or through geoengineering schemes. At the same time, scientists warn, a drastic reduction in greenhouse gases is needed to restore ocean health.

UN chief says ailing oceans in state of 'emergency'

In a bid to help reduce the pollution caused by plastics in oceans. Scientists unveiled bionic robo-fish capable of hunting microplastics from the ocean surface.

Robots to solve ocean's pollution menace: 15mm long robo-fish to hunt for plastic

In Spain a winery is aging its bottles under the ocean they're calling it sunken wine, watch this exclusive report for more!

Spain: Can ocean change wine for better?

An Argentine foundation which rescues sea lions has raised concern over the problem of ocean pollution after they rescued sea lions which were found tangled in the garbage.

Argentine foundation raises concern: Need to act fast to save oceans

The Maldives is taking on a controversial environmental project, it's commissioned a land reclamation scheme using sand dredged from a lagoon but experts are concerned that the project could choke the ecosystem.

Maldives to reclaim land from ocean

The world's oceans are recording high acidic levels as new reports hint at ocean degradation. Oceans were also warmest in 2021 according to reports.

The world's oceans record high acidic levels as new reports hint at ocean degradation

The world's&nbsp;oceans&nbsp;grew to their warmest and&nbsp;most&nbsp;acidic&nbsp;levels on record last year, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Wednesday, as United Nations officials warned that war in Ukraine threatened global&nbsp;climate&nbsp;commitments.

Oceans&nbsp;saw the&nbsp;most&nbsp;striking extremes as the WMO detailed a range of turmoil wrought by&nbsp;climate&nbsp;change in its annual "State of the Global&nbsp;Climate,"&nbsp;It said melting ice sheets had helped push sea&nbsp;levels to new heights in 2021.

"Our&nbsp;climate&nbsp;is changing before our eyes. The heat trapped by human-induced greenhouse gases will warm the planet for many generations to come," said WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas in a statement.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-ukraine-war-could-cause-mass-hunger-and-famine-due-to-food-insecurity-un-warns-480297">Russia-Ukraine war could cause mass hunger and famine due to food insecurity, UN warns</a>

The&nbsp;report&nbsp;follows the latest U.N.&nbsp;climate&nbsp;assessment, which warned that humanity must drastically cut its greenhouse gas emissions or face increasingly catastrophic changes to the world's&nbsp;climate.

Taalas told&nbsp;reporters there was scant airtime for&nbsp;climate&nbsp;challenges as other crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and war in Ukraine, grabbed headlines.

Selwin Hart, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's special adviser on&nbsp;climate&nbsp;action, criticised countries reneging on&nbsp;climate&nbsp;commitments due to the conflict, which has pushed up energy prices and prompted European nations to seek to replace Russia as an energy supplier.

Also watch |&nbsp;UN: Global Energy system driving humanity towards catastrophe

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DANGEROUS INCREASE

"We are ... seeing many choices being made by many major economies which, quite frankly, have the potential to lock in a high-carbon, high-polluting future and will place our&nbsp;climate&nbsp;goals at risk," Hart told&nbsp;reporters.

On Tuesday, global equity index giant MSCI warned that the world faces a dangerous increase in greenhouse gases if Russian gas is replaced with coal.

The WMO&nbsp;report&nbsp;said&nbsp;levels of&nbsp;climate-warming carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere in 2021 surpassed previous records.

Globally, the average temperature last year was 1.11 degrees Celsius above the preindustrial average - as the world edges closer to the 1.5C threshold beyond which the effects of warming are expected to become drastic.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/climate-change-making-extreme-heat-waves-in-india-100-times-more-likely-study-480339">Climate change making extreme heat waves in India 100 times more likely: Study</a>

"It is just a matter of time before we see another warmest year on record," Taalas said.

Oceans&nbsp;bear much of the brunt of the warming and emissions. The bodies of water absorb around 90% of the Earth's accumulated heat and 23% of the carbon dioxide emissions from human activity.

The ocean has warmed markedly faster in the last 20&nbsp;years, hitting a new high in 2021, and is expected to become even warmer, the&nbsp;report&nbsp;said. That change would likely take centuries or millennia to reverse, it noted.

The ocean is also now its&nbsp;most&nbsp;acidic&nbsp;in at least&nbsp;26,000&nbsp;years&nbsp;as it absorbs and reacts with more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Sea&nbsp;level&nbsp;has risen 4.5 cm (1.8 inches) in the last decade, with the annual increase from 2013 to 2021 more than double what it was from 1993 to 2002.

The WMO also listed individual extreme heatwaves, wildfires, floods and other&nbsp;climate-linked disasters around the world, noting&nbsp;reports of more than $100 billion in damages.

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&nbsp;

The world's oceans grew to their warmest and most acidic levels on record last year, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Wednesday, as United Nations officials warned that war in Ukraine threatened global climate commitments.

The world's oceans grew to their warmest and most acidic levels on record last year, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Wednesday, as United Nations officials warned that war in Ukraine threatened global climate commitments. Oceans saw the most striking extremes as the WMO detailed a range of turmoil wrought by climate change in its annual "State of the Global Climate," It said melting ice sheets had helped push sea levels to new heights in 2021. "Our climate is changing before our eyes. The heat trapped by human-induced greenhouse gases will warm the planet for many generations to come," said WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas in a statement. Also read | Russia-Ukraine war could cause mass hunger and famine due to food insecurity, UN warns The report follows the latest U.N. climate assessment, which warned that humanity must drastically cut its greenhouse gas emissions or face increasingly catastrophic changes to the world's climate. Taalas told reporters there was scant airtime for climate challenges as other crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and war in Ukraine, grabbed headlines. Selwin Hart, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's special adviser on climate action, criticised countries reneging on climate commitments due to the conflict, which has pushed up energy prices and prompted European nations to seek to replace Russia as an energy supplier. Also watch | UN: Global Energy system driving humanity towards catastrophe DANGEROUS INCREASE "We are ... seeing many choices being made by many major economies which, quite frankly, have the potential to lock in a high-carbon, high-polluting future and will place our climate goals at risk," Hart told reporters. On Tuesday, global equity index giant MSCI warned that the world faces a dangerous increase in greenhouse gases if Russian gas is replaced with coal. The WMO report said levels of climate-warming carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere in 2021 surpassed previous records. Globally, the average temperature last year was 1.11 degrees Celsius above the preindustrial average - as the world edges closer to the 1.5C threshold beyond which the effects of warming are expected to become drastic. Also read | Climate change making extreme heat waves in India 100 times more likely: Study "It is just a matter of time before we see another warmest year on record," Taalas said. Oceans bear much of the brunt of the warming and emissions. The bodies of water absorb around 90% of the Earth's accumulated heat and 23% of the carbon dioxide emissions from human activity. The ocean has warmed markedly faster in the last 20 years, hitting a new high in 2021, and is expected to become even warmer, the report said. That change would likely take centuries or millennia to reverse, it noted. The ocean is also now its most acidic in at least 26,000 years as it absorbs and reacts with more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Sea level has risen 4.5 cm (1.8 inches) in the last decade, with the annual increase from 2013 to 2021 more than double what it was from 1993 to 2002. The WMO also listed individual extreme heatwaves, wildfires, floods and other climate-linked disasters around the world, noting reports of more than $100 billion in damages. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

World’s oceans at most acidic level in 26,000 years, climate report warns

The last two decades have been recorded hottest since the pre-industrial era. Ocean warming is rising worldwide as major greenhouse gases continue to rise.

Ocean warming rising worldwide as major greenhouse gases continue to rise

As a Spanish company aims to construct the first commercial octopus farm next year, spurred on by rising seafood demand, as scientists learn more about the enigmatic animals, some fear it will be an ethical and environmental disaster.&nbsp;

Proponents of the project argue that the breeding programmes will relieve pressure on overburdened fisheries while also creating jobs in the area.

However, ethicists, zoologists, and environmentalists are sceptical, stating that there are numerous reasons why octopuses should not be farmed.

On paper, octopus farms seem like a good idea, because many regularly consumed species can reproduce quickly, gain body mass quickly, and mature in a year or two.

The idea of octopus aquaculture, on the other hand, comes with a slew of costs and issues.&nbsp;

They're finicky eaters, especially when they're young, and like to consume live prey.

Octopuses do not do well in confinement, and when confined with one another, they can become violent, even mutilating themselves.

Furthermore, octopuses are known escape artists, finding ingenious ways to get free at any given moment.

Aquaculture as a whole continues to be a major source of environmental concern as of late.

Despite tremendous progress over the last two decades, the fishing industry continues to be a source of aquatic pests and diseases, pollution, and greenhouse gases.

Companies like Nueva Pescanova approach these challenges pragmatically, intending to overcome them through research, though they're notoriously tight-lipped about what that could entail.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

As a Spanish company aims to construct the first commercial octopus farm next year, spurred on by rising seafood demand, as scientists learn more about the enigmatic animals, some fear it will be an ethical and environmental disaster.

As a Spanish company aims to construct the first commercial octopus farm next year, spurred on by rising seafood demand, as scientists learn more about the enigmatic animals, some fear it will be an ethical and environmental disaster. Proponents of the project argue that the breeding programmes will relieve pressure on overburdened fisheries while also creating jobs in the area. However, ethicists, zoologists, and environmentalists are sceptical, stating that there are numerous reasons why octopuses should not be farmed. On paper, octopus farms seem like a good idea, because many regularly consumed species can reproduce quickly, gain body mass quickly, and mature in a year or two. The idea of octopus aquaculture, on the other hand, comes with a slew of costs and issues. They're finicky eaters, especially when they're young, and like to consume live prey. Octopuses do not do well in confinement, and when confined with one another, they can become violent, even mutilating themselves. Furthermore, octopuses are known escape artists, finding ingenious ways to get free at any given moment. Aquaculture as a whole continues to be a major source of environmental concern as of late. Despite tremendous progress over the last two decades, the fishing industry continues to be a source of aquatic pests and diseases, pollution, and greenhouse gases. Companies like Nueva Pescanova approach these challenges pragmatically, intending to overcome them through research, though they're notoriously tight-lipped about what that could entail. (With inputs from agencies)

World's first octopus farm raises serious ethical concerns

To deal with the plastic pandemic, global leaders have come together to take measures and preserve the ocean from human harm. French president, Emmanuel Macron, is hosting the high-level session of the One Ocean summit on Friday. He said 2022 was “a decisive year, and we should take here, in Brest, clear and firm commitments.”

Nearly 27 EU states and 16 others have agreed to pursue a global agreement by the end of&nbsp;year. The aim is to regulate the sustainable use of the oceans all across the globe.&nbsp;

US climate envoy, John Kerry said that it was “the ocean that makes life on Earth possible, produces more than half of the oxygen we breathe – and even that is at risk. The ocean and climate are inextricably linked. They’re one and the same.”

During the summit, there were several panels on various commitments to marine protection and tackling climate change.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-tells-allies-russia-may-attack-ukraine-on-february-16-reports-452685">Also read |&nbsp;Biden tells allies Russia may attack Ukraine on February 16: Reports</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/global-leaders-launch-one-ocean-summit-a-pledge-to-protect-our-marine-life-452722/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The countries participating in the summit said that they would respect the 13 Brest Commitments for Oceans, including protecting biodiversity and ocean resources.&nbsp;

Nearly 84 countries aim to protect 30 per cent of the world's land and sea biodiversity by 2030. Also, many countries joined the "High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People" and "the High Ambition Coalition on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction".&nbsp;

In a bid to finance the restoration of marine ecosystems, France and Colombia launched a global coalition. &nbsp;

The commitments and decisions taken during this summit will be further discussed at the UN Ocean conference in Lisbon, Portugal, in June and during the COP27 in Egypt in the autumn.

(With inputs from agencies)

To deal with the plastic pandemic, global leaders have come together to take measures and preserve the ocean from human harm. French president, Emmanuel Macron, is hosting the high-level session of the One Ocean summit on Friday.

To deal with the plastic pandemic, global leaders have come together to take measures and preserve the ocean from human harm. French president, Emmanuel Macron, is hosting the high-level session of the One Ocean summit on Friday. He said 2022 was “a decisive year, and we should take here, in Brest, clear and firm commitments.” Nearly 27 EU states and 16 others have agreed to pursue a global agreement by the end of year. The aim is to regulate the sustainable use of the oceans all across the globe. US climate envoy, John Kerry said that it was “the ocean that makes life on Earth possible, produces more than half of the oxygen we breathe – and even that is at risk. The ocean and climate are inextricably linked. They’re one and the same.” During the summit, there were several panels on various commitments to marine protection and tackling climate change. Also read | Biden tells allies Russia may attack Ukraine on February 16: Reports The countries participating in the summit said that they would respect the 13 Brest Commitments for Oceans, including protecting biodiversity and ocean resources. Nearly 84 countries aim to protect 30 per cent of the world's land and sea biodiversity by 2030. Also, many countries joined the "High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People" and "the High Ambition Coalition on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction". In a bid to finance the restoration of marine ecosystems, France and Colombia launched a global coalition. The commitments and decisions taken during this summit will be further discussed at the UN Ocean conference in Lisbon, Portugal, in June and during the COP27 in Egypt in the autumn. (With inputs from agencies)

Global leaders meet at One Ocean Summit, several important decisions taken

A three-day summit has been organised in the French port city of Brest, where global leaders have pushed for an ambitious feat to save Marine life.

Global leaders launch One Ocean Summit: 'A Pledge to protect our Marine life'

Coastal species have now found a new artificial habitat in ocean plastic, reveals a new study published in the journal Nature Communications. As per researchers, there is a massive possibility that these species may be evolving to adapt to life on plastic.

The study reveals that the world has at least 5&nbsp;plastic-infested gyres, or what can be termed as “garbage patches.”&nbsp;The North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, which is between California and Hawaii, holds the most floating plastic.

In a press release, Linsey Haram, lead author of the article said, "The issues of plastic go beyond just ingestion and entanglement."&nbsp;

“It’s creating opportunities for coastal species’ biogeography to greatly expand beyond what we previously thought was possible.”

It all started after the 2011 Japanese tsunami when scientists first began to believe that coastal species could use plastic to survive. This is when they discovered that nearly 300 species had moved across the Pacific on tsunami debris.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/japanese-researchers-use-ostrich-cells-to-create-mask-that-glows-if-covid-positive-436016">Also read |&nbsp;Japanese researchers use ostrich cells to create mask that glows if Covid positive</a>

For further examination, Haram collaborated with Ocean Voyages Institute. It is a nonprofit that collects plastic pollution on sailing expeditions. A few oceanographers from the University of Hawaii at Manoa also became a part of the research.&nbsp;

The researchers created models that could predict where plastic was most likely to pile up.&nbsp;

During the first year of the pandemic, the team of researchers managed to collect a record-breaking 103 tons of plastics and other debris from the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre.&nbsp;

Some of these samples were then shipped to SERC’s Marine Invasions Lab. The scientists then concluded that the species colonised them. This included species like anemones, hydroids and shrimp-like amphipods.

(With inputs from agencies)

Coastal species have now found a new artificial habitat in ocean plastic, reveals a new study published in the journal Nature Communications. As per researchers, there is a massive possibility that these species may be evolving to adapt to life on plastic.

Coastal species have now found a new artificial habitat in ocean plastic, reveals a new study published in the journal Nature Communications. As per researchers, there is a massive possibility that these species may be evolving to adapt to life on plastic. The study reveals that the world has at least 5 plastic-infested gyres, or what can be termed as “garbage patches.” The North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, which is between California and Hawaii, holds the most floating plastic. In a press release, Linsey Haram, lead author of the article said, "The issues of plastic go beyond just ingestion and entanglement." “It’s creating opportunities for coastal species’ biogeography to greatly expand beyond what we previously thought was possible.” It all started after the 2011 Japanese tsunami when scientists first began to believe that coastal species could use plastic to survive. This is when they discovered that nearly 300 species had moved across the Pacific on tsunami debris. Also read | Japanese researchers use ostrich cells to create mask that glows if Covid positive For further examination, Haram collaborated with Ocean Voyages Institute. It is a nonprofit that collects plastic pollution on sailing expeditions. A few oceanographers from the University of Hawaii at Manoa also became a part of the research. The researchers created models that could predict where plastic was most likely to pile up. During the first year of the pandemic, the team of researchers managed to collect a record-breaking 103 tons of plastics and other debris from the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. Some of these samples were then shipped to SERC’s Marine Invasions Lab. The scientists then concluded that the species colonised them. This included species like anemones, hydroids and shrimp-like amphipods. (With inputs from agencies)

Coastal species are now thriving by colonising on plastic trash in ocean

Around 8 million metric tonnes of plastic go into the oceans each year. WION tells you how plastic pollutions have now been taking a toll on marine life.

8 mn metric tonnes of plastic dumped into oceans every year

Brynn Kimber, a research scientist at the University of Washington who works in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Marine Mammal Laboratory, has spent a lot of time analysing audio data recorded in the icy waters north of Alaska, Canada and Russia. Typically, Kimber hears the chatter of bowhead whales, belugas, narwhals and other cetaceans native to that part of the Arctic.

A few years ago, they started hearing a distinctive cry acousticians describe as similar to that of a disgruntled house cat: The piercing call of a killer whale. Kimber wondered at first if their ears were deceiving them.

“When I started the job, my mentor told me, ‘You won’t see killer whales this far north,’ ” Kimber said. But as years of data accumulated, along with more orca calls in areas where they’d never been recorded, it appeared that was no longer true.

“Where I would see absolutely none in previous years, in later years I was seeing more and more,” Kimber said. “That was pretty unusual.”

The orca calls are further evidence of a rapidly changing Arctic. As sea ice has receded, killer whales — which are actually dolphins — are now venturing to parts of the sea that were once inaccessible, and spending more time in places they were once seen only sporadically, according to data Kimber presented Thursday at the annual meeting of the Acoustical Society of America in Seattle.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/antarctica-burned-with-forest-fires-when-dinosaurs-roamed-earth-says-study-424792">Also read |&nbsp;Antarctica burned with forest fires when dinosaurs roamed Earth, says study</a>

As a result, some of nature’s most effective predators have vastly broadened the scope of their hunt. The change has potentially significant consequences for animals up and down the food chain — including humans.

Arctic sea ice has declined significantly in the four decades since satellite monitoring began. Roughly 75% of ice volume disappeared in the past 15 years alone, and the remaining ice is thinner and of poorer quality, said Amy Willoughby, a marine mammal biologist with NOAA’s Alaska Fisheries Science Center.

The loss of ice coupled with warming waters and atmospheric temperatures has affected every level of the Arctic ecosystem. Large mammals like polar bears have struggled to navigate shrinking habitats, while the marine algae at the base of the Arctic food chain blooms sooner and more abundantly than ever before.

In recent years, scientists have noticed similar upheaval in the behavior of the region’s marine mammals. Orca are feasting more often on bowhead whales. Scientists and Indigenous Arctic communities have noted a growing number of bowhead whale carcasses in the northeastern Chukchi and western Beaufort seas with signs of orca attack.

Even if the orca don’t take a single bite, the predators’ mere presence can have far-reaching consequences. Bowhead whales typically retreat into protective patches of dense ice when threatened by orcas, which lack the giant-skulled bowheads’ ability to break through frozen waters for air. An Inuit word, “aarlirijuk,” describes this bowhead fear response evolved specifically to evade killer whales.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indian-scientists-discover-new-plant-species-in-antarctica-396722">Also read |&nbsp;Indian scientists discover new plant species in Antarctica</a>

But as the ice recedes, these defense mechanisms can prove a liability. Bowheads must spend more time than ever before hiding in thick ice where feeding opportunities are scarce. Calves that aren’t yet strong enough to crack through the ice can suffocate.

Any decline in bowhead numbers could have consequences up the food chain, too: The baleen whales are a significant food source for subsistence hunters in Indigenous Arctic communities, Kimber said.

“Killer whales are really intelligent,” said Cory Matthews, a research scientist with the Arctic region of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. “They consume really fast. If a new area opens up, they can get in there maybe within the next year and exploit a prey population that could be perhaps really slow to respond to those changes.”

It could take years, he added, before scientists fully understand the long-term consequences of how these extremely lethal and newly emboldened hunters are expanding their reach in the Arctic.

Brynn Kimber, a research scientist at the University of Washington who works in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Marine Mammal Laboratory, has spent a lot of time analysing audio data recorded in the icy waters north of Alaska, Canada and Russia.

Brynn Kimber, a research scientist at the University of Washington who works in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Marine Mammal Laboratory, has spent a lot of time analysing audio data recorded in the icy waters north of Alaska, Canada and Russia. Typically, Kimber hears the chatter of bowhead whales, belugas, narwhals and other cetaceans native to that part of the Arctic. A few years ago, they started hearing a distinctive cry acousticians describe as similar to that of a disgruntled house cat: The piercing call of a killer whale. Kimber wondered at first if their ears were deceiving them. “When I started the job, my mentor told me, ‘You won’t see killer whales this far north,’ ” Kimber said. But as years of data accumulated, along with more orca calls in areas where they’d never been recorded, it appeared that was no longer true. “Where I would see absolutely none in previous years, in later years I was seeing more and more,” Kimber said. “That was pretty unusual.” The orca calls are further evidence of a rapidly changing Arctic. As sea ice has receded, killer whales — which are actually dolphins — are now venturing to parts of the sea that were once inaccessible, and spending more time in places they were once seen only sporadically, according to data Kimber presented Thursday at the annual meeting of the Acoustical Society of America in Seattle. Also read | Antarctica burned with forest fires when dinosaurs roamed Earth, says study As a result, some of nature’s most effective predators have vastly broadened the scope of their hunt. The change has potentially significant consequences for animals up and down the food chain — including humans. Arctic sea ice has declined significantly in the four decades since satellite monitoring began. Roughly 75% of ice volume disappeared in the past 15 years alone, and the remaining ice is thinner and of poorer quality, said Amy Willoughby, a marine mammal biologist with NOAA’s Alaska Fisheries Science Center. The loss of ice coupled with warming waters and atmospheric temperatures has affected every level of the Arctic ecosystem. Large mammals like polar bears have struggled to navigate shrinking habitats, while the marine algae at the base of the Arctic food chain blooms sooner and more abundantly than ever before. In recent years, scientists have noticed similar upheaval in the behavior of the region’s marine mammals. Orca are feasting more often on bowhead whales. Scientists and Indigenous Arctic communities have noted a growing number of bowhead whale carcasses in the northeastern Chukchi and western Beaufort seas with signs of orca attack. Even if the orca don’t take a single bite, the predators’ mere presence can have far-reaching consequences. Bowhead whales typically retreat into protective patches of dense ice when threatened by orcas, which lack the giant-skulled bowheads’ ability to break through frozen waters for air. An Inuit word, “aarlirijuk,” describes this bowhead fear response evolved specifically to evade killer whales. Also read | Indian scientists discover new plant species in Antarctica But as the ice recedes, these defense mechanisms can prove a liability. Bowheads must spend more time than ever before hiding in thick ice where feeding opportunities are scarce. Calves that aren’t yet strong enough to crack through the ice can suffocate. Any decline in bowhead numbers could have consequences up the food chain, too: The baleen whales are a significant food source for subsistence hunters in Indigenous Arctic communities, Kimber said. “Killer whales are really intelligent,” said Cory Matthews, a research scientist with the Arctic region of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. “They consume really fast. If a new area opens up, they can get in there maybe within the next year and exploit a prey population that could be perhaps really slow to respond to those changes.” It could take years, he added, before scientists fully understand the long-term consequences of how these extremely lethal and newly emboldened hunters are expanding their reach in the Arctic.

Melting Arctic is a bonanza for the ocean’s natural born killers

Billions of tiny plastic pellets also known as 'Nurdles' are floating in the ocean, causing as much damage as oil spills, yet they are still not classified as hazardous. Nurdles pose significant dangers for marine life.

Nurdles or the tiny plastic pellets choking oceans

Arctic. Atlantic. Long ago, the two oceans existed in harmony, with warm and salty Atlantic waters gently flowing into the Arctic. The layered nature of the Arctic — sea ice on top, cool freshwater in the middle, and warm, salty water at the bottom — helped hold the boundary between the polar ocean and the warmer Atlantic.

But everything changed when the larger ocean began flowing faster than the polar ocean could accommodate, weakening the distinction between the layers and transforming Arctic waters into something closer to the Atlantic. This process, called Atlantification, is part of the reason the Arctic is warming faster than any other ocean.

“It’s not a new invasion of the Arctic,” said Yueng-Djern Lenn, a physical oceanographer at Bangor University in Wales. “What’s new is that the properties of the Arctic are changing.”

Satellites offer some of the clearest measurements of changes in the Arctic Ocean and sea ice. But their records only go back around 40 years, obscuring how the climate of the ocean may have changed in prior decades.

“To go back, we need a sort of time machine,” said Tommaso Tesi, a researcher at the Institute of Polar Sciences-CNR, Italy.

In a paper published Wednesday in the journal Science Advances, Tesi and colleagues were able to turn back time with yardlong sediment cores taken from the seafloor, which archived 800 years of historical changes in Arctic waters. Their analysis found Atlantification started at the beginning of the 20th century — decades before the process had been documented by satellite imagery. The Arctic has warmed by around 2 degrees Celsius since 1900. But this early Atlantification did not appear in existing historical climate models, a discrepancy the authors say may reveal gaps in those estimates.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/new-zealand-mp-julie-anne-genter-pedals-to-hospital-in-labour-gives-birth-after-an-hour-432526">Also read |&nbsp;New Zealand MP, Julie Anne Genter, pedals to hospital in labour; gives birth after an hour</a>

“It’s a bit unsettling because we rely on these models for future climate predictions,” Tesi said.

Mohamed Ezat, a researcher at the Tromso campus of the Arctic University of Norway and who was not involved with the research, called the findings “remarkable.”

“Information on long-term past changes in Arctic Ocean hydrography are needed, and long overdue,” Ezat wrote in an email.

In 2017, the researchers extracted a sediment core from the seafloor of Kongsfjorden, a glacial fjord in the east end of the Fram Strait, a gateway between the Norwegian archipelago Svalbard and Greenland, where Arctic and Atlantic waters mingle.

The researchers sliced up the core at regular intervals and dried those layers. Then came the painstaking process of sifting out and identifying the samples’ foraminifera — single-celled organisms that build intricate shells around themselves using minerals in the ocean.

When foraminifera die, their shells drift to the seafloor and accumulate in layers of sediment. The creatures are crucial clues in sediment samples; by identifying which foraminifera are present in a sample and analyzing the chemistry of their shells, scientists can glean the properties of past oceans.

The team’s original idea was to reconstruct the oceanographic conditions of a region that contained both Arctic and Atlantic waters, going back 1,000 to 2,000 years. But, in the slices of the core dating back to the early 20th century, the researchers noticed a sudden, massive increase in the concentration of foraminifera that prefer salty environments — a sign of Atlantification, far earlier than anyone had documented.

“It was quite a lot of surprises in one study,” said Francesco Muschitiello, an oceanographer at the University of Cambridge and an author on the paper.

The sheer amount of sediment was so high that the researchers could assemble a chronology of past climate down to five- or 10-year increments. Additionally, a molecular biomarker could pinpoint a specific year, 1916, when coal mining began in Kongsfjorden. Since the foraminiferal shift occurred just before this marker, the researchers estimate Atlantification began around 1907, give or take a decade.

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When the researchers compared the data from their paleoclimate model with others to see if they overlapped, they found existing climate models had no sign of this early Atlantification. The researchers suggest a number of possible reasons behind this absence, such as an underestimation of the role of freshwater mixing in the Arctic or the region’s sensitivity to warming.

Lenn, who was not involved with the research, sees a difference between this early Atlantification and the present, rapid Atlantification, which is largely driven by melting Arctic sea ice. “It’s too soon after the start of the Industrial Revolution for us to have accumulated excess heat in the planetary system for it to be anthropogenic at that point,” Lenn said.

The authors are not sure of the precise reasons behind the early Atlantification. If human influences are the cause, then “the whole system is much more sensitive to greenhouse gases than we previously thought,” Muschitiello said.

In another possibility, earlier natural warming may have made the Arctic Ocean much more sensitive to the accelerated Atlantification of recent decades. “Could it be that we destabilised a system that was already shifting?” Tesi said.

This is the maddening mystery of any paleoclimate model. “None of us were there,” Lenn said, laughing.

Although this is true of humans, it is not true of corals in the Fram Strait. The long-lived animals record changes in climate and other parameters, making them excellent sentinels of climate history. Tesi hopes to study the strait’s cold-living corals next, to see what insight they may offer into the Atlantic’s usurpation of the Arctic.

Arctic. Atlantic. Long ago, the two oceans existed in harmony, with warm and salty Atlantic waters gently flowing into the Arctic. The layered nature of the Arctic — sea ice on top, cool freshwater in the middle, and warm, salty water at the bottom — helped hold the boundary between the polar ocean and the warmer Atlantic.

Arctic. Atlantic. Long ago, the two oceans existed in harmony, with warm and salty Atlantic waters gently flowing into the Arctic. The layered nature of the Arctic — sea ice on top, cool freshwater in the middle, and warm, salty water at the bottom — helped hold the boundary between the polar ocean and the warmer Atlantic. But everything changed when the larger ocean began flowing faster than the polar ocean could accommodate, weakening the distinction between the layers and transforming Arctic waters into something closer to the Atlantic. This process, called Atlantification, is part of the reason the Arctic is warming faster than any other ocean. “It’s not a new invasion of the Arctic,” said Yueng-Djern Lenn, a physical oceanographer at Bangor University in Wales. “What’s new is that the properties of the Arctic are changing.” Satellites offer some of the clearest measurements of changes in the Arctic Ocean and sea ice. But their records only go back around 40 years, obscuring how the climate of the ocean may have changed in prior decades. “To go back, we need a sort of time machine,” said Tommaso Tesi, a researcher at the Institute of Polar Sciences-CNR, Italy. In a paper published Wednesday in the journal Science Advances, Tesi and colleagues were able to turn back time with yardlong sediment cores taken from the seafloor, which archived 800 years of historical changes in Arctic waters. Their analysis found Atlantification started at the beginning of the 20th century — decades before the process had been documented by satellite imagery. The Arctic has warmed by around 2 degrees Celsius since 1900. But this early Atlantification did not appear in existing historical climate models, a discrepancy the authors say may reveal gaps in those estimates. Also read | New Zealand MP, Julie Anne Genter, pedals to hospital in labour; gives birth after an hour “It’s a bit unsettling because we rely on these models for future climate predictions,” Tesi said. Mohamed Ezat, a researcher at the Tromso campus of the Arctic University of Norway and who was not involved with the research, called the findings “remarkable.” “Information on long-term past changes in Arctic Ocean hydrography are needed, and long overdue,” Ezat wrote in an email. In 2017, the researchers extracted a sediment core from the seafloor of Kongsfjorden, a glacial fjord in the east end of the Fram Strait, a gateway between the Norwegian archipelago Svalbard and Greenland, where Arctic and Atlantic waters mingle. The researchers sliced up the core at regular intervals and dried those layers. Then came the painstaking process of sifting out and identifying the samples’ foraminifera — single-celled organisms that build intricate shells around themselves using minerals in the ocean. When foraminifera die, their shells drift to the seafloor and accumulate in layers of sediment. The creatures are crucial clues in sediment samples; by identifying which foraminifera are present in a sample and analyzing the chemistry of their shells, scientists can glean the properties of past oceans. The team’s original idea was to reconstruct the oceanographic conditions of a region that contained both Arctic and Atlantic waters, going back 1,000 to 2,000 years. But, in the slices of the core dating back to the early 20th century, the researchers noticed a sudden, massive increase in the concentration of foraminifera that prefer salty environments — a sign of Atlantification, far earlier than anyone had documented. “It was quite a lot of surprises in one study,” said Francesco Muschitiello, an oceanographer at the University of Cambridge and an author on the paper. The sheer amount of sediment was so high that the researchers could assemble a chronology of past climate down to five- or 10-year increments. Additionally, a molecular biomarker could pinpoint a specific year, 1916, when coal mining began in Kongsfjorden. Since the foraminiferal shift occurred just before this marker, the researchers estimate Atlantification began around 1907, give or take a decade. Also read | Scottish schoolgirls boycott gender-neutral toilets due to misbehaviour by boys When the researchers compared the data from their paleoclimate model with others to see if they overlapped, they found existing climate models had no sign of this early Atlantification. The researchers suggest a number of possible reasons behind this absence, such as an underestimation of the role of freshwater mixing in the Arctic or the region’s sensitivity to warming. Lenn, who was not involved with the research, sees a difference between this early Atlantification and the present, rapid Atlantification, which is largely driven by melting Arctic sea ice. “It’s too soon after the start of the Industrial Revolution for us to have accumulated excess heat in the planetary system for it to be anthropogenic at that point,” Lenn said. The authors are not sure of the precise reasons behind the early Atlantification. If human influences are the cause, then “the whole system is much more sensitive to greenhouse gases than we previously thought,” Muschitiello said. In another possibility, earlier natural warming may have made the Arctic Ocean much more sensitive to the accelerated Atlantification of recent decades. “Could it be that we destabilised a system that was already shifting?” Tesi said. This is the maddening mystery of any paleoclimate model. “None of us were there,” Lenn said, laughing. Although this is true of humans, it is not true of corals in the Fram Strait. The long-lived animals record changes in climate and other parameters, making them excellent sentinels of climate history. Tesi hopes to study the strait’s cold-living corals next, to see what insight they may offer into the Atlantic’s usurpation of the Arctic.

This ocean invaded its neighbour earlier than anyone thought

ocean

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