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IPSO - International Programme on the State of the Ocean @oceanipso.bsky.social · 7h

🐙 Celebrating #WorldOctopusDay

Yucatán’s red octopus faces heatwave stress, putting its reproduction at risk. But with incubation, hatchlings and juveniles can reproduce and survive, despite some metabolic flexibility.

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0330680

An octopus resting on a sandy seabed with algae and small rocks, in a dimly lit underwater scene.

IPSO - International Programme on the State of the Ocean @oceanipso.bsky.social · 1d

🪸 Caribbean & tropical western Atlantic reefs are falling behind rising seas.

Models project most will erode this century, lifting water over reefs by up to about a metre by 2100 unless warming stays below 2°C and amplifying sea-level impacts. #CoralReefs

Corals Won’t Survive a Warmer Planet, a New Study Finds

www.nytimes.com

IPSO - International Programme on the State of the Ocean @oceanipso.bsky.social · 2d

According to models by @ucsantabarbara.bsky.social , the increased pressure on our ocean will be most pronounced in tropical and polar regions, while coastal areas will experience the largest overall changes, posing risks to ocean health, food security, and livelihoods.

Human impact on the ocean will double by 2050, scientists warn

The seas have long sustained human life, but a new UC Santa Barbara study shows that rising climate and human pressures are pushing the oceans toward a dangerous threshold.

phys.org

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IPSO - International Programme on the State of the Ocean @oceanipso.bsky.social · 5d

Weather records are being broken faster as average conditions are shifting upward more quickly than natural swings.

Hot, wet and ice-loss extremes already far exceed past expectations, but cutting emissions would sharply slow the pace at which new records are set. #ClimateChange

Record-breaking extremes in a warming climate - Nature Reviews Earth & Environment

Multiple record-breaking climate events have been observed, posing socioeconomic risks. This Review outlines observed and projected changes in record-breaking events, revealing 300–350% increases in t...

www.nature.com

IPSO - International Programme on the State of the Ocean @oceanipso.bsky.social · 6d

Earth’s most abundant photosynthetic microbe, the phytoplankton species 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘩𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘴, has a heat ceiling.

Field data show growth peaks near 28°C, then drops. Models project 17–51% less tropical production by 2100, threatening food webs that depend on it.

Rising Ocean Temperatures Threaten Key Marine Microbe Prochlorococcus

Among the ocean’s smallest and most vital inhabitants resides a single-celled microbe known as Prochlorococcus. This cyanobacterium, often dubbed blue-green algae, represents one of the most a

scienmag.com

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IPSO - International Programme on the State of the Ocean @oceanipso.bsky.social · 7d

Whichwere the main drivers of 2023's record-breaking #MarineHeatwave?

Scientists found exceptionally weak winds thinned the North Atlantic’s surface layer, which was then heated by sunlight, warning that these events are likely to become even more common.

Unprecedented heat in the North Atlantic Ocean kickstarted Europe’s hellish 2023 summer. Now we know what caused it

Parts of the Atlantic Ocean are again much warmer than normal, priming Europe for more extreme heat this summer.

theconversation.com

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IPSO - International Programme on the State of the Ocean @oceanipso.bsky.social · 8d

Simulations covering 800,000 years show that a slight deep-ocean warming can trigger West #Antarctic Ice Sheet collapse, raising sea level by about 4 metres.

Today’s temperatures are already at this threshold. Future irreversible ice sheet loss may occur with little/no further climate warming.

Antarctic Ice Sheet tipping in the last 800,000 years warns of future ice loss - Communications Earth & Environment

The Antarctic Ice Sheet exhibits hysteresis and irreversible ice loss, with West Antarctic collapse contributing over 4 m of sea-level rise even under minimal additional warming, according to 800,000-...

www.nature.com

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IPSO - International Programme on the State of the Ocean @oceanipso.bsky.social · 9d

Turning an environmental burden into resource.

Sargassum seaweed got repurposed to help reduce material weight while offering insulation benefits. An example: in Mexico, sargassum-based bricks are used to build sustainable housing. #BlueEconomy #ClimateFriendly

Sargassum seaweed transforms into eco-friendly building blocks » News

Once a harmless drifter in the Sargasso Sea, an algae known as sargassum is now flooding tropical beaches, from Brazil to the Caribbean, with stinky, toxic

news-s.online

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IPSO - International Programme on the State of the Ocean @oceanipso.bsky.social · 12d

Long-range climate models suggest the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation could largely shut down after 2100.

Models project a collapse of deep ocean mixing in the North Atlantic, reducing heat transport and risking strong cooling in north-west Europe. #ClimateCrisis

Collapse of critical Atlantic current is no longer low-likelihood, study finds

Scientists say ‘shocking’ discovery shows rapid cuts in carbon emissions are needed to avoid catastrophic fallout

www.theguardian.com

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IPSO - International Programme on the State of the Ocean @oceanipso.bsky.social · 13d

Biodegradable #plastics can shed toxic chemical fragments that are easily taken up by organisms and may boost greenhouse-gas-producing microbes.

A study published on @science.org urges better testing, smarter polymer design and stronger regulation.
#PlasticPollution

Ecological risks of biodegradable plastics

The current draft of the global plastics treaty suggests that biodegradable plastics have the potential to end plastic pollution (1). This perception, combined with ever-rising consumer demand, has fu...

www.science.org

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Reposted by IPSO - International Programme on the State of the Ocean

Grist @grist.org · 13d

The oceans just hit an ominous milestone.

A new report sounds the alarm on ocean acidification as Earth breaches the seventh of nine "planetary boundaries.

grist.org/oceans/the-o...

#Oceans #Climate #Heat #Earth #Environment #Greensky

The oceans just hit an ominous milestone

A new report sounds the alarm on mounting ocean acidification as Earth breaches the seventh of nine "planetary boundaries."

grist.org

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IPSO - International Programme on the State of the Ocean @oceanipso.bsky.social · 15d

Marshes, #mangroves and tidal flats should be treated as moving, tide-shaped, connected systems.

Scientists suggest restoring tidal flow, rebuilding elevation, planting at the right moment, leaning on helpful species & managing adaptively with people and finance in place for #SeaLevelRise.

Making Restoration Effective for Dynamic Coastal Wetlands

Coastal wetlands are among the most important ecosystems on Earth but have been severely depleted and degraded. Despite increasing global efforts to restore lost and degraded coastal wetlands, succes...

onlinelibrary.wiley.com

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IPSO - International Programme on the State of the Ocean @oceanipso.bsky.social · 16d

🌊 The Med Sea is heating and acidifying much more rapidly than the global ocean, acting as an "early warning system" for global marine changes, threatening seagrass, fish, turtles & coastal communities.

Immediate policy action could still prevent total ecosystem failure. #ClimateChange

What climate change means for the Mediterranean Sea

Temperatures in the Mediterranean are currently rising to record levels. Instead of a refreshing dip, holidaymakers in places like Greece, Italy, and Spain, among other places, are now facing water te...

phys.org

IPSO - International Programme on the State of the Ocean @oceanipso.bsky.social · 19d

Every year up to 40 million tonnes of #Microplastics enter water, soil and air, a figure that could double by 2040 if current habits persist.

Both marine life, from fish to phytoplankton, and humans are affected, with possible immune and hormonal effects. #WorldCleanUpDay #PlasticPollution

Impact of microplastics pollution on human health and aquatic life: a review

Sources and biological impacts of microplastics.

scijournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com

IPSO - International Programme on the State of the Ocean @oceanipso.bsky.social · 20d

Only 29% of the world’s seabed has been mapped with modern tools. Progress is slowest in deep-sea areas and in low-income islands.

Scientists urge coordinated global action so the @seabed2030.bsky.social vision of a fully charted ocean can still be realised. #DeepSea @deepseaconserve.bsky.social

Frontiers | Status of global seafloor mapping effort and priority areas for future mapping

Several global and regional initiatives exist to increase the proportion of seafloor mapped by direct measurements, brought together through international co...

www.frontiersin.org

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IPSO - International Programme on the State of the Ocean @oceanipso.bsky.social · 21d

It's #WorldMantaDay! This year's theme focuses on the power of protection for these majestic creatures.

From international trade and overfishing to unregulated tourism and climate breakdown, they face growing threats.

Global organisations are calling for stronger protections. #WorldMantaDay2025

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IPSO - International Programme on the State of the Ocean @oceanipso.bsky.social · 22d

In 🇭🇰, flood danger moves with people: weeknight floods threaten crowded housing areas most, while daytime floods hit business zones.

Climate change will widen these gaps. Tailoring warnings and defences to daily travel patterns could cut future losses. #ClimateChange #SeaLevelRise

Human mobility amplifies compound flood risks in coastal urban areas under climate change - Communications Earth & Environment

Human mobility significantly alters the temporal and spatial distribution of compound flood risks in coastal cities, according to an integrated dynamic population and hydrodynamic modeling of 75 storm...

www.nature.com

IPSO - International Programme on the State of the Ocean @oceanipso.bsky.social · 23d

Understanding the dominant processes driving the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) variability across timescales is investigated in this study, as concerns grow over potential AMOC weakening under global warming.
https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2025GL115150

How Does a Stable AMOC Influence the Regional Climate of the North Atlantic?

Sloshing component is crucial in shaping the impact of Atlantic overturning on upper-ocean heat content variability A strengthening overturning circulation may reduce upper-ocean heat content in ...

agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com

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IPSO - International Programme on the State of the Ocean @oceanipso.bsky.social · 26d

It's #WorldDolphinDay! 🐬

DYK that closures in existing #MPAs, combined with effort reduction and designed for climate adaptation, deliver lasting benefits for biodiversity and fisheries, including protection of dolphins from bycatch in the Bay of Biscay?

New study: buff.ly/5xAP741

Dolphins swimming underwater in a blue ocean background.

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IPSO - International Programme on the State of the Ocean @oceanipso.bsky.social · 27d

The powerful 2023–2024 El Niño was mainly driven by stored heat in the Pacific Ocean, not atmospheric feedbacks.

This unusual event, shaped by prior La Niña conditions and global ocean warming, signals a shift in El Niño behaviour under #ClimateChange.

Powerful 2023–2024 El Niño Driven by Ocean Dynamics

In a year marked by unprecedented global temperatures, the climate phenomenon known as El Niño reasserted itself with striking intensity in 2023 and into 2024. This episode, however, departed

buff.ly

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IPSO - International Programme on the State of the Ocean @oceanipso.bsky.social · 28d

🌊 A new suggested indicator, γCO₂, shows that the ocean’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide is declining as acidification increases.

Under high emissions, more than 60% of the ocean may reach levels that threaten marine organisms by 2100.

A new indicator can assess absorption capacity for carbon dioxide and ocean acidification - Communications Earth & Environment

A new factor, γCO2, can effectively measure ocean absorption capacity for carbon dioxide and acidification as ocean acidification intensifies, according to calculations using global temperature and…

buff.ly

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Reposted by IPSO - International Programme on the State of the Ocean

OneOcean Flotilla @oceanflotilla.bsky.social · Sep 5

🐧 Meet the penguin guano, #Antarctica's climate influencer.

DYK that this species releases substantial gaseous ammonia which, combined with marine sulfur, drives an important process central to cloud generation and climate regulation? #ProtectAntarctica
www.earth.com/news/penguin...

Penguin poop helps form clouds that could slow Antarctic warming

Penguin droppings release ammonia that forms clouds, affecting Antarctica's climate and potentially slowing warming.

www.earth.com

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Reposted by IPSO - International Programme on the State of the Ocean

Veronika Meduna @veronikameduna.bsky.social · 28d

🪩 Stratospheric aerosol injections
🌊 Sea curtains
🧊 Ice management
💦 Water removal
🦠 Ocean fertilisation

None of these geoengineering fixes will mitigate effects of global warming in polar regions - instead they'll likely have serious unintended consequences
theconversation.com/high-tech-pl...

High-tech plans to save polar ice will fail, new research finds

The plans could also unintentionally harm fragile polar ecosystems.

theconversation.com

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IPSO - International Programme on the State of the Ocean @oceanipso.bsky.social · 29d

DYK? Ship passages through shallow coastal waters can trigger methane emissions from the seabed, adding significantly to greenhouse gas #GHG output?

These overlooked emissions could rival fuel combustion impacts. Hence, they need to be included in climate and pollution assessments.

Coastal methane emissions triggered by ship passages - Communications Earth & Environment

Shipping in estuaries causes pressure changes and water column mixing, which induces methane emissions to the atmosphere, according to field observations of methane from Neva Bay, Russia.

buff.ly

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IPSO - International Programme on the State of the Ocean @oceanipso.bsky.social · Sep 8

A recent comment on @nature.com urges stronger Antarctic Treaty System rules, more #MPAs, capped tourism, better monitoring and finance tools, plus rapid emissions cuts. #ProtectAntarctica buff.ly/v48SJWt

Protect Antarctica — or risk accelerating planetary meltdown

To keep Earth habitable, humanity must recognize the value of Antarctica and seek to save it from irreversible damage.

www.nature.com

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