ocean

New data reported by BBC News indicates the current El Niño is the strongest ever recorded, accompanied by a major shift in global weather patterns. The findings point to intensified ocean warming with wide-reaching consequences for rainfall, drought and temperature extremes across different regions of the world.

Attention is on the current El Niño event, which is being described as unprecedented — one that climate watchers say no one has ever seen before. The claim reflects growing alarm over record ocean temperatures and extreme weather patterns linked to this cycle. Discussion centres on how this El Niño differs from past events and what it signals for global climate trends.

The 2023-24 El Niño is described as record-shattering, with analysis of its wide-ranging effects on global temperatures, weather patterns and ecosystems. The event has driven exceptional ocean warming in the tropical Pacific, contributing to record global heat, shifts in rainfall, droughts and flooding in various regions, and stress on fisheries and agriculture. Commentators are weighing how much of the recent temperature surge should be attributed to El Niño versus longer-term climate change.

The US National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service is highlighting the outlook for a very strong El Nino in 2026-2027. The agency says an unusually warm tropical Pacific Ocean could reshape weather patterns worldwide, with potential effects on rainfall, droughts, storms and temperatures across multiple continents in the coming years.

The 30x30 initiative calls for protecting 30% of the world's oceans by 2030, but protecting oceans on paper is not enough, according to the World Economic Forum. Declaring marine protected areas does not guarantee real conservation unless enforcement, funding and management follow, as many existing reserves remain poorly policed and continue to allow damaging activity.

Mexico's Baja California peninsula is preparing for the arrival of Hurricane Polo, with residents and authorities bracing for heavy rain, strong winds and coastal damage. Meanwhile, Hurricane Nolo is threatening Hawaii, putting the Pacific basin on alert with two simultaneous storm threats. Emergency preparations are underway on both sides of the ocean.

USA Today reports that hurricane activity is behaving abnormally across two ocean basins, with conditions described as historically out of whack. The Atlantic and Pacific seasons have both deviated from typical patterns, prompting meteorologists and readers to question how climate change may be reshaping storm formation, timing, and intensity this year.

A slow-moving, planetary-scale kelvin wave of warm ocean water is heading toward the US West Coast, raising concern in California. Such waves along the equatorial Pacific are tied to the El Niño-Southern Oscillation and can shift weather patterns, potentially bringing heavier rains, coastal impacts and extreme weather to the region as scientists and residents watch its progress.

Climate Week NYC has wrapped up, with coverage pointing to two major themes: the build-out of smart electricity grids and growing attention to ocean resilience. Businesses, governments and campaigners used the annual New York gathering to announce commitments and debate how to finance cleaner energy systems and protect marine ecosystems.

Three large-scale infrastructure projects, backed by Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote and Turkish investors, are directing some $40bn towards East Africa's Indian Ocean trade ambitions. The investments are aimed at strengthening ports and trade corridors along the region's coastline, positioning East Africa as a bigger hub for Indian Ocean commerce. The scale of the funding and the involvement of high-profile backers have drawn attention across regional and global business circles.

Scientists and weather watchers are tracking a vast, slow-moving Kelvin wave—a planetary-scale ocean or atmospheric pattern—that is heading toward California. The development is drawing attention because such waves can influence coastal conditions and extreme weather, and concern is mounting over what impact it could bring to the US West Coast.

Two hurricanes are active at the same time in the Pacific Ocean, according to coverage from KING 5 and other outlets. Forecasters are tracking both storms' paths and potential threats to shipping, coastal areas and island communities. Dual Pacific hurricanes are drawing attention because concurrent systems can strain emergency preparedness and complicate forecasting.

A Delta Air Lines flight heading to Boston made an emergency diversion after smoke filled the cabin while it was over the Atlantic Ocean. The aircraft was redirected to land safely, and the incident is drawing attention as travelers and news outlets follow reports of what caused the smoke and whether anyone on board was harmed.

Researchers at the University of California, Riverside say one of Saturn's moons may hold clues about the possibility of life beyond Earth. The finding adds to growing scientific interest in the moons of Saturn, which are considered promising targets in the search for extraterrestrial life because of their subsurface oceans and complex chemistry.

The Australian Government has released a new sustainable ocean plan built around eight priority areas. The plan sets out the country's approach to managing marine environments and ocean resources, though details of the specific priorities and how they will be implemented have not yet been widely reported. Environmental and maritime observers are watching to see what commitments it includes.

Attention is turning to a slow-moving, planetary-scale ocean Kelvin wave that is travelling toward the California coast. Such waves move warm water along the equator and can influence weather patterns, raising concerns about possible effects on California's coastal conditions and climate in the coming months.

New research indicates Earth microbes can survive in conditions mimicking the ocean of Enceladus, Saturn's icy moon. The findings strengthen the case that Enceladus could potentially host life, since its subsurface ocean is a leading target in the search for life beyond Earth. Scientists say the experiment shows known microorganisms are more hardy than assumed under such extreme environments.

ESA's JUICE mission to Jupiter and its icy moons is performing its second Earth gravity assist, passing less than 10,000 km overhead at 13:45 CEST, directly above the Indian Ocean. The flyby uses Earth's gravity to adjust the spacecraft's trajectory toward Jupiter. A final Earth slingshot is planned for 2029 before JUICE continues to the outer solar system.

Scientists and fishermen are pressing the federal government to continue funding a deep-ocean observation system, warning that losing the data stream would hurt marine research and fisheries management. The program monitors ocean conditions in deep waters, information both communities rely on for understanding ecosystems and making decisions. Supporters say the system's value extends well beyond academia into the fishing industry.

China has pushed its deep-sea drilling capability to the 5,000-meter level, becoming only the third country in the world to retrieve hard-rock samples from deep-ocean seabeds. The advance, reported by state media, underlines Beijing's push into deep-sea exploration technology, an area dominated by a small number of nations and increasingly tied to scientific prestige and potential seabed resources.

Scientists conducting deep-sea research have discovered an unexpected creature living 3,000 feet below the ocean's surface, with one member of the team describing the encounter as shocking. Details about the species and its significance remain limited, but the find has drawn attention for revealing how little is still known about life in the deep ocean.

Chinese state media report that the country's deep-sea drilling capability has reached the 5,000-meter level, marking a significant advance in its capacity to explore and extract resources from the ocean floor. The announcement highlights China's growing technological ambitions in deep-sea exploration and its push to secure strategic minerals and energy resources beneath the seabed.

Ocean surveillance startup Quartermaster has raised an additional $140 million in funding, according to TechCrunch. The investment underscores growing interest in maritime monitoring technology, as governments and companies seek better tools to track activity at sea, from illegal fishing to shipping and security threats. Details on the investors and how the new capital will be used have not yet been fully disclosed.

El Niño conditions are driving an unusual split in hurricane activity: the Pacific is producing storms at a vigorous pace while the Atlantic hurricane season remains unusually calm. Forecasters attribute the contrast to El Niño's strengthening of winds that tear Atlantic storms apart, while simultaneously fueling storm development in the warmer Pacific. The pattern is shaping expectations for the rest of the season.

A new study questions the widely held idea that climate change is driving a boom in global squid populations. Researchers challenge assumptions that warming oceans have benefited squid, suggesting earlier conclusions may need revision. The findings matter for fisheries and marine ecosystems, where squid play a key role and where management decisions have partly relied on expectations of continued growth.

A powerful nor'easter storm is battering Ocean City, Maryland, and much of the US East Coast, bringing damaging winds, coastal flooding and heavy rain to coastal communities. WUSA9 reports on the storm's impact along the shore, with the system affecting a wide stretch of the Atlantic seaboard as residents brace for hazardous conditions.