The Ocean

Rising sea levels driven by climate change are redrawing coastlines around the world, putting coastal cities at growing risk of flooding and erosion. The warning highlights how low-lying urban areas face mounting pressure as oceans rise, with coastal communities among the most exposed to the effects of a warming planet.

The Atlantic hurricane season has been notably quiet, and reporting attributes the calm to El Niño. The climate pattern increases wind shear over the tropical Atlantic, tearing storms apart before they can organize and intensify. The explanation is drawing attention because El Niño was expected to suppress activity even as record-warm ocean temperatures pointed the other way, making this season an unusual scientific case study in competing climate forces.

Reports say the Atlantic basin may finish a hurricane season with no hurricanes for the first time in roughly 100 years, an outcome described as unprecedented in modern records. A quiet season of this scale would stand out against expectations that warming oceans generally fuel more intense storms, prompting discussion among weather watchers about what such an anomaly would mean for forecasting and climate trends.

Tropical Storm Hanna has weakened into a remnant low over the Atlantic, according to the National Hurricane Center. The system lost its tropical characteristics as conditions became unfavorable, and forecasters no longer expect it to reorganize or threaten land. Hanna's fading marks the end of a brief run as the storm moved over open ocean, with the NHC discontinuing regular advisories.

Birdwatchers are noting that storm petrels, small seabirds known for appearing during rough conditions, have been seen amid stormy weather, prompting comments that the birds live up to their name. The observation highlights the species' reputation for riding out harsh ocean winds when other seabirds stay ashore.

Climate Central reports that climate change intensified coastal flooding during the recent nor'easter along the US East Coast, with higher sea levels pushing storm surge further inland than it would have reached in the past. The analysis highlights how human-caused warming is raising baseline ocean levels and making routine coastal storms more damaging for shoreline communities.

New reporting highlights mounting scientific evidence that climate change may be intensifying El Niño events, the periodic warming of Pacific Ocean waters that drives extreme weather worldwide. Researchers are examining whether warmer ocean and atmospheric conditions are making these episodes more frequent or severe, with potential consequences for droughts, floods and storms across the globe.

A World Bank study warns that the Comoros must increase investment in its fisheries sector as climate change intensifies pressures on marine resources vital to the island nation's economy and food security. The report highlights the need for stronger infrastructure and management to protect livelihoods as ocean conditions shift.

Environmental groups have filed a lawsuit against the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration challenging its handling of deep-sea mining certification. The suit targets the agency's role in approving or overseeing mining-related activities in international waters. Critics argue such certification risks harm to fragile ocean ecosystems before science fully understands the consequences. Details of the plaintiffs and specific legal claims remain limited.

Forecasters are warning that a possible Super El Niño could be forming in the Pacific, bringing unusually warm ocean temperatures and major shifts in global weather patterns. Housing analysts are watching the potential impact on real estate, from storm and flood risks in some regions to droughts in others, and what extreme weather could mean for insurance costs, construction and property values.