oceans

Attention is on a developing El Niño that commentators describe as unlike any previously recorded. The claim, made in a widely shared science explainer, suggests the current event is stronger or behaving differently than past El Niños, raising questions about extreme weather, hotter global temperatures and disrupted rainfall patterns in the months ahead.

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.

Two powerful hurricanes are simultaneously churning in the Pacific Ocean, drawing attention from weather watchers and news outlets. Details on their projected paths and potential impact on land or shipping routes remain limited, but the rare pairing of two major storms in the basin is prompting discussion as meteorologists track their movement and intensity.

SpaceX's Starship completed a test flight with a splashdown in the ocean, with the rocket appearing to burn up as it descended. The landing marks another step in the company's testing campaign for the vehicle it eventually intends to use for missions to the Moon and Mars.

SpaceX's Starship has returned to Earth, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean north of Hawaii after a three-hour flight. The mission marks another milestone for the company's reusable super-heavy rocket program, and coverage is focused on the spacecraft's successful recovery and what it means for future deep-space missions.

SpaceX's Starship has returned to Earth, splashing down after its latest flight test. The rocket's descent into the ocean marks another milestone in the company's program to develop the massive spacecraft for future missions to the Moon and Mars. Reactions are focused on how the vehicle performed during reentry and landing, and what the results mean for upcoming test flights and NASA's lunar plans.

Scientists and news outlets are raising alarms about a slow-moving, planetary-scale ocean phenomenon known as a Kelvin wave heading toward the California coast. Warm water trapped along the coastline by El Niño could raise local sea levels by as much as a foot, increasing coastal flooding and erosion risks. Observers are watching closely to see how the wave interacts with the ongoing El Niño pattern.

New research suggests that even if plastic flows into the oceans were halted by 2050, microplastic accumulation in marine environments could continue. Existing plastic already breaking down in the water would keep fragmenting into smaller particles, meaning contamination persists long after inputs stop. The finding challenges assumptions that cutting pollution at the source alone will resolve the ocean microplastic problem, and is prompting discussion about cleanup and long-term accumulation.

A new report says global temperatures have reached record highs as the El Niño climate pattern strengthens in the Pacific. El Niño, which warms ocean surface waters and alters weather worldwide, is adding to the underlying warming trend driven by greenhouse gas emissions. Scientists warn the combination could push average temperatures to new extremes in the coming months, with implications for heatwaves, droughts and storms across many regions.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature used the UN General Assembly and New York Climate Week to advance its agenda on nature protection, ocean conservation and climate action. The organisation says the gatherings offered a key moment to push for stronger commitments linking biodiversity and climate policy ahead of upcoming global negotiations.

The Guardian examines a common corporate argument that individual companies' fossil fuel emissions are too small to matter, a 'drop in the ocean' compared to global totals. The piece asks what the picture would look like if the full real-world costs of those emissions were properly counted, challenging firms to account for their cumulative contribution to climate damage rather than deflecting responsibility.

The New York Times reports that the current El Niño pattern is influencing storm activity on opposite sides of the United States. The climate phenomenon, marked by warmer Pacific Ocean waters, is altering jet stream behavior and steering weather systems, shaping storm tracks for both the West and East coasts this season.

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.

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.

Scientists report that as the Pacific Ocean warms, its water-age structure is behaving counterintuitively: young water at the surface appears to be aging, while older deep water is getting younger, a reversal of established circulation patterns. The finding suggests climate change may be disrupting the ocean's overturning circulation, with potential consequences for heat and carbon storage. Researchers say the shift warrants closer monitoring of how the Pacific redistributes heat as global temperatures rise.

A UK climate minister has warned that the global food system is vulnerable to El Niño, the periodic warming of Pacific Ocean waters that disrupts weather patterns and can hit crop harvests. The warning highlights concerns that extreme weather linked to El Niño could drive up food prices and threaten supply security at a time of already strained agricultural conditions.

A powerful El Nino event in the Pacific Ocean is putting California's coastline under threat, with beaches eroding as stronger storms and higher waves batter the shore. Reports highlight growing concern over coastal damage and the risks to communities and infrastructure along the state's beaches as the weather pattern intensifies.

A Chinese deep-ocean drilling ship has returned with what state-linked reporting calls 'precious' geological samples from the South China Sea. The cores are expected to help scientists study the seabed's structure and geological history, and underscore China's growing capability in deep-sea exploration. The mission also carries strategic weight, given competing territorial claims over the disputed waterway and interest in its seabed resources.

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.

Storms linked to the El Niño weather pattern are tearing away large chunks of the California coastline, according to reporting in The Atlantic. The article examines how intensifying ocean storms are accelerating coastal erosion, costing communities land and infrastructure along the Pacific shore. The story is being shared widely across environmental and science-focused audiences as extreme weather linked to climate patterns draws renewed attention.

SpaceX's Starship has splashed down in the Pacific Ocean after returning to Earth earlier than planned. The next-generation rocket, developed for missions to the Moon and Mars, ended its flight short of schedule, prompting discussion about what caused the early return and what the outcome means for the vehicle's testing programme.

Hurricane Polo is spinning in the Pacific Ocean, with forecasters warning it could bring heavy rain and flooding to parts of Mexico and the southwestern United States, putting millions of people in the storm's potential path. Officials are monitoring the system as it moves, urging residents in vulnerable areas to prepare for possible flash flooding and dangerous conditions in the days ahead.

Ocean temperature data suggests the developing 2026 El Niño is running well ahead of the strongest El Niño events on record, with comparisons showing it in a league of its own. Observers note the pattern reflects the natural El Niño cycle叠加 on long-term ocean warming, with much of the extra heat attributed to human-driven climate change rather than the cycle alone.

A new tropical storm has formed in the Atlantic Ocean, according to reports from US news outlets. Details about the storm's name, strength, and projected path have not yet been made available. Forecasters will be monitoring the system closely as the Atlantic season continues, with coastal communities urged to follow official advisories for updates on any potential impacts.

UNESCO has unveiled its ONE OCEAN installation during the UN General Assembly in New York. The installation forms part of the organization's ongoing ocean advocacy, timed to coincide with the annual gathering of world leaders where marine protection and climate issues are on the agenda.

Tropical Storm Hanna has formed over the Atlantic Ocean, according to AccuWeather and Yahoo News reports. Details on its projected path and strength were not immediately available. Meteorologists are tracking the system as the season progresses, with coastal residents advised to monitor official forecasts for updates on potential impacts.

Two Pacific hurricanes are prompting warnings on opposite sides of the ocean. Hurricane Nolo remains a threat to Hawaii, with officials watching its track toward the islands, while Mexico's Baja California peninsula is bracing for a major landfall from Hurricane Polo. Residents in both regions are being urged to monitor forecasts and prepare for strong winds, heavy rain and coastal flooding.

SpaceX's Starship Flight 14 completed its deorbit burn, with the ship splashing down in the Pacific Ocean as planned. The event was streamed live, drawing attention from space enthusiasts tracking the test flight's progress and performance.

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.