Ocean

Rising sea levels caused by climate change are reshaping coastlines around the world, putting coastal cities at growing risk of flooding and erosion. Low-lying urban areas face mounting pressure to invest in sea defences and long-term adaptation plans as oceans continue to rise.

Hurricane Polo, a storm in the eastern Pacific, is being described as one of the strongest storms ever recorded, with forecasters attributing its unusual intensity to El Niño conditions. Warm ocean waters linked to the climate pattern are driving rapid intensification, drawing attention from weather watchers and news outlets tracking the storm's path and potential coastal impacts.

Meteorologists report that this year's El Niño is on track to be the strongest ever recorded, surpassing previous events in measured ocean temperatures in the tropical Pacific. Scientists warn the event could offer a preview of conditions typical of a warmer climate future, with potential for extreme weather worldwide. The warning comes as global temperatures have already been breaking records throughout the event.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has issued a threat against United States warships operating in the Indian Ocean, according to a report by The Telegraph. The warning marks an escalation in rhetoric between Tehran and Washington at a time of already heightened tensions in the Middle East. Details about the specific nature of the threat and any US response were not immediately available.

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.

Hurricane season is behaving in ways forecasters describe as historically abnormal, with conditions in two oceans significantly out of balance, according to USA Today. The report suggests the typical patterns that govern storm formation have broken down this year, raising questions about what to expect for the rest of the season. Coverage is drawing attention to how unusual ocean and atmospheric conditions are reshaping storm forecasts.

Hurricane Nolo is strengthening in the open ocean and forecasters expect it to reach Category 3 intensity by Sunday, according to The Weather Channel. A storm of that strength would bring major hurricane conditions, with the forecast track and any threat to land closely watched in the days ahead.

The Atlantic has yet to produce a hurricane this season, and climate outlet Grist attributes the calm to El Niño. The phenomenon, which is driving record ocean temperatures worldwide, creates wind shear over the Atlantic that suppresses tropical storm development. The piece notes the irony that the same pattern raising global temperatures is also canceling Atlantic tropical activity, at least for now.

A spacecraft built to explore icy moons where life could exist is flying close by Earth, using the planet's gravity to adjust its course. The maneuver is part of a long journey toward the outer solar system, where scientists hope to study oceans beneath the moons' surfaces. The flyby has drawn attention as a milestone in the search for conditions suitable for life beyond our planet.

A new report describes geological rifting underway beneath the Pacific Northwest, where tectonic forces are slowly pulling the Earth's crust apart. The findings are drawing widespread attention, with readers sharing and discussing the story of the region's underlying seismic activity. Scientists point to the ongoing deformation of the Cascadia region as evidence of powerful forces reshaping the ocean floor and coastline over geological timescales.

Hawaii has experienced its third near-miss from a Pacific hurricane this season, according to reporting in The Atlantic. The storms have tracked close enough to the islands to raise alarms, prompting evacuations and emergency preparations even without direct landfalls. Commenters are linking the pattern to warmer ocean temperatures and are debating whether climate change is increasing hurricane threats to the islands.

New research suggests icy moons in the outer solar system could retain their subsurface oceans even if they are shattered by large impacts, with fragments potentially holding on to liquid water. The finding has implications for the search for life, as it widens the range of places where habitable conditions might survive dramatic collisions and reassembling events over billions of years.

Forecasters say El Niño is driving a stark divide in tropical activity this hurricane season. The pattern has strengthened winds over the Atlantic, tearing storms apart and keeping that basin unusually calm, while warm Pacific waters are generating repeated hurricanes. Meteorologists expect the imbalance to persist as long as El Niño conditions hold through the season.

The U.S. Geological Survey is examining how a super El Niño could affect the Midwest region of the United States. The pattern, marked by unusually warm Pacific Ocean waters, typically alters rainfall and temperature across North America, raising questions about flooding, drought and agricultural consequences for Midwestern states.

New research indicates that Earth microbes can survive under simulated conditions of the ocean beneath the ice of Saturn's moon Enceladus, suggesting life there is not out of the question. Scientists see the finding as encouraging for the search for life beyond Earth, since Enceladus's subsurface ocean is considered one of the most promising places to look.

A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck near New Caledonia in the Pacific Ocean on September 26, 2026, prompting a natural disaster alert. The available evidence comes from a US embassy advisory posted for Fiji, warning people in the region about the event. The posts collected do not include eyewitness reactions, damage reports, or details on casualties, and no tsunami warning information is given in the evidence, so the full public response is not yet clear.

Tropical Storm Gonzalo has lost its tropical characteristics and transitioned into a post-tropical system over the open Atlantic, according to forecasters. The storm no longer poses the organized wind and rain threat typical of tropical cyclones, and its remnants are expected to continue moving across the ocean. Meteorologists are monitoring whether any remains affect shipping routes or distant shores.

Fire crews in Emerald Isle, North Carolina, are responding to an active structure fire on Ocean Drive, according to local officials. Details about injuries, the extent of the damage, or the cause have not yet been released as firefighters work at the scene. Residents are being kept updated through local news coverage as the situation develops.

A strong nor'easter is battering Ocean City, Maryland, delivering heavy rain, gusty winds and coastal flooding to the resort town. Local coverage describes swollen streets and rough surf along the shore, with residents and visitors warned to stay clear of floodwater. The storm is moving up the mid-Atlantic coast, disrupting travel and prompting flood warnings in coastal communities.

Researchers from Purdue University are travelling to a remote island group in the Pacific Ocean to investigate possible remnants of Amelia Earhart's aircraft. The aviator vanished during her 1937 attempt to fly around the world, and her disappearance remains one of aviation's great mysteries. The expedition has drawn attention as it could finally shed light on what happened to her plane.

A coastal storm has flooded streets in Ocean City, Maryland, prompting local authorities to issue travel warnings for residents and visitors. Standing water is reported across low-lying roads, and officials are urging drivers to avoid flooded areas and delay unnecessary trips. The storm has become a leading regional story as conditions continue to affect the popular shore resort community.

Flooding has overtaken Ocean City, New Jersey, with water covering streets in the Jersey Shore resort town. Weather coverage is tracking the inundation as coastal communities deal with high water and its impact on residents and visitors.

North Carolina Highway 12 near the Marc Basnight Bridge and the village of Rodanthe has been closed after ocean water washed over the road. NC 12 is the main route along the Outer Banks and is repeatedly overrun during storms and high surf, cutting off Hatteras Island communities. Closures typically last until water recedes and crews clear sand and debris from the roadway.

Ocean City, Maryland has closed the ocean to swimmers as rough weather moves through the resort town, according to local reporting. Beachgoers were ordered out of the water while conditions remain dangerous. Visitors and residents are following the closure closely as the popular summer destination waits for the weather to improve.

Representative Maria Elvira Salazar has introduced H.R. 10505, the Tropical Forest and Coral Reef Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2026, in the US House of Representatives. The bill would reauthorize existing US conservation programs that protect tropical forests and coral reefs. The measure has been filed ahead of current authorizations, with details of funding levels and duration not yet widely reported.

Ocean City, Maryland has closed the ocean to swimmers as rough weather moves through the resort town. Officials ordered the water off-limits along the beach while dangerous conditions persist. Visitors and locals are watching the weather closely as the popular shore destination suspends typical summer activity.

A nor'easter is hitting the Jersey Shore, with raw footage from Ocean Grove showing the pier being pounded by wind and waves. Conditions along the coast are expected to deteriorate as the storm intensifies, drawing attention from residents and local media monitoring beaches, flooding and possible damage to shoreline structures.