oceans

Scientists and commentators say the current El Niño is unlike any previously observed, with ocean temperatures in the Pacific reaching record highs. The event is being linked to extreme weather worldwide, including heatwaves, flooding and droughts, and is fuelling debate about how climate change may be intensifying the natural cycle.

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 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 United States is facing significant storms on both coasts at once, a pattern being attributed to the strength of El Niño. The climate phenomenon, marked by warmer Pacific Ocean waters, is influencing weather across the country, with the East and West experiencing severe conditions simultaneously and forecasters warning of continued storm risks.

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.

SpaceX's Starship completed a test flight ending with a splashdown in the ocean, with the spacecraft appearing to burn up or break apart as it hit the water in a fiery descent. The landing marks another step in the company's testing of the vehicle designed for deep-space missions.

Two powerful hurricanes are currently churning in the Pacific Ocean, drawing attention as forecasters track their strength and paths. Details about potential landfalls or impacts on coastal communities remain limited, with news coverage focusing on the rare simultaneous presence of two major storms in the basin. Residents in possibly affected areas are being urged to monitor official forecasts closely.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 highlighted the links between biodiversity loss and climate change, urging governments to keep nature and ocean issues central to international climate commitments.

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.

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.

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.

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.

New research suggests that even if the flow of plastic into the oceans were halted by 2050, microplastic accumulation in marine environments could continue. Larger plastic already in the water would keep breaking down into microscopic fragments, meaning legacy pollution alone could sustain microplastic levels for decades. The finding raises questions about whether international efforts to curb plastic pollution would deliver the ocean benefits many expect.

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.

A new examination challenges the frequent corporate argument that individual companies' fossil fuel emissions are insignificant compared to global totals. The piece asks what the true cost of those emissions would be if they were fully counted, pushing back on a common justification used by major polluters to downplay their share of responsibility for climate change.

A global review reported by Mongabay finds that cigarette butts account for roughly 12% of all litter in aquatic environments, making tobacco waste one of the largest single sources of pollution in oceans and waterways. The findings highlight the scale of plastic contamination from filtered cigarettes, which shed cellulose acetate and toxic chemicals into water systems worldwide.

Scientists report that as the Pacific Ocean warms, a strange reversal is taking place in its water circulation: younger surface water appears to be ageing while older deep water is becoming younger, a shift in how water masses mix and move. Researchers say the trend could signal wider changes in ocean circulation driven by warming, with possible implications for heat and carbon storage in the Pacific.

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 vast, slow-moving kelvin wave — an ocean phenomenon tied to the El Niño–Southern Oscillation — is reported to be heading toward the California coast, raising alarm among scientists and officials about its potential impact on weather patterns along the US West Coast. Comment is focused on what the wave could mean for extreme weather and coastal conditions in the region.

The 30x30 goal—protecting 30% of the world's land and ocean by 2030—is under scrutiny as experts argue that simply designating marine protected areas does not guarantee effective conservation. Commentators highlight that many existing reserves lack enforcement, funding and management, allowing damaging activities such as illegal fishing to continue, and call for genuine implementation rather than paper parks.

SpaceX completed the deorbit burn for Starship Flight 14, sending the ship to a controlled splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, which was shown on a live broadcast. Viewers watched the ship's descent and reentry sequence as the test flight concluded. The mission is part of SpaceX's ongoing campaign to develop and reuse the Starship launch system for future deep-space missions.