Oceanography Climate Impact Studies

These are all lost ponds - mapped, remembered, and ready to return.   Once, nearly every field had a pond. They weren’t just decorative - they were vital for holding water, supporting biodiversity, and structuring the landscape. Frogs, newts, dragonflies, and wild plants thrived in them. Farmers relied on them.   Over time, many were filled in for modern agriculture - quietly erased. But their footprints remain.   At ArchAI, using historic maps from 1900 and our AI-driven process, we’ve traced these ponds across the country. Our Lost Landscapes dataset shows exactly where they once existed, and helps identify which ones can be brought back.   Restoring ponds doesn’t have to be speculative. The data shows where they worked before, and where they could work again. It’s one of the clearest, most targeted opportunities for ecological recovery at scale.   Let’s stop guessing. Let’s bring them back, field by field.   #LostLandscapes #NatureRestoration #PondRestoration #GhostPonds #FreshwaterHabitats #AI #GIS #Ecology

🌡️ Global Warming? Not Just Heat: Salinity Imbalances & Microplastics Are Disrupting Our Planet 🌍 When we think about global warming, rising temperatures often take center stage. But did you know that salinity imbalances and microplastics are silently reshaping the natural processes that sustain our #planet starting with the crystallization of water in polar regions? 🔬 The Science of #Salinity In our oceans, salinity plays a vital role in ice formation. As seawater freezes, salt is expelled, creating dense brine that fuels ocean currents and regulates the global climate. Yet this delicate balance is under threat: 🌊 Glacier Melt: Massive freshwater flows dilute ocean salinity, delaying or preventing ice formation. ☔ Heavy Rainfall: Extreme precipitation intensifies dilution, compounding the problem. 🌞 Localized Evaporation: Increased evaporation alters salinity concentrations, destabilizing marine systems. 🧪 The Microplastic Disruption Microplastics are another hidden villain in this story. These tiny particles are now found even in remote polar waters, interfering with the natural freezing process: ❄️ Crystallization Blockers: Microplastics contaminate the nuclei around which ice forms, slowing or halting freezing. 🧴 Chemical Interference: #Plastics release additives and pollutants that alter water's freezing point. 🌊 Surface Disruption: Layers of microplastics at the surface disrupt freezing conditions. 🌍 Why This Matters Globally The implications extend far beyond the poles: 🐋 Ecosystem Disruption: Late or reduced ice formation impacts species reliant on sea ice, from microscopic algae to polar bears. 🌊 Climate Instability: Changes in salinity and ice formation weaken ocean currents, destabilizing weather patterns worldwide. ✨ Rethinking #Climate Action While reducing greenhouse gases is crucial, it’s equally vital to address these lesser-known disruptors. Tackling salinity imbalances and microplastic pollution is key to restoring balance in our oceans and combating broader climate impacts. 🌐 #ClimateChange #Marine #Science #Sustainability #Microplastics #Ocean #Health #PolarEcosystems #Innovation

All life on Earth depends upon marine life in the world’s oceans, yet we have destroyed more than 50% since 1970 and probably closer to 90% since 1900. Currently marine life biodiversity is declining at a rate of 1% year on year. 50% to 90% of our oxygen comes from the oceans, and around 30% of carbon dioxide is sequestered. I look forward to viewing Attenborough’s Oceans film in 4 weeks. Based on the current reviews, global warming, plastic pollution, and overfishing are seen as the main issues. 1. Climate change. The oceans are the main driver of climate change, and destruction of nature and bioclimatic factors are responsible for climate disruption. The oceans regulate the climate but feed-back loops impact on the oceans. 2. Over-fishing, according to a report (https://lnkd.in/gUts-VYJ), Quote, “By the 1990s, biomass and cycling rates had been reduced by nearly half, suggesting that the biogeochemical impact of fisheries has been comparable to that of anthropogenic climate change.” What this means is that if there had not been overexploitation of commercial fish stocks, we would not have climate change. Attenborough is therefore spot on. While in the Galapagos, you could see a glow on the western night horizon of 500+ Chinese factory ships sucking up everything in the ocean. 3. Plastic—for sure, plastic is important, but the reason why it is super important is that it acts like a sponge and adsorbs lipophilic toxic forever chemicals that are floating on the ocean surface. After 1 year, plastic becomes 80 times more toxic due to these chemicals. Partially combusted carbon soot from the burning of fossil fuels also floats on the surface and absorbs the same toxic chemicals. The particles and toxic chemicals have impacted plant biodiversity in the oceans, which are now changing from blue to green. https://lnkd.in/egr59GXk 4. Ocean acidification, Ocean alkalinity has dropped 5-fold over the last 60 million years, which means they are much more sensitive to acidification. Even without anthropogenic input, the oceans were becoming acidic, which has led to mass extinctions in the past. While it probably would not have happened for another 1000 years, anthropogenic pollution has accelerated the process to become supercritical over the next 20 years when the pH drops below pH 7.95. This is not a tipping point; it’s an end point. In addition to the key points highlighted by the film, I fear that if we neglect black carbon pollution, lipophilic toxic chemicals, and ocean acidification, then everything will be in vain. Most life in the world’s ocean is under 1 mm in size with a doubling time of 3 days. The good news is that we know if we take the toxic brakes off the marine ecosystem, it can recover superfast, but failure will mean humanity slams into a brick wall within 20 years. https://lnkd.in/epxDt6Rx

The ocean is getting louder — and fish are paying the price. 🌊🔊 We usually think of marine pollution as something visible: plastic waste, oil spills, or discolored water. But beneath the surface, sound has become a growing source of stress for marine life. Research shows that human-made underwater noise (from commercial shipping, sonar, and offshore activities) is fundamentally altering fish behavior: 🔹 Migration patterns change. 🔹 Feeding efficiency decreases. 🔹 Reproductive success is affected. Because sound travels faster and farther underwater than in air, what seems like background noise to humans becomes a constant disturbance for fish. This issue goes beyond ecology. It directly impacts fisheries, food security, and the long-term stability of marine ecosystems. Marine pollution is not always visible. Sometimes, the most dangerous threats are the ones we cannot see. ❓ Do you think current maritime regulations focus enough on acoustic pollution, or is it still an overlooked issue? #MarineScience #OceanHealth #UnderwaterNoise #Fisheries #MarinePollution #Sustainability #EnvironmentalScience #MarineBiology

Extreme heat is destabilizing food security and marine ecosystems, as rising temperatures and heatwaves are becoming more frequent, longer, and more intense. #EarlyWarnings and climate services like seasonal outlooks are vital to help us adapt to the new reality. This is highlighted in a new report by the FAO and World Meteorological Organization. Some key takeaways: 🔺 Agricultural yield losses can triple when heat combines with other hazards such as drought and are projected to get much worse as the world warms, threatening livelihoods of many millions. 🔺 Marine heatwaves are projected to cause fish populations to decline more severely and move to new areas. Around 15 percent of fisheries have already been impacted by incidents of extreme heat, leading to economic losses of over $6 billion.   🔺 Agricultural workers are on the frontlines of extreme heat. Worker productivity drops by 2-3 percent for every degree above 20°C. 🔺 Ecosystems supporting food production are nearing critical limits. For every 1°C increase in average global temperatures, we are seeing up to a 6% decrease in yield for the four major crops – maize, rice, soy and wheat – that provide 60% of global calories. #EarthDay To the press release: https://bit.ly/4cqCSGw Access the full report: https://lnkd.in/ePGkruE3

The World Meteorological Organization is monitoring the ocean #heat content because it is a #climatechange indicator. The oceans absorb 90% of the excess of #heat trapped in the atmosphere by the high #greenhousegasses concentration. Earlier this year, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef experienced temperatures higher than any recorded in the past four centuries according latest findings. Such high temperature is the cause of the most intense and extensive coral-bleaching event ever recorded for the 2,300-kilometre reef system. Corals bleach when stressed by high temperatures, expelling the algae that provide them energy. While some recover, others die, threatening the biodiversity of the reef and the protection it offers to coastlines. The study shows a clear trend: since the beginning of industrialization, ocean temperatures at the reef have steadily risen. Five of the six warmest years in the 407-year record have occurred since 2016, coinciding with major bleaching events. The evidence may force UNESCO to reconsider the reef’s World Heritage status. https://lnkd.in/eJpQX_3x

The underwater meadows that help keep beaches from disappearing Seagrass meadows, which rarely draw the attention given to coral reefs or mangroves, perform a steady but important task: they help hold coasts in place. The plants anchor themselves in sediment through dense root systems that bind the seabed in a manner comparable to how forests stabilize soil on land. Oscar Serrano Gras told Sean Mowbray that these underwater meadows can form a natural barrier against erosion. Their structure also allows them to capture and store large amounts of carbon dioxide. As climate change strengthens storms and extends their duration, many coastlines are facing more frequent flooding and infrastructure damage. The loss of seagrass reduces a layer of natural protection. Dense meadows slow water movement, reducing wave energy before it reaches shore. Heidi Nepf explained to Mowbray that the leaves create resistance to flowing water, weakening waves as they pass through the vegetation. The details matter. Larger species with broader leaves interact more strongly with moving water. Neptune grass, common in the Mediterranean, can blunt waves far more effectively than smaller varieties such as dwarf eelgrass. At the same time, the plants stabilize sediments and gradually build them up. A study published in Nature in 2024 suggested that widespread loss of Neptune grass could lead to markedly higher water levels along parts of the Mediterranean coast. Even so, scientists caution against treating seagrass as a standalone defense against storms. Maike Paul said that evidence linking seagrass to large-scale coastal protection remains incomplete. Engineered defenses will still be necessary in many places. Yet the meadows deliver benefits that extend beyond shoreline stability. They host dense marine communities whose shells contribute sand to nearby beaches. They also filter sediments and pollutants from the water, improving conditions for ecosystems such as coral reefs. Despite their value, seagrasses are declining. About 30% of global meadows have disappeared since the 19th century, largely because of coastal development, dredging, and polluted runoff. Climate change is now adding further pressure. Marine heat waves in Australia have wiped out large stretches of seagrass meadow, releasing millions of tons of stored carbon and depriving animals such as dugongs of feeding grounds. Restoration efforts are expanding, though they remain slow and costly. Scientists and volunteers often plant hundreds of seeds per square meter in painstaking trials. New approaches, including mechanical seeding devices and experiments with heat-tolerant strains, may help. Even so, the first priority is clear enough: preventing the remaining meadows from disappearing. 🐚 Full story: https://lnkd.in/gdcZXv-F 📸 Image by Michele Roux/Ocean Image Bank

1 hectare of mangroves can store over 1,000 tonnes of carbon, far more than most tropical forests. Mangroves stand between us and disaster. They absorb floodwaters, reduce tsunami impact, anchor shorelines, soak up storm surges, and store carbon at a scale few ecosystems can match, making them one of the best natural defences coastal cities like ours have. They also happen to be some of the most powerful carbon sinks we’ve got. For decades, they’ve been doing all of this quietly - protecting a busy city, sheltering species, and holding the coastline together. But what do we offer in return? Construction. Clearance. Concrete. As redevelopment plans reshape Mumbai’s coast, mangroves are being uprooted daily to make way for highways and high-rises. Treating them like swamps to be scrubbed out. But they’re anything but empty. They’re living, breathing buffers. They support biodiversity, balance, and the very breath we take. And we’re cutting them down within months, sometimes, by the minute. We don’t have to be anti-development. But we do need to rethink what we’re building, and what we’re breaking in the process. Because no amount of steel and glass can keep a sinking city afloat like nature can. And there are better, sustainable ways forward; urban designs (some inspired by biomimicry) that learn from and work with natural ecosystems, not against them. Development doesn’t have to mean destruction. It can mean restoration, respect, and resilience. So what can you do about it – • Support petitions opposing mangrove clearance. Check Vanashakti NGO MumbaiMarch • Speak up in local housing or civic groups – ask what’s being done to protect green and blue cover • Follow organisations working on urban ecology and sustainable city planning like: Bombay 61 Studio (sustainable urbanism) Waatavaran (environmental justice) urbz (participatory urban design) WRI India (policy and research) • Vote for leaders who prioritise climate-resilient, nature-inclusive infrastructure over short-term gains, and hold them accountable A city that protects its roots stands a better chance of weathering what’s ahead. Post by : The Better India #forests #mumbai #mangroves #naturaldisasters #deforestation #urbanflooding

🚨 Microplastics may be weakening our best climate defence. We've been talking about plastic pollution wrong. For years, the conversation has been about turtles and beaches. Important, but incomplete. New research argues that microplastics may be quietly degrading one of Earth's most important climate defences... the ocean's ability to absorb carbon dioxide. The biological carbon pump moves carbon from surface waters into the deep ocean. Microplastics may be interfering with it at multiple points, changing where carbon gets released, affecting the plankton that drive the system, and potentially releasing gases as they break down. The scale of plastic pollution is not in doubt. 400 million tonnes produced per year. Half designed for single use. Less than 10% recycled. The climate connection is still being quantified, but the framing has shifted. Plastic is no longer just a pollution problem. It's a climate problem. I broke this down in this week's Deep Brief, along with: → Why 2025 set another ocean heat record (the ninth year running) → The EU fisheries battle that will shape ocean policy for the next decade → Northern Ireland's first seabed oyster deployment → New research on what really drove sea levels down 15 million years ago 3,500+ subscribers across 80+ countries get The Deep Brief every week because mainstream outlets aren't covering the ocean decisions that will shape the next decade. No paywalls on the news. Just the depth you won't find elsewhere. Read the full edition: https://lnkd.in/efR55gV6 We treat the ocean like it has infinite capacity to clean up our mess. It doesn't. Photo: The 5 Gyres Institute

Dear all, Going live today … in collaboration with the World Resources Institute Land & Carbon Lab and Global Forest Watch, we used AI to map the global drivers of forest loss at 1km resolution - a 100x improvement over previous (10km) state of the art models -- for every year 2001 - 2022. Forest loss is the single largest threat to terrestrial biodiversity; is responsible for c. 15% of anthropogenic CO2 emissions; and is a major focus for emerging policies and targets at local to global scales (such as EUDR). To prevent and even reverse forest loss, we need to understand the underlying drivers of forest loss, and how these drivers vary geographically, and have been varying through time. Methodologically, this is an example of the rapidly advancing field of AI-powered remote sensing, using scaled up deep learning (specifically, specially adapted vision models) that can cope with the immense volume, complexity, and noise levels in satellite data and associated geospatial data. This work required advanced data processing, model and infrastructure development, expert human labelling, rigorous evaluation, domain expertise, and of course, great people, great team work … and time! Some examples of uses and potential impact: 🌲 Global Forest Watch leverages the drivers data as a key input for their global forest carbon flux model, enabling more accurate estimations of emission factors and, when combined with carbon flux data, identifying GHG emissions by specific drivers. 🌳 The Joint Research Centre (JRC) integrates the drivers of forest loss data into their 2020 global forest cover map, directly supporting the EU's regulation on deforestation-free supply chains. 🌴 The drivers data are already being used by WRI in methods being developed to account for land use change emissions in greenhouse gas inventories. 🍁 More generally, these detailed maps provide crucial insights into deforestation patterns and drivers, empowering local communities, policymakers, land managers, researchers and others to intervene effectively to prevent deforestation. To learn more, see the links below, which I stole without shame from a complementary LinkedIn post from our amazing WRI colleague Michelle Sims (hello and thanks Michelle!). And a shout out to some of the other key people involved:  Radost Stanimirova, PhD, Anton Raichuk, Maxim Neumann, Jessica Richter, Forrest Follett, @James MacCarthy, Kristine Lister, Christopher Randle, Lindsey Sloat, Elena Esipova, Jaelah Jupiter, Charlotte Y. Stanton, PhD, Dan Morris, Christy Melhart Slay, Nancy Harris. 👉 The ERL paper: https://lnkd.in/gxV34-3W 👉 Summary of key findings: https://lnkd.in/gghcyVzx 👉Technical blog: https://lnkd.in/gBv5ErKU Data is available on: 🌎 Google Earth Engine: https://lnkd.in/gt4t9zhp 🌏 World Resources Institute's Data Explorer: https://lnkd.in/gbVMUzpx 🌍 Global Forest Watch: https://gfw.global/2LUOmIx 🌍 Zenodo (including training + val data): https://lnkd.in/gsn-J9gg