More than 70 percent of the planet’s surface is covered by the oceans. For World Oceans Day, here’s a look at some of our best coverage of the state of the sea.
A new laser-scanning tool allows marine biologists to get a fine-comb look at some of the gloopiest and most mysterious organisms in the ocean.
A United Nations report from September, written by more than 100 international experts and based on more than 7,000 studies, found climate change is severely straining the world’s oceans, creating profound risks for coastal cities and food supplies.
An analysis made public in January found 2019 was the hottest for the world’s oceans. The five hottest years have also been in the past five years.
A report in December found that oxygen levels in the world’s oceans declined by 2 percent over 50 years, threatening marine life around the planet.
Warmer seawater means trouble for the world’s coral reefs. Aerial data from Australia, released in April, shows example after example of overheating and severe damage along the Great Barrier Reef.
Bleaching isn’t the only threat to the world’s coral reefs. Storms, often fueled by climate change, are taking a toll, too. Last September, Hurricane Dorian destroyed about 30 percent of the reefs around the Bahamas, according to scientists.
An estimated 600 million people live directly on the world’s coastlines, among the most hazardous places to be in the era of climate change. Two sprawling metro areas — one rich, one poor — offer a vision of what could be a watery future for 600 million coastal residents worldwide.