New satellite mapping reveals large-scale habitat changes across the Southern Ocean
Plymouth Marine Laboratory
Published: 2 March 2026
A novel study divides the Southern Ocean into 14 seascapes using satellite reflectance data, revealing that sea ice loss has increased phytoplankton in 70% of the ocean, shifting food webs to favor salps over krill.
Keywords: Southern Ocean, sea ice, phytoplankton, satellite mapping, seascapes, salps, krill, marine food web
Deepest gas hydrate cold seep ever discovered in the Arctic
UiT The Arctic University of Norway
Published: 22 December 2025
Scientists discovered the Freya Hydrate Mounds at 3,640m depth on the Molloy Ridge in the Greenland Sea, the deepest known gas hydrate cold seep, hosting unique chemosynthetic fauna fueled by ancient methane.
Keywords: Arctic Ocean, deep sea, gas hydrates, methane seep, Molloy Ridge, chemosynthetic fauna, Greenland Sea
Sea levels are much higher than often assumed
Wageningen University & Research
Published: 4 March 2026
A Nature study reveals that over 90% of coastal hazard assessments underestimate sea levels by an average of 30 cm, with discrepancies up to 1.5 m in Southeast Asia, putting millions more at risk.
Keywords: sea level rise, coastal flooding, geoid models, climate change, Southeast Asia, coastal hazards, tide gauges
