Ocean Warming

Ocean warming refers to the long-term increase in ocean temperatures caused primarily by the oceans absorbing excess heat trapped by greenhouse gases in Earth’s atmosphere. The oceans absorb most of the additional heat in the climate system, leading to changes in marine ecosystems, ocean circulation and weather patterns. Ocean warming contributes to coral bleaching, marine heatwaves, sea level rise and shifts in species distribution, and is a major indicator of ongoing climate change.

Image: Coral polyps
Healthy corals help bleached neighbors regain color: studyScience

Healthy corals help bleached neighbors regain color: study

Washington, United States | AFP | Muser NewsDesk The world's coral reefs face an existential threat from rising seawater temperatures that trigger widespread bleaching, a problem…
SourceSourceOctober 14, 2026 Full article
Image: Cover of '10th edition of the Copernicus Ocean State Report (OSR10)'
Polar oceans transformed as warming melts ice habitats: researchNewsFacts

Polar oceans transformed as warming melts ice habitats: research

Paris, France | AFP | Muser NewsDesk Climate change is increasingly reshaping the polar oceans, with Arctic waters warming rapidly, sea ice shrinking and wildlife losing…
SourceSourceSeptember 30, 2026 Full article
Image: boat, Alaska, glacier (s. climate change, invasive species, Rising seas threaten spread of marine invaders)
Rising seas threaten spread of marine invaders, scientists sayNewsScience

Rising seas threaten spread of marine invaders, scientists say

Paris, France | AFP | Muser NewsDesk Sea-level rise driven by climate change could help invasive marine species spread into newly flooded coastal areas, threatening biodiversity…
SourceSourceSeptember 28, 2026 Full article
Image: north american p-51 mustang; firefighter airplane; wildfire; August 2009, Varnavas, Greece
August 2026 was joint-hottest month ever recorded globallyFacts

August 2026 was joint-hottest month ever recorded globally

Paris, France | AFP | Muser NewsDeskThe EU's climate monitor said Thursday that August was the hottest single month ever recorded globally, with ocean temperatures also…
SourceSourceSeptember 10, 2026 Full article
Image: silhouette of birds flying over the sea during sunset (Wissant, France)
El Niño could be the strongest in decades, UN warnsClimate

El Niño could be the strongest in decades, UN warns

Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | Muser NewsDesk El Niño could be the strongest since records began four decades ago, the United Nations' climate agency warned Thursday,…
SourceSourceSeptember 3, 2026 Full article
Image: aerial view of lush tropical islands surrounded by turquoise waters in Palau
World leaders need to see rising oceans in Pacific: UN officialNews

World leaders need to see rising oceans in Pacific: UN official

Koror, Palau | AFP | Muser NewsDesk Leaders from the world's top economies should stand on a Pacific atoll to see the reality of record sea-level…
SourceSourceAugust 31, 2026 Full article
Image: aerial view of Totten Ice Shelf, East Antarctica (2019)
Tropical ocean heat drives temporary slowdown in Antarctic ice lossClimate

Tropical ocean heat drives temporary slowdown in Antarctic ice loss

A recurring climate connection between the tropical warm pool and East Antarctica increased snowfall over Queen Mary Land and Wilkes Land during 2021–2023 Summary: Persistent…
SourceSourceAugust 31, 2026 Full article
Image: Six narwhals like these were equipped with CTD sensors that measured ocean temperature, salinity and depth
Narwhals reveal Atlantic warming deep in East Greenland fjordsClimate

Narwhals reveal Atlantic warming deep in East Greenland fjords

For the first time, researchers have used data from narwhals to document how Atlantic water reaches deep into fjords along Greenland’s east coast. A new…
SourceSourceAugust 30, 2026 Full article
Image: Fig. 1 - 'Climate change is driving unprecedented European ocean temperatures, with severe impacts for marine life' - World Weather Attribution
Climate change intensified extreme sea temperatures around Europe in 2026ClimateFacts

Climate change intensified extreme sea temperatures around Europe in 2026

In brief: Climate models and observations show similar warming trends in the Celtic region, while observed warming is stronger than modelled in the other regions.…
Muser NewsDeskMuser NewsDeskAugust 19, 2026 Full article
Image: A dynamic scene of dolphins gracefully swimming across the Pacific Ocean in San Diego, California, USA
Whales at risk, hungry pelicans: Marine heatwave hits CaliforniaNews

Whales at risk, hungry pelicans: Marine heatwave hits California

Long Beach, United States | AFP | Muser NewsDesk On a boat off the coast of California, Sara Lesser gazes wistfully at dozens of dolphins playing…
SourceSourceJuly 27, 2026 Full article
Image: a palm tree leaning over the water on a beach
SW Pacific facing ‘increasing risk’ from ocean warming: UNNews

SW Pacific facing ‘increasing risk’ from ocean warming: UN

Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | Muser NewsDesk The southwest Pacific region is facing "increasing risk" from ocean warming, marine heatwaves and rising sea levels, the United…
SourceSourceJuly 7, 2026 Full article
Image: Graphic - Sea surface temperature (29 June 2026). Data: ERA5
World’s oceans break June heat record: EU monitorNewsFacts

World’s oceans break June heat record: EU monitor

Paris, France | AFP | Muser NewsDesk The world's oceans just experienced their hottest June on record and could set fresh highs in the months ahead…
SourceSourceJuly 1, 2026 Full article
Image: Seagulls perched on drifting icebergs on a calm day in the Arctic Ocean
UN warns of ‘deepening crisis’ in oceans, urges actionNews

UN warns of ‘deepening crisis’ in oceans, urges action

Paris, France | AFP | Muser NewsDesk Oceans are in a "deepening crisis" that demands urgent global action, a major UN report warned Monday, with seas…
SourceSourceJune 8, 2026 Full article
Image: Coral reef and small orange fish underwater
Ocean acidification may weaken reef fish survival strategiesClimate

Ocean acidification may weaken reef fish survival strategies

Climate change may be weakening the social structures that help reef fish survive by degrading the habitats that support large shoals Summary: Ocean acidification could…
SourceSourceMay 22, 2026 Full article
Image: Alabatrosses and other seabirds would have to travel longer distances to find suitable homes in a warmer planet
Climate change is driving seabirds farther from their habitatsClimate

Climate change is driving seabirds farther from their habitats

Researchers at the University of Reading found that rapid ocean warming is pushing seabirds to travel farther as the areas where they can survive continue…
SourceSourceMay 19, 2026 Full article
Image: Penguins sitting on Antarctica sea ice which is being ravaged by a triple-whammy of climate chaos
Antarctic sea ice decline linked to deep ocean warming and stronger windsClimate

Antarctic sea ice decline linked to deep ocean warming and stronger winds

Antarctica is being ravaged by a triple-whammy of climate chaos that has melted sea ice to record lows, a new study has revealed Summary: Antarctic…
SourceSourceMay 11, 2026 Full article
Image: body of water
EU monitor says sea temperatures near all-time highs as El Niño loomsFacts

EU monitor says sea temperatures near all-time highs as El Niño looms

Paris, France | AFP | Muser NewsDesk The European Union's climate monitor said Friday that ocean temperatures are edging toward record highs as conditions shift toward…
SourceSourceMay 8, 2026 Full article
Image: Antarctica, Ice Melting, Penguins
Deep ocean heat shifts toward Antarctica increasing ice shelf melting riskClimate

Deep ocean heat shifts toward Antarctica increasing ice shelf melting risk

A new decades-long study of oceanographic data provides the first evidence that deep-ocean heat has moved closer to Antarctica, threatening the fragile ice shelves that…
SourceSourceApril 30, 2026 Full article
Image: More eddying of subtropical western boundary currents boosts stratification and cools shelf seas
Ocean eddies reshape coastal seas as warming accelerates at the surfaceClimate

Ocean eddies reshape coastal seas as warming accelerates at the surface

New research reveals a powerful yet overlooked driver of climate change: Intensifying ocean eddies. These swirling currents – that break off from major currents –…
SourceSourceApril 15, 2026 Full article
Image: closeup shot of a large turtle swimming underwater in the ocean
Ocean temperatures near record high in March: EU monitorClimate

Ocean temperatures near record high in March: EU monitor

Paris, France | AFP | Muser NewsDesk Ocean temperatures hit near-record highs for March, the Copernicus Climate Change Service said on Friday, signalling a likely shift…
SourceSourceApril 10, 2026 Full article
Image: Cuverville Island, Antarctica
Why Antarctic sea ice suddenly declined after decades of growthClimate

Why Antarctic sea ice suddenly declined after decades of growth

Although climate models predicted Antarctic sea ice would steadily dwindle, its extent grew for decades until 2016. A new study finds the ice finally receded…
SourceSourceMarch 30, 2026 Full article
Image: seashore, ocean waves at sunset
Planet trapped record heat in 2025: UNFactsNews

Planet trapped record heat in 2025: UN

Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | Muser NewsDesk The amount of heat trapped by the Earth reached record levels in 2025, with the consequences of such warming…
SourceSourceMarch 23, 2026 Full article
Image: Antarctic sea ice
Ocean warming behind Antarctica’s sea ice declineClimate

Ocean warming behind Antarctica’s sea ice decline

Sea ice around Antarctica expanded for several decades until a dramatic decline in 2015. The reasons behind this are revealed by research from the University…
SourceSourceMarch 18, 2026 Full article
Image: Nitrosopumilus maritimus culture
Deep-ocean microbes may already be adapting to climate changeScience

Deep-ocean microbes may already be adapting to climate change

A research group co-led by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign predicts that a surprisingly adaptable species of marine archaea will play an important role in…
SourceSourceMarch 11, 2026 Full article