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The Bahamas Launches Blue Carbon Programme to Leverage Marine Ecosystems for Climate Action and National Development

The Bahamas Launches Blue Carbon Programme to Leverage Marine Ecosystems for Climate Action and National Development

The Bahamas has officially launched its Blue Carbon Programme, an initiative aimed at leveraging the country's extensive marine ecosystems, particularly its vast seagrass meadows, for environmental protection, climate finance, and national development. Prime Minister Davis highlighted that the Bahamas, despite its minimal contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions, faces significant climate pressures. The program seeks to shift the narrative from the Bahamas being a victim of climate change to a leader in climate solutions. This involves mapping and scientifically assessing the carbon sequestration capabilities of its seagrass, which were discovered to be far more extensive than previously known, partly due to tracking studies of sharks. The government has committed $25 million to the initial phase of this national effort, which includes scientific baseline studies, mapping, fieldwork, and carbon inventory development. The program is underpinned by the Carbon Credit Trading Act, 2022, and the Climate ...

Alaska's Rivers Turn Orange and Acidic Due to Thawing Tundra, Study Reveals

Alaska's Rivers Turn Orange and Acidic Due to Thawing Tundra, Study Reveals

A new study has revealed that rivers in Alaska and northern Canada are turning orange and becoming more acidic due to minerals leaching from thawing tundra. This phenomenon, referred to as 'rusting,' is a direct consequence of the Arctic warming, which causes permafrost to thaw and release iron and sulfuric acid into the waterways. Researchers found that these 'rusting' waters are more metallic and acidic than drainage from metal mines. The study, published in AGU Advances, identified iron and sulfuric acid throughout watersheds in the Brooks Range, with metal levels in the Salmon River increasing as much as seventy-fold some 60 miles downstream. The rusting process began in the summer of 2019, the hottest summer on record in Alaska, and has since been observed in over 200 rivers in the state.

El Niño strikes again. Why sea turtles came to California in a ‘first’

El Niño strikes again. Why sea turtles came to California in a ‘first’

Two olive ridley sea turtles that came to Southern California to nest may be "pioneers." Here's why this matters.

Arctic Sea Ice Hits 2026 Minimum Extent, Ties Record

Arctic Sea Ice Hits 2026 Minimum Extent, Ties Record

Arctic sea ice reached its annual minimum extent on September 12, 2026, covering an estimated 1.78 million square miles (4.6 million square kilometers), according to NASA and the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC). This ties 2008, 2010, and 2025 for the 10th-lowest minimum extent in the satellite record, which began in 1978. Over the past two decades, the Arctic has experienced its 20 lowest annual minimum extents, highlighting a concerning trend of reduced ice coverage. Scientists attribute the relatively stable September sea ice extent in recent years to increased cloud cover, which has mitigated the impact of solar radiation on ice melt. Meanwhile, Antarctic sea ice is nearing its annual maximum, though it has shown significant year-to-year variability, with recent years generally exhibiting lower maximum extents.

Polar Oceans' Carbon Sequestration Potential Underestimated in Climate Change Mitigation Policies

Polar Oceans' Carbon Sequestration Potential Underestimated in Climate Change Mitigation Policies

A new review by an international team of polar scientists, published within the Horizon Europe project POMP, highlights that polar oceans, including the Arctic and Antarctic, are largely unrecognized in global blue-carbon approaches for climate change mitigation. These regions, which constitute about 20% of the global ocean, are experiencing rapid environmental changes, with parts of the Arctic warming at up to four times the global average. While traditional blue-carbon strategies focus on tropical and temperate coastal ecosystems like mangroves and salt marshes, polar ecosystems also play a significant role in capturing and storing carbon. The review categorizes polar blue-carbon habitats, noting strong evidence for carbon storage in Arctic salt marshes and seagrass meadows. Other pathways, such as kelp, phytoplankton, and carbon stored in deep-sea sediments, are less understood but are expanding or contributing to carbon sequestration. The study emphasizes that current scientific and policy frameworks a...

Arctic Sea Ice Thinning Rapidly, Posing Global Climate and Economic Challenges

Arctic Sea Ice Thinning Rapidly, Posing Global Climate and Economic Challenges

The Arctic is experiencing a dramatic and rapid thinning of its sea ice, with summer sea ice having declined by over 40% since satellite records began. This phenomenon is leading to a 'new Arctic' where the once permanently frozen central region is now becoming seasonally ice-free, potentially as early as 2035. Scientists from NASA and other research institutions are conducting extensive studies, using flying laboratories and advanced instruments, to understand the forces behind this disappearance. They have observed significant changes, such as a 'dark wedge' of open water advancing towards the North Pole, indicating the ice's weakening. This thinner, more fragile ice is more susceptible to melting and breaking apart due to wind and storms. The Arctic is warming three times faster than the rest of the planet, causing ice to form later in autumn and melt earlier in spring, resulting in longer open water seasons. This shift is profoundly impacting polar ecosystems and has broader implications for global cli...

Yale-Led Study Finds Mississippi River Basin Farmland Liming Acts as Major Carbon Sink

Yale-Led Study Finds Mississippi River Basin Farmland Liming Acts as Major Carbon Sink

A new Yale-led study has revealed that farmers in the Mississippi River Basin are storing more carbon dioxide (CO2) in the soil than they emit by adding limestone to their fields, a practice known as 'liming.' This finding, published in the journal Nature, challenges conventional greenhouse gas accounting methods, including those used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which typically treat the carbon in applied lime as emitted CO2. The study, led by geochemist Tim Jesper Suhrhoff, a postdoctoral associate at the Yale Center for Natural Carbon Capture, analyzed over a century of data. It concludes that agricultural liming, which involves spreading crushed limestone to raise soil pH, reduce acidity, and increase crop yields, results in net carbon removal in the long term. This is because the limestone reacts with CO2 in the soil to form stable bicarbonate ions that can travel through soils, groundwater, and rivers, eventually reaching the ocean where the carbon can be stored for extend...

Arctic Sea Ice Melt Season Stabilizes Since 2010, NASA-Led Study Reveals

Arctic Sea Ice Melt Season Stabilizes Since 2010, NASA-Led Study Reveals

A new NASA-led study indicates that the Arctic sea ice melt season, which had been progressively lengthening for decades, has shown a relatively stable average duration since approximately 2010. While the melt season is currently about 40 days longer than in 1979, most of this increase occurred before 2010. The research, which analyzed satellite observations from 1979 through 2023, found that the longer melt season was primarily driven by later autumn freeze-ups rather than significantly earlier spring melting. Linette Boisvert, an ice scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and co-author of the study, noted that the remaining sea ice is now thinner and more variable, making it more susceptible to short-term atmospheric changes. Shifts in cloud patterns since 2010 have reduced sunlight reaching parts of the Arctic Ocean, contributing to the stabilization of the average melt season length.

Olive Ridley Sea Turtle Lays Eggs on Southern California Beach for First Time on U.S. West Coast

Olive Ridley Sea Turtle Lays Eggs on Southern California Beach for First Time on U.S. West Coast

For the first time ever, an Olive Ridley sea turtle has been recorded nesting and laying eggs on a U.S. West Coast beach. The historic event occurred near Seal Beach in Orange County on September 16, according to NOAA Fisheries West Coast. Just days later, another sea turtle was observed near the Huntington Beach Pier, though it is unclear if it was the same individual. Olive Ridley sea turtles are typically found in tropical regions of the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic oceans, with major nesting populations in Mexico, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. This unprecedented nesting event in Southern California is attributed to unusually warm ocean waters, partly fueled by a strengthening El Niño. These warm waters have also led to increased sightings of other warm-water marine animals, such as hammerhead sharks, whale sharks, and orcas, off the coast of Southern California.

El Niño's Limited Impact on Alaska's Seasonal Weather Patterns

El Niño's Limited Impact on Alaska's Seasonal Weather Patterns

The U.S. Geological Survey reports that the influence of El Niño on Alaska's seasonal climate patterns is generally weak. Unlike other regions where El Niño is a strong predictor, Alaska's autumn and winter weather is more closely tied to factors such as the persistence of the Aleutian Low, ocean temperatures in the North Pacific and Bering Sea, and the rate and coverage of sea ice development. These regional factors can either diminish or amplify El Niño's effects and are not easily predictable months in advance. While El Niño events can slightly increase the odds of a warmer-than-normal winter by 5-10%, particularly in Southeast Alaska, and slightly higher precipitation, these shifts are often modest. Past strong El Niño events have shown varied outcomes, with some winters being drier than normal in parts of Alaska despite the general expectation of increased precipitation. For instance, the 2015–2016 El Niño, which occurred during a marine heatwave, saw record dry conditions in western and central Alask...

Polar Bears International to Launch Special Report Series on Arctic Conservation Challenges

Polar Bears International to Launch Special Report Series on Arctic Conservation Challenges

Polar Bears International (PBI) is set to release a Conservation Special Report and Perspective Series. This initiative will delve into critical issues impacting the future of polar bears and the Arctic region. The series will feature insights from various stakeholders, including research institutions, government bodies, wildlife management organizations, Indigenous and northern communities, and non-profits. Key themes to be covered include climate change, human-polar bear conflict, overtourism, hunting and trade, and oil and gas development. The Arctic is experiencing warming at a rate four times faster than the global average, presenting significant challenges for both polar bears and the communities residing in the region. PBI, a science-led conservation organization, aims to provide current evidence and informed perspectives to navigate the rapidly changing Arctic and ensure the long-term survival of polar bear populations.

Arctic Sea Ice Hits 2026 Minimum Extent, Ties for 10th Lowest on Record

Arctic Sea Ice Hits 2026 Minimum Extent, Ties for 10th Lowest on Record

Arctic sea ice reached its annual minimum extent on September 12, 2026, covering 1.78 million square miles (4.6 million square kilometers). This ties with 2008, 2010, and 2025 for the 10th-lowest minimum since satellite records began in 1978. The data, released by NASA and the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC), highlights a plateau in sea ice extent over the past decade, attributed to increased cloud cover reducing solar radiation. Meanwhile, Antarctic sea ice is nearing its annual maximum, with fluctuations observed in August due to weather conditions.