Oceans Headed for Uncharted Territory by 2040 as Climate Change Accelerates

According to new research, Australia's oceans will enter "uncharted territory" by 2040 due to global heating, even if significant emissions cuts occur. Researchers from the University of the Sunshine Coast have modeled ocean conditions under various emissions scenarios and found that marine ecosystems will be facing extreme heat, oxygen loss, and acidity within the next 15 years.

The study's lead author, Alice Pidd, warns that marine species are already shifting towards the poles at an average of 59km per decade, with some species like kingfish in eastern Australia moving up to 102km every ten years. This rapid shift is punctuated by increasingly frequent, intense, and prolonged marine heatwaves, putting immense pressure on marine life to move, adapt, or die.

The researchers call for urgent, aggressive action to reduce carbon emissions in order to delay or limit the projected climate impacts on the oceans. They also recommend expanding protected zones to include areas designated as climate refuges, where biodiversity has the best chance of surviving. However, these potential refuges are expected to vanish more quickly under higher-emissions scenarios.

"We're entering uncharted territory and marine biodiversity will be under increased pressure to adapt," Pidd said. "The past is no longer a good guide to the future."