Changing Seas

Italy is facing a sharp change in weather, with severe storm alerts issued for six regions. Forecaster Mario Giuliacci describes it as the autumn turning point, with thunderstorms, hail and strong winds expected. Rome is set for a week of rain and storms from October 6, while a climatologist warns the unusually warm sea raises the risk of intense downpours and flash flooding.

Pacific island nations are pressing the international community to do more to meet the global warming limit, warning that their low-lying countries face existential threats from rising seas. Speaking through regional and international channels, they argue current efforts fall short of the commitments needed to keep temperature rise in check, and they are calling for faster emissions cuts and stronger climate finance from larger economies.

Russian news outlets are reporting several developments: Egypt is preparing new resort destinations for Russian tourists beyond Sharm El-Sheikh and Hurghada, on the Red Sea and Mediterranean. Russia has expanded the list of border crossing points accepting electronic visas for foreign visitors. Meanwhile, Moscow has again urged foreigners to leave Ukraine, citing threatened 'retaliatory strikes'. The items reflect ongoing coverage of Russian travel, border policy and the war.

Tuvalu's foreign minister has warned that rising sea levels pose an existential threat to the low-lying Pacific island nation, speaking ahead of the COP31 climate summit. The statement underscores Tuvalu's long-standing position as one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, as it pushes for stronger international commitments on emissions and support for nations facing inundation.

Weather forecasts for Toulon point to a pleasant autumn day, with sunshine and mild conditions in Provence. Reports note that sea temperatures remain warm enough for beachgoers this Sunday, but rain is expected to return in the evening. Locals in the Var are keeping an eye on the changing conditions as the wet weather moves back in.

A science explainer argues that the asteroid impact 66 million years ago was not the sole cause of the dinosaurs' extinction. It points to other contributing factors, such as massive volcanic eruptions, climate change and falling sea levels, that weakened ecosystems before the impact delivered the final blow. The topic continues to draw large audiences as debates over the exact causes of the mass extinction remain active among paleontologists.

Yemeni forces say they have retaken the strategic Bab el-Mandeb strait area, the narrow shipping passage linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The claim is drawing attention because the waterway is one of the world's busiest maritime chokepoints, and control of its coastline has major implications for Red Sea shipping security.

A storm with tropical characteristics over Catalonia is worrying meteorologists, who warn it could open the door to future cyclones affecting the region. Spanish media are covering the unusual weather system and its implications for the western Mediterranean, where warming sea temperatures are making tropical-like storms increasingly plausible, prompting debate about changing climate patterns and preparedness.

Sea surface temperatures in the Niño 3.4 monitoring region of the central Pacific have surpassed 30°C (86°F) for the first time on record, according to climate researchers sharing the milestone. The finding comes as Climate Central invites the public to an upcoming state of the climate briefing. Niño 3.4 is the benchmark zone for tracking El Niño conditions, so crossing this threshold is being flagged as a striking indicator of how warm the Pacific currently is.

South Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai has delivered the world's first containership designed without traditional cargo lashing systems to French shipping line CMA CGM. The vessel's design removes the need for manual lashing of containers, a change that could reshape how container ships are loaded and secured and reduce work for crews at sea.

A climate change case before the US Supreme Court could establish a legal precedent affecting future challenges in Hawaii. Local coverage from The Garden Island highlights the stakes for the state, where rising seas and coastal impacts make climate litigation especially consequential. Observers are watching whether the ruling will shape how states and communities can pursue climate-related claims.

Sea turtles have reportedly nested in California for the first known time, with scientists pointing to unusually warm ocean waters as a likely cause. The nesting suggests shifting ocean temperatures are pushing marine species into new habitats along the US West Coast, and researchers say it may signal broader changes in wildlife distribution driven by warming seas.

NASA's Earth Observatory reports that Arctic sea ice has shrunk to its lowest extent of 2026, marking the annual summer minimum. The annual minimum is a closely watched indicator of climate change, and each year's figure is compared against the long-term satellite record to track the pace of Arctic warming and declining ice cover.

Yemeni forces have recaptured the port of Al-Mukha on Yemen's Red Sea coast from the Houthis in what is being described as a major offensive. The port, a strategic coastal position, has changed hands during the country's civil war, and its recovery marks a significant battlefield gain. Observers are watching whether the advance signals a wider push against Houthi positions along the coast.

A group of leaders has travelled to a low-lying Pacific atoll widely described as being on the frontline of climate change, highlighting the threat rising seas pose to island nations. The visit, reported by AFP and other outlets, is drawing attention to the existential risks facing Pacific communities and their calls for stronger global climate action.

NASA reports that Arctic sea ice has shrunk to its minimum extent for 2026, marking the annual low point of the summer melt season. The measurement, tracked by NASA and the National Snow and Ice Data Center, is closely watched as an indicator of how the Arctic is responding to climate change, with scientists comparing this year's minimum against long-term decline trends.

Under pressure from Congress, a network of ocean monitoring instruments that the Trump administration moved to shut down is being restored, according to the New York Times. The network supplies vital data used by meteorologists, climate scientists, oceanographers and the fishing industry, and its reversal follows a public outcry over the planned cuts.

A large, unprecedented hole, known as a polynya, has opened in the sea ice around Antarctica during the depths of winter. Researchers report the phenomenon is rare and unexpected in winter conditions, drawing attention to what it may reveal about ocean circulation and the changing polar climate.

Ho Chi Minh City is learning to live with regular flooding, as high tides on the Saigon River and smaller waterways routinely inundate roads and businesses. The city has long adapted to these conditions, but rising seas and more intense weather driven by climate change are raising the stakes, putting greater pressure on infrastructure and low-lying neighbourhoods across Vietnam's largest city.

Tuvalu, a low-lying Pacific island nation at risk of disappearing beneath rising seas, is hosting world leaders and pressing them for stronger climate action. As the country stages high-profile diplomatic gatherings, its leaders are using the moment to highlight the existential threat climate change poses to small island states and to demand faster emissions cuts and support from larger nations.

New research connects carbon stored in the deep ocean to the long-term cooling of Earth's climate over the past 4.5 million years. The findings suggest changes in deep-sea carbon storage played a role in driving the global temperature decline that preceded the ice ages, offering insight into how oceans regulate climate over millions of years.

United Nations University has published an explainer on sea level rise, outlining what the phenomenon is and why it matters. Rising seas, driven by warming oceans and melting ice, threaten coastal communities, infrastructure and ecosystems worldwide, making the topic a recurring focus of climate discussions.

The US Supreme Court is considering cases brought by local governments seeking to hold oil and gas companies liable for climate change damages. The lawsuits, filed by cities and counties, aim to make energy firms pay for costs tied to extreme weather and rising seas. The justices' decision could determine whether these suits proceed in state courts or are dismissed, with major implications for climate accountability litigation nationwide.

The US Supreme Court has agreed to hear oil companies' attempt to block state and local lawsuits seeking damages for climate change. The cases, brought by cities and states, argue major producers should pay for costs of rising seas, wildfires and other climate harms. A ruling could decide whether such claims proceed in state courts or are dismissed.

A parenting roundup lists ten baby names drawn from the seasons, offering ideas such as nature-themed options tied to spring, summer, autumn and winter. Season-inspired names have long appealed to parents looking for something meaningful yet not overly common, and such lists are popular among expecting parents browsing name ideas.

New England's notoriously changeable weather is being linked to ocean currents, according to reporting that points to the sea's influence on the region's temperature and storm patterns. The story highlights how shifting currents help drive the variability residents experience across the region.

The South Pacific is pressing for climate justice, as rising seas and extreme weather threaten low-lying island nations. Commentary highlights how Pacific communities, among the world's most vulnerable to climate change despite minimal emissions, are demanding stronger international action and accountability from major polluters. The debate centres on fairness: who pays for loss and damage, and whether global climate commitments will come fast enough to protect the region's future.

Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces have carried out a rapid operation to recapture coastal territory around the Bab el-Mandeb strait, pushing up to the city of Mokha and displacing Houthi fighters from the area, according to Reuters. The strait is one of the world's most important shipping chokepoints, so any shift in control there draws wide international attention amid ongoing Red Sea tensions.

An Indian family has sold nearly all their possessions to raise their daughter aboard a sailboat, choosing a life at sea over a conventional home. The story of their unconventional parenting and lifestyle change is drawing attention for its boldness and the questions it raises about childhood, schooling and family life away from land.

Gary Griggs's latest Our Ocean Backyard column examines fossils from an ancient ocean, continuing his long-running series for the Santa Cruz Sentinel. The piece looks at how marine remains record past ocean conditions, offering readers in the Monterey Bay area a local lens on deep-time ocean history and changing seas.

International leaders have travelled to Tuvalu, the low-lying Pacific island nation widely regarded as being on the frontline of climate change. The visit highlights rising sea levels threatening the country's existence, and comes as Pacific nations push bigger economies for stronger emissions cuts and climate financing ahead of international climate negotiations.

Yemeni government forces have taken control of a district near the Bab el-Mandeb strait, according to military sources. The narrow waterway is one of the world's most strategic shipping chokepoints, so any shift in control on the ground there draws close attention amid ongoing conflict in Yemen and regional tensions affecting Red Sea shipping.

Philadelphia, long known as the "Workshop of the World" for its vast manufacturing base, is the subject of a new exploration of how the city's industrial design evolved during the early twentieth century. The piece traces how local factories and makers adapted to a sea change in production, aesthetics and technology as American industry modernized, highlighting the city's role in shaping that era's design.

A crucial pre-COP climate meeting is underway in Fiji, but only two leaders from outside the Pacific region are attending. The low turnout is drawing attention given the Pacific islands' outsized stake in climate change, as nations on the frontline of rising seas press bigger emitters for stronger commitments ahead of the UN climate summit.