Southern Ocean

The Hōlei Sea Arch, a well-known natural lava formation on Hawaii's southern coastline, has collapsed into the Pacific Ocean. The arch, long a popular landmark for visitors in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, was reported destroyed by multiple US news outlets. The loss of the iconic formation is drawing attention as another visible sign of coastal erosion and natural change in Hawaii.

The Hōlei Sea Arch, a lava rock formation estimated to be around 550 years old on Hawaii's southern coast, has collapsed into the ocean. The natural arch was a well-known landmark in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and its loss highlights the ongoing erosion and volcanic forces that continuously reshape the islands' coastlines.

Health officials have issued ocean water warnings for beaches across Southern California as a heat wave continues over the region. The advisories typically caution swimmers about elevated bacteria levels near storm drains and outfalls, which can rise in warm weather. Beachgoers are being urged to check water quality postings before entering the ocean during the hot spell.

A research expedition to the Southern Ocean has uncovered flaws in current climate models, suggesting the models may misrepresent how the region absorbs carbon and heat. The Southern Ocean plays a major role in regulating the global climate, so inaccuracies there could affect projections worldwide. Researchers are calling for updated measurements and revised modelling approaches.

California is moving to prepare for a massive Kelvin wave along the Pacific coast, alongside predictions of sea level rise. The warming phenomenon, tied to the El Niño-Southern Oscillation, can raise coastal ocean temperatures and water levels, raising concerns about coastal flooding and infrastructure. The story has drawn wide attention across climate and weather coverage of the US West Coast.

A vast opening in Antarctic sea ice, roughly the size of Portugal, has drawn scientific attention, with researchers pointing to climate change as a likely driver. The phenomenon, known as a polynya, is prompting discussion about warming oceans, shifting winds and what the hole reveals about changes underway in the Southern Ocean around Antarctica.

Southern Ocean Medical Center, part of the Hackensack Meridian Health network in New Jersey, has added acupuncture to its care offerings. The hospital says the service brings this complementary therapy, often used for pain management and stress relief, to patients in the southern Ocean County area. The announcement highlights the medical center's effort to broaden integrative medicine options for local residents.

The International Space Station's live video stream is being shared again, offering a continuous view of Earth from roughly 400 kilometres up. The coordinates shared alongside the feed place the station over the southern Pacific Ocean. Viewers are swapping links to the stream and location data, with space agencies NASA, ESA, JAXA and CSA associated with the station's ongoing operations.

Science communicators Dave Borlace, creator of the Just Have a Think channel, and glaciologist Ella Gilbert, known as Dr Gilbz, have released the first part of a two-part collaboration examining possible links between the recent Super El Nino and sea ice changes in both the Arctic and Antarctica. The series explores how the powerful ocean-warming event may be affecting polar ice in the northern and southern hemispheres.