Rapid ocean oxygen loss pushing Earth to ‘unsafe space’
A study from UC Santa Barbara reveals that aquatic deoxygenation is occurring at an alarming rate across oceans and inland waters. This loss of oxygen threatens biodiversity and disrupts the natural climate regulation processes of the planet.
Why it matters
The findings highlight a critical, often overlooked environmental crisis that exacerbates climate change and threatens global food webs.
A UC Santa Barbara’s National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis study found that oxygen is disappearing from oceans, lakes, rivers, and coastal waters at an alarming rate.
This threatens aquatic life and weakens the natural processes that help regulate Earth’s climate.
“The health and stability of our planet depends on the health and stability of aquatic ecosystems, which need oxygen to function normally,” study lead author Erica Ferrer said.
“This study is designed to elevate the profile of aquatic deoxygenation as a global threat and show that it does not operate in isolation.”
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in