8 September 2026/Kiel/Taliarte. A seven-week experiment led by the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel is starting today on Gran Canaria. In collaboration with international partner institutions, twelve mesocosms are being deployed in the sea. These will be used to investigate whether ground concrete rubble can be used to increase the alkalinity of seawater and what effects this has on marine life. Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE) is a promising method for increasing the ocean’s CO₂ uptake whilst simultaneously buffering acidification.

Researchers at The University of Manchester have developed a physics-based artificial intelligence framework that, for the first time, enables global-scale predictions of dissolved organic carbon cycling between seawater and marine sediments. The approach reveals a previously unquantified component of Earth's carbon cycle and could improve climate models, support research into ocean-based climate mitigation strategies, and provide new insights into the long-term storage of carbon in marine environments.

7 September 2026 / Kiel. A strong earthquake near the Arctic island of Jan Mayen triggered a massive rock avalanche in March 2025. The resulting debris buried part of the Kjerulf Glacier beneath rock and rubble. A study by researchers at the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel indicates that climate change likely played a crucial role in this event. Long-term warming and permafrost degradation weakened the rock, making it more susceptible to earthquake shaking. These findings highlight how natural hazards in polar regions are changing – with potential implications for glacier and permafrost areas worldwide. The study is published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) journal.

A recent study published in National Science Review has revealed that the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), traditionally regarded as a single climate mode, consists of two distinct types with different physical mechanisms and climate impacts. The findings advance the understanding of Indian Ocean variability and provide new insights into how IOD events influence regional climate.