Breaking Waves: Ocean News https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-waves/index.php en World’s largest penguin colony suffers ‘enormous population crash’ https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/world-s-largest-penguin-colony-suffers-enormous-population-crash <p>Chinstrap penguins on Zavodovski Island in Antarctica declined by two-thirds since 2011, likely due to climate crisis</p> <p>The world’s largest penguin colony has declined by two-thirds since 2011, most likely due to the climate crisis, a <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2026.09.010">new study</a> has revealed.</p> <p>Scientists warned the rapid demise of chinstrap penguins on Zavodovski, the northernmost of the South Sandwich Islands in Antarctica, increased the risk of a wider ecosystem collapse.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/world-s-largest-penguin-colony-suffers-enormous-population-crash" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 07 Oct 2026 15:00:53 +0000 admin 104774 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Landslides, flash floods and raging seas: is California ready for the ravages of El Niño? https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/landslides-flash-floods-and-raging-seas-california-ready-ravages-el-ni-o <p>A mix of natural disasters could all befall the state at once as it finds itself in the crosshairs of the climate phenomenon</p> <p>On a cloudless autumn afternoon, sunlight sparkled on the water that had quietly swallowed a busy intersection to the north of San Francisco, as the surrounding rush-hour traffic slowed to a painful crawl.</p> <p>There were no crashing waves or storm surges to blame for the flood. Marin county was one of many areas up and down the California coast affected by high tides last week, as parts of the Pacific swelled with excess warmth.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/landslides-flash-floods-and-raging-seas-california-ready-ravages-el-ni-o" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 07 Oct 2026 14:30:52 +0000 admin 104773 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org South West Water owner taps investors to fix infrastructure after sewage spills https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/south-west-water-owner-taps-investors-fix-infrastructure-after-sewage-spills <p>Pennon slashes dividend and launches £550m cash call ‘to drive improved outcomes for customers and communities’</p> <p>The owner of embattled South West Water has slashed its dividend and launched a cash call to investors as it attempts to fund infrastructure investment, days after it was hit by a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/sep/29/south-west-water-record-fine-sewage-spills-cornwall-devon">record £7.9m fine</a> for hundreds of sewage spills.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/south-west-water-owner-taps-investors-fix-infrastructure-after-sewage-spills" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 07 Oct 2026 14:14:35 +0000 admin 104775 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Flávio Bolsonaro’s advance in Brazil’s election is grim jolt for climate campaigners https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/fl-vio-bolsonaro-s-advance-brazil-s-election-grim-jolt-climate-campaigners <p>Inquest under way into why President Lula’s success in curbing Amazon deforestation has not lead to success at polls</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/fl-vio-bolsonaro-s-advance-brazil-s-election-grim-jolt-climate-campaigners" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 07 Oct 2026 12:03:52 +0000 admin 104770 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Heatstroke ruined his health. Years before, it took the life of another farm worker at the same company https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/heatstroke-ruined-his-health-years-it-took-life-another-farm-worker-same-company <p>A farm labor contractor exposed laborers on H-2A agricultural visas to heat-related health hazards, but is still bringing hundreds of migrant farm workers to North Carolina</p> <p>It was 4pm and 90F (32C) when Carlos Vargas Moreno and other farm workers set out to weed a watermelon field in Goldsboro, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/northcarolina">North Carolina</a>, on 19 July 2022.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/heatstroke-ruined-his-health-years-it-took-life-another-farm-worker-same-company" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 07 Oct 2026 11:00:08 +0000 admin 104768 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Tents, night-vision goggles, bear tracking kits – and even books: America’s first nature library opens https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/tents-night-vision-goggles-bear-tracking-kits-and-even-books-america-s-first-nature-li <p>As well as books, the new facility in Colorado offers hundreds of kits to connect people with the natural world. We asked five of the first visitors what they thought of it</p> <p>Mark Fink knows exactly why he opened the first public nature library in the US. “There are a lot of barriers for people to access nature here. We want people to learn about the birds and the plants in their own back yard and to appreciate that you don’t need a three-day camping trip in the mountains to experience nature.”</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/tents-night-vision-goggles-bear-tracking-kits-and-even-books-america-s-first-nature-li" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 07 Oct 2026 11:00:07 +0000 admin 104769 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Q&A: ‘Godzilla-level’ El Niño is causing extreme weather – our environment writers answer your questions – live https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/qa-godzilla-level-el-ni-o-causing-extreme-weather-our-environment-writers-answer-your- <p>Guardian reporters Jonathan Watts and Gabrielle Canon<strong> </strong>are<strong> </strong>online answering your questions on<strong> </strong>climate and extreme weather from what to expect this winter in the UK to the increasing risk of natural disasters.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/qa-godzilla-level-el-ni-o-causing-extreme-weather-our-environment-writers-answer-your-" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 07 Oct 2026 08:52:06 +0000 admin 104767 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org ‘Lawyers should be running to courts’ to stop coal approvals after landmark ruling, NSW MP says https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/lawyers-should-be-running-courts-stop-coal-approvals-after-landmark-ruling-nsw-mp-says <p>High court finding in favour of Hunter Valley community group sets precedent other environmentalists should follow, advocate says</p> <ul> <li> <p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">new political email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p> </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/lawyers-should-be-running-courts-stop-coal-approvals-after-landmark-ruling-nsw-mp-says" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 07 Oct 2026 07:24:31 +0000 admin 104766 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Scientists who put faith in technology less likely to take climate action https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/scientists-who-put-faith-technology-less-likely-take-climate-action <p>‘Techno-optimism’ may lead to reliance on unproven solutions at expense of societal changes needed</p> <p>Scientists who believe technology will largely solve the problems caused by the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-crisis">climate crisis</a> are less likely to engage in civic action on the issue, according to a study.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/scientists-who-put-faith-technology-less-likely-take-climate-action" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 07 Oct 2026 06:00:36 +0000 admin 104765 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Wanted: children to rear harvest mice at home for wild release in Devon https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/wanted-children-rear-harvest-mice-home-wild-release-devon <p>Teenagers Eva Wishart and Emily Smith launch project to breed and release 250 of the tiny animals by September</p> <p>Children in Devon are being invited to become “citizen captive breeders”, rearing harvest mice at home for release into the wild to help revive endangered nature.</p> <p>Wild Pets, a new conservation project launched by two 14-year-old friends, is seeking 20 Devon-based children to rear hundreds of mice after the duo’s own successful restoration efforts.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/wanted-children-rear-harvest-mice-home-wild-release-devon" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 07 Oct 2026 05:00:34 +0000 admin 104764 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org