US EditionOne-Fifth of Global Ocean Has Darkened Since 2003, Shrinking Key Sunlit Zones
- Scientists at the University of Plymouth discovered that over the two decades from 2003 to 2022, darkening occurred across more than one-fifth of the world’s oceans, leading to a reduction in sunlit marine zones spanning approximately 75 million square kilometers.
- This darkening results from shifts in plankton communities, algal blooms, nutrient runoff, and warming-driven ocean circulation changes affecting light penetration in surface waters.
- The photic zone, where nearly 90% of ocean life depends on sunlight, has contracted by more than 50 meters in 9% of ocean areas, forcing animals closer to the surface and intensifying competition for resources.
- Dr. Thomas Davies explained that darkening of the ocean’s surface limits the habitats accessible to marine species that depend on sunlight and moonlight for their life processes, posing threats to ocean ecosystems and humanity’s ability to adapt to climate change.
- These changes threaten marine biodiversity, fisheries, oxygen production, and carbon absorption, suggesting fundamental disruptions to ocean ecosystems and the climate system supporting life on Earth.
35 Articles
35 Articles
21% of the ocean is losing access to sunlight - here's what that means
More than a fifth of the global ocean is getting darker, and researchers say this could have serious consequences for marine ecosystems and humanity. According to a new study from the University of Plymouth, 21% of the world's oceans have experienced a decline in sunlight penetration between 2003 and 2022. This change, known as ocean darkening, happens when the upper layers of the ocean reduce the depth to which sunlight can travel. The study fo…
The Ocean Is Getting Darker
Vast stretches of the world's oceans have grown noticeably darker over the past two decades, a shift scientists warn could upend marine ecosystems and threaten global ocean health. The study, published in Global Change Biology , found that 21% of the world's oceans have darkened between 2003 and 2022. Using satellite...
Oceans are losing light as marine ecosystems face narrowing zones for life
Large areas of Earth’s oceans have darkened over the past two decades, shrinking the sunlit zones where most marine life thrives, according to a new study.Ian Sample reports for The Guardian.In short:Between 2003 and 2022, 21% of the global ocean darkened, reducing the photic zone — the sunlit upper layer where marine organisms rely on light for survival — across 75 million square kilometers.The study found that in 9% of ocean areas, the photic …
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