#marine-ecosystems

#marine-ecosystems

From dramatic aquatic encounters to deep caves to fish and amphibians closely guarding their eggs, there's an entire world below the surface that few of us ever really get to see. That's where images like those in the annual Underwater Photographer of the Year (UPY) come in, glimpsing some of the darkest depths and most alluring and fragile ecosystems on the planet.

Offshore wind farms may do more than boost renewable energy: they might support marine ecosystems, too. That's the takeaway of a new study conducted in China. The researchers found that wind turbines provided support for colonies of oysters and barnacles and that fish species and biomass were more abundant near the turbines than they were in an area without the machines.

A fluid choreography that combines strength and delicacy, like a dance on the waves, gathers enthusiasts across the world's oceans. Yet, behind this image of freedom and connection with nature, the sport also carries contradictions. It is a symbol of outdoor life and respect for the ocean, but on the other hand, it is marked by territorial disputes over waves and by an environmental footprint that rarely receives the same attention given to its aesthetics.

Antarctica's vast ice sheet stores more than 90% of the planet's surface fresh water, influencing sea levels and the atmosphere's circulation.

"With anything higher than 2 C, destruction would be inevitable," says Katja Matthes, director of the GEOMAR Helmholtz Center for Ocean Research Kiel in Germany.