The ocean’s role in climate change
The ocean plays a powerful role in regulating Earth’s climate. It absorbs heat and carbon dioxide, drives weather patterns, and supports life on a planetary scale. But as the climate changes, the ocean is also changing: warming, acidifying, and behaving in new and less predictable ways.
Studying the ocean helps us understand what’s happening to our climate, where tipping points may be reached, and how the impacts will unfold across the globe—from rising sea levels to shifting weather extremes.