A new international research expedition, OVIDE 2026, is underway in the North Atlantic to study how the ocean is responding to climate change. Scientists from Durham University and European partners are measuring water temperature, oxygen, and acidity from the surface to depths over 5,000 meters. The North Atlantic absorbs about 30% of global ocean carbon uptake, and new data shows human-generated carbon stored there has increased by more than a third in the last 30 years. The mission builds on 24 years of data and comes after record-breaking surface temperatures from 2023 to 2025. Researchers are also analyzing tiny marine organisms called foraminifera to understand past ocean circulation changes and separate natural variability from human-driven warming. This work aims to improve climate models and predictions, which are essential for informing global climate policy and protecting marine ecosystems.
