High sea temperatures can hinder the growth of algae such as kelp
Pete Niesen/Alamy
Record-breaking sea temperatures in 2023 may have triggered an unprecedented global decline in the growth of phytoplankton and algae, which form the base of the marine food web.
Last year, swathes of the world’s oceans were gripped by extreme marine heatwaves, caused by climate change and a transition to hotter El Niño conditions in the Pacific Ocean.
On average, on any one day…
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