Why the weirdest sea level changes on Earth are happening off the coast of Japan

⭐ Join our community and access the best we offer!

illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on CNN or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Scientists are observing some of the most extreme and uneven sea level changes on Earth off Japan’s Pacific coast
• In parts of the region, sea levels are rising by nearly an inch per year, while nearby areas are falling even faster
• The cause is a major shift in the Kuroshio Current, one of the world’s strongest ocean currents
• The change has triggered record ocean heat, altered sea levels, and disrupted fisheries critical to Japan’s culture and economy

🔭 The context: The Kuroshio is behaving in unprecedented ways
• The warm current, which normally turns east near Tokyo, has pushed hundreds of miles farther north
• This shift created long-lasting marine heatwaves, with ocean temperatures up to 6°C above normal
• A rare “large meander” south of Japan lasted nearly eight years, the longest on record
• Scientists link the changes to shifting wind patterns tied to climate change and expanding tropical circulation

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Changing ocean currents amplify climate and ecosystem risks
• Altered currents reshape regional sea levels, worsening coastal flooding during storms
• Marine heatwaves damage kelp forests, fisheries, and food security
• Warming currents intensify land heatwaves and extreme rainfall, compounding climate impacts
• Similar poleward shifts are being observed in major currents worldwide, signaling broader ocean instability

⏭️ What’s next: Scientists expect more volatility, not a return to normal
• Researchers warn future fluctuations could become stronger as the climate warms
• Fisheries and coastal communities face long-term uncertainty and adaptation challenges

💬 One quote: “I never expected this,” said Bo Qiu, a leading Kuroshio researcher at the University of Hawaiʻi

📈 One stat: The Kuroshio transports more than 200 times as much water as the Amazon River

See on illuminem's Data Hub™ the sustainability performance — carbon credit purchases, total emissions, and climate targets of thousands of companies

Click for more news covering the latest on climate change