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Prosjekt

The Breathing Ocean (O2Ocean)

In O2Ocean (2022–2025) researchers from the Bjerknes Centre, NORCE, the Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center and the Institute of Marine Research, look into why climate models have underestimated the observed decline in marine oxygen levels. This is needed to improve projections of future oxygen conditions

Status

Completed

Owner

Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research

Project lead

Nadine Goris

Investigating the breathing ocean

The oxygen level in the global ocean has declined, limiting the living space of fish. New research is aimed at improving future oxygen projections.

Oxygen levels in the ocean have fallen. Globally, sea water contains two percent less gaseous oxygen than in 1960. Locally, reductions have been much more severe. Too little oxygen causes problems for marine life, especially fish and larger organisms. Zones with good living conditions are shrinking. 

Tuna, a very important resource, are among the most strongly affected species. The space suitable for cod is also getting more limited. How much this will change in the future, is still uncertain. 

"We don't know yet how serious the lack of oxygen will be", says Nadine Goris, researcher at the Bjerknes Centre and NORCE.

She leads a new project aiming to present reliable projections of how oxygen conditions in the ocean will develop through this century. 

Read the full article here!

Researchers from Bjerknessenteret

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