Northern Territroy News

Will Climate Change Bring an Invasion of the Octopuses—Or Halt It?

Climate change is bad news for many species. Environments are changing more rapidly than plants and animals can adapt to—or move out of—them. Octopuses, however, reproduce so quickly (and multitudinously) and have such short generation times, they are generally well primed to adapt and move. The common Sydney octopus (Octopus tetricus), for one, is expanding its range poleward as the surrounding oceans warm. But could a shift south actually eventually limit this …

NASA's disturbing new prediction

EXPERTS fear an ice sheet the size of Queensland is melting so quickly it will cause massive storm surges capable of decimating Australia’s coastal cities within the next century. Satellite images recently captured by NASA show large sections of Greenland and Antarctica are vanishing at a much faster rate than previously thought. Read more at news.com.au

Humpback whale bounce back!

AUSTRALIA’S humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) populations have recovered to the point where scientists are recommending the mammal be removed from the threatened species list. Murdoch University Professor Lars Bejder says Australia’s two humpback whale populations have made an amazing recovery over the past 45 years. Read the full story in Science Network WA.

Sharks in shallow, tropical water to thrive despite climate change danger for marine ecosystems, researchers say

Sharks found in shallow, tropical waters around northern Australia are well placed to cope with climate change according to Queensland researchers. Read more about how sharks may thrive in a changing ocean in ABC News.

Basking Shark observed off eastern Tasmania

Although within the known distribution for this species, observations of Basking Sharks in the wild are quite rare...

Ocean acidification may not speed up coral bleaching, say scientists

There are still fears that warming sea temperatures may damage the Great Barrier Reef, but there's better news when it comes to acidification.

Scientists using specialist technology in Australia believe they've established that increasing levels of acid in the ocean will not speed up coral bleaching. Read more at ABC Radio's PM.

Warming Oceans Putting Marine Life ‘In a Blender’

Lobster populations rise and fall for many reasons. But in its new report, the commission singled out one factor that is probably driving the recent changes: The ocean is getting warmer. Read the full story in The New York Times.

Warmer waters to hinder plankton growth

NEW research has contradicted previous assumptions that warmer waters allow plankton to flourish, writes news.com.au.  AN international study, involving researchers from the University of Western Australia, has found although increased carbon dioxide levels would promote growth of the microscopic organism, the associated warming of ocean temperatures would inevitably impede its growth.

Marine species will battle for survival as climate changes

WARMING ocean temperatures and subsequent southward migration of species are likely to bring significant change to the marine environment on our doorstep. Read the full story in the Sunshine Coast Daily.

Climate Change Has Got The Earth In Hot Water

It is understandable that people discussing global warming focus on air temperatures. Lower atmospheric temperatures are shown on the news and weather reports every day. We walk around in the air. We breathe it in. We talk about how hot it’s been this summer, how warm last winter was, or how this is the hottest day on record. But global warming is all about water.  Water, not the atmosphere, drives the …