Arctic Ocean chemical shift irreversible

A new study led by the University of Edinburgh reveals an irreversible chemical shift in the Arctic Ocean>>>, driven by climate change and widespread loss of sea ice. This shift, identified around 2009, has led to a sharp decline in nitrate, a crucial nutrient for plankton at the base of the marine food chain. The process, known as benthic denitrification, converts nitrate into nitrogen gas in shallow, newly ice-free continental shelves. This reduction in nitrate limits the amount of life the ecosystem can support, affecting populations of plankton, fish, seabirds, and marine mammals. Researchers Marta Santos Garcia>>> and Raja Ganeshram>>> highlight that this change could also reduce the Arctic Ocean>>>'s capacity to store carbon, as plankton play a key role in photosynthesis. The findings suggest the Arctic Ocean>>> has passed a tipping point and is unlikely to revert to its previous state, with potential far-reaching consequences for marine populations globally, including commercial fishing in the Atlantic Ocean>>>. The research was supported by the United Kingdom — Natural Environment Research Council>>> and involved other institutions like the Norwegian Nobel Institute, Scottish Association for Marine Science>>>, Technical University of Munich, and Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research>>>.