Arctic Melting Permanently Starves Plankton

Scientists once thought melting Arctic sea ice would boost marine life by letting more sunlight reach the ocean. Instead, the extra light increased plankton growth, and after the plankton died and sank, seafloor bacteria converted nitrate into nitrogen gas. In 2026, University of Edinburgh researchers reported that the Arctic Ocean crossed this tipping point around 2009, leaving less nitrate for plankton at the base of the food chain. They described the chemical shift as irreversible under current climate conditions.

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