NYU Abu Dhabi study finds Pacific climate swings can boost or deplete oxygen across world's oceans

A new study from NYU Abu Dhabi reports that climate swings centered in the North Pacific—driven by the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO)—can either boost or reduce oxygen levels across the world’s oceans. Published in Geophysical Research Letters, the research highlights two mechanisms: faster oxygen changes in shallower waters that can alter marine habitat boundaries within a few years, and slower, delayed responses in deeper waters that can preserve the influence of past climate conditions for years. Using nearly 60 years of global ocean observations, the authors found the strongest link in the North Indian Ocean, with implications for the northern Arabian Sea and the Sea of Oman. The findings also suggest PDO variability may mask or intensify long-term ocean deoxygenation, underscoring the need for sustained monitoring.