PB-Ocean

The ocean has long acted as a stabilizing force in the Earth system, regulating climate and sustaining life through interconnected physical, chemical, and biological processes. As climate change and other anthropogenic pressures intensify, ocean warming, deoxygenation, acidification and ecosystem degradation are increasing, while important questions remain about the stability and future dynamics of the ocean’s heat and carbon uptake. Understanding when and how these changes may undermine the ocean’s role in maintaining Earth system stability is therefore a critical research challenge. The PB-Ocean project, funded by the Minderoo Foundation, addresses two key research frontiers in Planetary Boundaries science: 1. Ocean Heat and Carbon Sink Stability, and 2. Marine Biodiversity and Biosphere Functioning Metrics. The project investigates how the ocean’s role in regulating Earth system stability can be more comprehensively represented within the Planetary Boundaries framework. We assess where existing boundaries and control variables already capture key ocean processes, where they require refinement, and where additional indicators could provide essential additional information. This includes research on marine biosphere integrity, ocean carbon uptake, ocean heat uptake and storage, and the combined effects of multiple pressures on ocean functioning. By bringing together observations, Earth system models and emerging approaches, the project aims to develop scientifically robust metrics that can help track changes in the ocean’s capacity to support a stable and resilient Earth system. A Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), composed of leading experts in Earth system science, biodiversity, biogeochemistry, climate dynamics, genomics, and remote sensing, guides the process and helps ensure scientific rigor, integration across disciplines, and relevance within the broader Planetary Boundaries framework. The project ultimately aims to strengthen the scientific basis for assessing ocean-related risks and to translate this knowledge into insights relevant for decision-making and a safe future for people and the planet.