Sea Change Research Articles

Sediment provenance changes in the southwestern Okhotsk Sea since MIS 5 and their implications for sediment transport dynamics

The Okhotsk Sea, located between the Asian continent and the western Pacific, is a natural laboratory for investigating sediments source-to-sink influenced by atmosphere–ocean–land–sea ice interactions. However, despite their paleoenvironmental significance, changes in sediment provenance within the Okhotsk Sea are still debated due to the diversity of sediment sources and transport processes. Here, we investigate Sr and Nd isotope compositions in surface sediment samples from regions across the Okhotsk Sea, as well as Sr and Nd isotope compositions and elemental abundances in the sediments of core LV55‐40-1, collected from the southwestern Okhotsk Sea. Our results reveal an increasing trend of εNd values over the past ∼110 kyr, with an abrupt increase during the transition into the last deglacial/early Holocene (MIS 1). We also observed minor variations characterized by less radiogenic εNd during the glacial/stadial (G/S) periods (MIS 5d, MIS 5b, MIS 4, MIS 2), and more radiogenic εNd during the interglacial/interstadial (I/I) periods (MIS 5c, MIS 5a, MIS 3). The major terrigenous sediment sources in the northwestern Okhotsk Sea are via the Amur River and from Sakhalin Island (∼60–80%), with a minor volcanic contribution (∼20–40%) from the Okhotsk-Chukotka volcanic belt and the southern Kuril Islands/Hokkaido. Provenance variations are primarily controlled by the interplay of sea-ice drifting and ocean circulation, reflecting a dominant transport mode shift from sea ice to surface current dominance since the early Holocene. During the G/S periods with severe sea-ice condition, terrigenous materials from the Amur River and Sakhalin Island were transported to the study site, due to the southeastward drift of sea ice driven by the prevailing northwesterly winds and enhanced Okhotsk Sea Intermediate Water circulation. In contrast, during the I/I periods with moderate sea-ice conditions, an increased contribution from the Okhotsk-Chukotka volcanic belt was caused by sea-ice drifting southwestwards under the prevailing northerly and northeasterly winds, supplemented by surface currents. This study provides the first Sr-Nd isotopes record spanning the last glacial cycle in the Okhotsk Sea and it offers new insights into the relationship between sediment provenance and the interplay of sea ice and ocean currents in this region.

Impacts of Climate Change on Groundwater Resources in Afghanistan: A Case Study of Kandahar Province

This paper presents a case study examining the impacts of climate change on groundwater resources in the Kandahar province of Afghanistan. The study assesses the vulnerability of groundwater sources to changing climatic patterns and explores the implications for water availability, quality, and sustainability in the region. Through a combination of field surveys, hydrogeological investigations, and analysis of climatic data, the research aims to provide insights into the specific challenges faced by Kandahar province in managing its groundwater resources in the context of a changing climate. The findings of the study reveal the significant influence of climate change on groundwater availability, with altered precipitation patterns and increasing temperatures leading to shifts in recharge rates and aquifer dynamics. Moreover, the study examines the potential exacerbation of water stress, groundwater depletion, and saltwater intrusion in coastal areas due to rising sea levels and changing rainfall patterns. The insights derived from this case study contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex interactions between climate change and groundwater resources, providing valuable knowledge for policymakers, water resource managers, and stakeholders involved in sustainable water management and climate adaptation initiatives in Afghanistan.

Changes in the Red Sea overturning circulation during Marine Isotope Stage 3

Abstract. The oceanography of the Red Sea is controlled by the restricted exchange of water masses with the Indian Ocean and by high evaporation rates due to the arid climate of the surrounding land areas. In the northern Red Sea, the formation of oxygen-rich subsurface water ventilates the deeper parts of the basin, but little is known about the variability in this process in the past. The stable oxygen and carbon isotope records of epibenthic foraminifera from a sediment core of the central Red Sea and comparison with existing isotope records allow for the reconstruction of changes in the Red Sea overturning circulation (ROC) during Marine Isotope Stage 3. The isotope records imply millennial-scale variations in the ROC, in phase with the climate variability in the high northern latitudes. This suggests an immediate response of dense-water formation to the regional climate and hydrology of the northern Red Sea. Deep-water formation was intensified under the influence of cold and hyper-arid conditions during Heinrich stadials and was diminished during Dansgaard–Oeschger interstadials. While these changes are reflected in both stable oxygen and carbon isotope records, the latter data also exhibit changes in phase with the African–Indian monsoon system. The decoupling of the stable carbon and oxygen isotope records at the summer monsoon maximum centered around 55–60 ka may be associated with an increased inflow of nutrient-rich intermediate waters from the Arabian Sea to the central Red Sea. This process fueled local surface water productivity, resulting in enhanced remineralization of sinking organic matter and release of 12C at intermediate water depths.

Evaluation of the Neogene depositional dynamics in the Malay-Tho Chu Basin based on seismic analysis: effects of local and regional tectonism and paleoclimatic variations

Depositional environments in areas located near sea level are vulnerable to even subtle changes in both tectonism, climate and eustatic sea level. Sorting out mechanisms behind depositional changes in inner shelf-margins and epeiric seas is therefore far from straight forward. The epeiric Malay-Tho Chu Basin, located in the shallow Gulf of Thailand offshore Vietnam, contains a thick uppermost Oligocene to Recent post-rift succession. Based on 18000 km of 2D seismic profiles, the uppermost Oligocene-Recent succession is subdivided into six seismic sequences. Seismic facies mapping of each sequence complemented by information from industry completion reports of 14 wells document a gradual increase in marine influence from latest Oligocene through Middle Miocene time. The increased marine influence reflects the propagation and opening of the southwestern spreading arm of the East Vietnam Sea (South China Sea (East Sea)) combined with rapid subsidence in the Malay-Tho Chu Basin resulting from fast thermal relaxation following Oligocene rifting and amplified by mild fault-controlled subsidence in especially the western part of the area. From the latest Middle Miocene, slowed subsidence and regression occurred in association with uplift in the nearby southwestern East Vietnam Sea. From the latest Miocene, and during the Pliocene and Pleistocene, subsidence rates increased promoting marine conditions towards the East Vietnam Sea in the southeast. Meanwhile, Mekong River avulsion combined with hinterland uplift stimulated fluvial and alluvial deposition in the northern and western parts of the basin. The long-term depositional pattern was controlled primarily by tectonics, drainage evolution and climate. Meanwhile, flood- and delta plain deposits intercalated with stacked fluvial incisions, often filled by estuarine deposits, document short-lived environmental changes most likely controlled by eustatic sea level fluctuations. Such intervals developed during latest Middle Miocene to Pleistocene periods of slow subsidence or fast depositional rates and are interpreted to be the result of substantial eustatic sea level fluctuations.

Environmental drivers of Arctic communities based on metabarcoding of marine sediment eDNA.

Our ability to assess biodiversity at relevant spatial and temporal scales for informing management is of increasing importance given this is foundational to identify and mitigate the impacts of global change. Collecting baseline information and tracking ecological changes are particularly important for areas experiencing rapid changes and representing data gaps such as Arctic marine ecosystems. Environmental DNA has the potential to provide such data. We extracted environmental DNA from 90 surface sediment samples to assess eukaryote diversity around Greenland and Svalbard using two separate primer pairs amplifying different sections of the 18S rRNA gene. We detected 27 different phyla and 99 different orders and found that temperature and the change in temperature explained the most variation in the community in a single linear model, while latitude, sea ice cover and change in temperature explained the most variation in the community when assessed by individual non-linear models. We identified potential indicator taxa for Arctic climate change, including a terebellid annelid worm. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that environmental DNA offers a feasible method to assess biodiversity and identifies warming as a key driver of differences in biodiversity across these remote ecosystems.

What children know and want to know about climate change: a prior-knowledge self-assessment

Researchers engaging in science communication tend to present information that they find most important. However, understanding the level of prior knowledge and interest of a target audience is key for effective communication of science, especially when dealing with complex and mediatic themes, such as climate change. This study relies on a prior-knowledge self-assessment applied to children between 10 and 13 years old, followed by a mixed analysis under the assumptions of the Grounded Theory. The goal is to understand whether children’s self-perception of knowledge and interests regarding climate change can support the design of environmental education initiatives. Children declared to know about the concept of climate change and specific causes and consequences, but were generally incapable of specifying topics about which they are interested in learning about. And when these were specified, they match the ones they already know about – sea ice changes, pollution and biota. This suggests that relying solely on children’s interests may originate ‘information corridors’. Future initiatives should therefore not only resonate with children’s experiences and reality, but also broaden fields of knowledge by introducing innovative approaches that go beyond researchers’ pre-assumptions.

How to Incorporate Cultural Values and Heritage in Maritime Spatial Planning: A Systematic Review

Understanding aspects of maritime/underwater cultural heritage (MUCH) and the associated cultural values and integrating them into maritime spatial planning (MSP) processes is a new global challenge alongside the rapid increase in human activities at sea and climate change impacts on the seas and the oceans. This article highlights the significance of cultural values in shaping human interactions with marine environments and how MSP can address the cultural dimensions of marine resources management. The key research question addresses the prerequisites and methods for a better incorporation of MUCH in the MSP processes. This review revealed a diversity of literature addressing the inclusion of MUCH in (a) coastal and marine management but also in (b) marine/maritime spatial planning (346 articles from the Scopus database). In the first case, there is a strong focus on cultural ecosystem services (CES) and cultural values, the role of indigenous and local communities, the transfer of traditional ecological knowledge, and participatory approaches and tools. As for the latter, this review demonstrated quite a lot of relatively recent MSP endeavors that seem to be influenced by the above approaches identified in the coastal and marine management literature. This article concludes that for MSPlans to be innovative and mainly acceptable by local communities, the “missing layer” of socio-cultural values and data is indispensable. Furthermore, a collaborative MSP between governments and regional/provincial authorities may boost sustainable blue activities while preserving ecological and cultural values.

Seasonal Variations and Spatial Patterns of Arctic Cloud Changes in Association with Sea Ice Loss during 1950–2019 in ERA5

Abstract The dynamic and thermodynamic mechanisms that link retreating sea ice to increased Arctic cloud amount and cloud water content are unclear. Using the fifth generation of the ECMWF Reanalysis (ERA5), the long-term changes between years 1950–79 and 1990–2019 in Arctic clouds are estimated along with their relationship to sea ice loss. A comparison of ERA5 to CERES satellite cloud fractions reveals that ERA5 simulates the seasonal cycle, variations, and changes of cloud fraction well over water surfaces during 2001–20. This suggests that ERA5 may reliably represent the cloud response to sea ice loss because melting sea ice exposes more water surfaces in the Arctic. Increases in ERA5 Arctic cloud fraction and water content are largest during October–March from ∼950 to 700 hPa over areas with significant (≥15%) sea ice loss. Further, regions with significant sea ice loss experience higher convective available potential energy (∼2–2.75 J kg−1), planetary boundary layer height (∼120–200 m), and near-surface specific humidity (∼0.25–0.40 g kg−1) and a greater reduction of the lower-tropospheric temperature inversion (∼3°–4°C) than regions with small (<15%) sea ice loss in autumn and winter. Areas with significant sea ice loss also show strengthened upward motion between 1000 and 700 hPa, enhanced horizontal convergence (divergence) of air, and decreased (increased) relative humidity from 1000 to 950 hPa (950–700 hPa) during the cold season. Analyses of moisture divergence, evaporation minus precipitation, and meridional moisture flux fields suggest that increased local surface water fluxes, rather than atmospheric motions, provide a key source of moisture for increased Arctic clouds over newly exposed water surfaces during October–March. Significance Statement Sea ice loss has been shown to be a primary contributor to Arctic warming. Despite the evidence linking large sea ice retreat to Arctic warming, some studies have suggested that enhanced downwelling longwave radiation associated with increased clouds and water vapor is the primary reason for Arctic amplification. However, it is unclear how sea ice loss is linked to changes in clouds and water vapor in the Arctic. Here, we investigate the relationship between Arctic sea ice loss and changes in clouds using the ERA5 dataset. Improved knowledge of the relationship between Arctic sea ice loss and changes in clouds will help further our understanding of the role of the cloud feedback in Arctic warming.

Characterization and future projection of marine heatwaves under climate change in the South China Sea

Marine heatwaves (MHWs) are widely recognized as prolonged periods of significantly elevated sea surface temperatures, leading to substantial adverse impacts on marine ecosystems. However, a comprehensive understanding of their characteristics and potential changes under climate change in the South China Sea (SCS, 0 ∼ 25°N, 105 ∼ 125°E) remains insufficient. Here, utilizing the OISST V2.0 reanalysis dataset, our study first examines MHW characteristics and their trends in the SCS during the historical period (1982 ∼ 2014). Then, in accordance with the criteria established in this study, GFDL-ESM4, EC-Earth3-Veg, NESM3, EC-Earth3, and GFDL-CM4 are identified from the CMIP6 ensemble of 19 models for their enhanced simulations of historical MHW characteristics. Moreover, considering that the fixed and sliding threshold methods offer distinct perspectives on the future evolution of MHWs, we employ both approaches to evaluate MHW characteristics under projected scenarios for the future period (2015 ∼ 2100) and subsequently compare the disparities between the two methodologies. The outcomes obtained using these methods consistently indicate that MHWs in the SCS are anticipated to intensify and persist for longer durations in the future. Besides, addressing seasonal variability, the peak intensity of MHWs falls in May during both the historical period and the four projected future scenarios. This study provides valuable insights into the behavior of MHWs in the SCS within the context of climate change, underscoring the urgency of adopting effective mitigation strategies. Especially, the use of two definition methods provides a more comprehensive set of information for understanding the future changes of MHWs in the SCS.

Modeled variations in the inherent optical properties of summer Arctic ice and their effects on the radiation budget: a case based on ice cores from 2008 to 2016

Abstract. Variations in Arctic sea ice are apparent not only in its extent and thickness but also in its internal properties under global warming. The microstructure of summer Arctic sea ice changes due to varying external forces, ice age, and extended melting seasons, which affect its optical properties. Sea ice cores sampled in the Pacific sector of the Arctic obtained by the Chinese National Arctic Research Expedition (CHINARE) during the summers of 2008 to 2016 were used to estimate the variations in the microstructures and inherent optical properties (IOPs) of ice and determine the radiation budget of sea ice based on a radiative transfer model. The variations in the volume fraction of gas bubbles (Va) of the ice top layer were not significant, and the Va of the ice interior layer was significant. Compared with 2008, the mean Va of interior ice in 2016 decreased by 9.1 %. Meanwhile, the volume fraction of brine pockets increased clearly during 2008–2016. The changing microstructure resulted in the scattering coefficient of the interior ice decreasing by 38.4 % from 2008 to 2016, while no clear variations can be seen in the scattering coefficient of the ice top layer. These estimated ice IOPs fell within the range of other observations. Furthermore, we found that variations in interior ice were significantly related to the interannual changes in ice ages. At the Arctic basin scale, the changing IOPs of interior ice greatly changed the amount of solar radiation transmitted to the upper ocean even when a constant ice thickness is assumed, especially for thin ice in marginal zones, implying the presence of different sea ice bottom melt processes. These findings revealed the important role of the changing microstructure and IOPs of ice in affecting the radiation transfer of Arctic sea ice.

Influence of global warming and industrialization on coral reefs: A 600-year record of elemental changes in the Eastern Red Sea

The Red Sea has been recognized as a coral reef refugia, but it is vulnerable to warming and pollution. Here we investigated the spatial and temporal trends of 15 element concentrations in 9 coral reef sediment cores (aged from the 1460s to the 1980s AD) to study the influence of global warming and industrialization on the Eastern Red Sea coral reefs. We found Na, Ca, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, and Sr concentrations were higher in the northern Red Sea (i.e., Yanbu), whereas Mg, P, S, Mn, and Cd concentrations were higher in the southern Red Sea (i.e., Thuwal & Al Lith) reef sediments. In the central (i.e., Thuwal) to southern (i.e., Al Lith) Red Sea, the study revealed diverse temporal trends in element concentrations. However, both reef sedimentation rates (−36.4 % and −80.5 %, respectively) and elemental accumulation rates (−49.4 % for Cd to −12.2 % for Zn in Thuwal, and −86.2 % for Co to −61.4 % for Cu in Al Lith) exhibited a declining pattern over time, possibly attributed to warming-induced thermal bleaching. In the central to northern Red Sea (i.e., Yanbu), the severity of thermal bleaching is low, while the reef sedimentation rates (187 %), element concentrations (6.7 % for S to 764 % for Co; except Na, Mg, Ca, Sr, and Cd), and all elemental accumulation rates (190 % for Mg to 2697 % for Co) exponentially increased from the 1970s, probably due the rapid industrialization in Yanbu. Our study also observed increased trace metal concentrations (e.g., Cu, Zn, and Ni) in the Thuwal and Al Lith coral reefs with severe bleaching histories, consistent with previous reports that trace metals might result in decreased resistance of corals to thermal stress under warming scenarios. Our study points to the urgent need to reduce the local discharge of trace metal pollutants to protect this biodiversity hotspot.

Millennial-scale variations in Arctic sea ice are recorded in sedimentary ancient DNA of the microalga Polarella glacialis

Sea ice is a critical component of the Earth’s Climate System and a unique habitat. Sea-ice changes prior to the satellite era are poorly documented, and proxy methods are needed to constrain its past variability. Here, we demonstrate the potential of sedimentary DNA from Polarella glacialis, a sea-ice microalga, for tracing past sea-ice conditions. We quantified P. glacialis DNA (targeting the nuclear ribosomal ITS1 region) in Arctic marine and fjord surface sediments and a sediment core from northern Baffin Bay spanning 12,000 years. Sea ice and sediment trap samples confirmed that cysts of P. glacialis are common in first-year sea ice and sinking particulate matter following sea-ice melt. Its detection is more efficient with our molecular approach than standard micropaleontological methods. Given that the species inhabits coastal and marine environments in the Arctic and Antarctic, P. glacialis DNA has the potential to become a useful tool for circum-polar sea-ice reconstructions.

Seawater physics and chemistry along the Med-SHIP transects in the Mediterranean Sea in 2016

The Mediterranean Sea has been sampled irregularly by research vessels in the past, mostly by national expeditions in regional waters. To monitor the hydrographic, biogeochemical and circulation changes in the Mediterranean Sea, a systematic repeat oceanographic survey programme called Med-SHIP was recommended by the Mediterranean Science Commission (CIESM) in 2011, as part of the Global Ocean Ship-based Hydrographic Investigations Program (GO-SHIP). Med-SHIP consists of zonal and meridional surveys with different frequencies, where comprehensive physical and biogeochemical properties are measured with the highest international standards. The first zonal survey was done in 2011 and repeated in 2018. In addition, a network of meridional (and other key) hydrographic sections were designed: the first cycle of these sections was completed in 2016, with three cruises funded by the EU project EUROFLEETS2. This paper presents the physical and chemical data of the meridional and key transects in the Western and Eastern Mediterranean Sea collected during those cruises.

Going with the floe: Sea-ice movement affects distance and destination during Adélie penguin winter movements.

Seasonal migration, driven by shifts in annual climate cycles and resources, is a key part of the life history and ecology of species across taxonomic groups. By influencing the amount of energy needed to move, external forces such as wind and ocean currents are often key drivers of migratory pathways exposing individuals to varying resources, environmental conditions, and competition pressures impacting individual fitness and population dynamics. Although wildlife movements in connection with wind and ocean currents are relatively well understood, movements within sea-ice fields have been much less studied, despite sea ice being an integral part of polar ecology. Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) in the southern Ross Sea, Antarctica, currently exist at the southernmost edge of their range and undergo the longest (~12,000 km) winter migration known for the species. Within and north of the Ross Sea, the Ross Gyre drives ocean circulation and the large-scale movement of sea ice. We used remotely sensed sea-ice movement data together with geolocation-based penguin movement data to test the hypothesis that penguins use gyre-driven sea-ice movement to aid their migration. We found that penguins traveled greater distances when their movement vectors were aligned with those of sea ice (i.e., ice support) and the amount of ice support received depended on which route a penguin took. We also found that birds that took an eastern route traveled significantly further north in two of the 3 years we examined, coinciding with higher velocities of sea ice in those years. We compare our findings to patterns observed in migrating species that utilize air or water currents for their travel and with other studies showing the importance of ocean/sea-ice circulation patterns to wildlife movement and life history patterns within the Ross Sea. Changes in sea ice may have consequences not only for energy expenditure but, by altering migration and movement pathways, to the ecological interactions that exist in this region.

Impact of atmospheric rivers on Arctic sea ice variations

Abstract. Arctic sea ice has been declining rapidly in recent decades. We investigate how the poleward transport of moisture and heat from lower latitudes through atmospheric rivers (ARs) influences Arctic sea ice variations. We use hourly ERA5 (fifth-generation European Reanalysis) data for 1981–2020 at 0.25∘ × 0.25∘ resolution to examine the meteorological conditions and sea ice changes associated with ARs in the Arctic. In the years 2012 and 2020, which had an extremely low summer Arctic sea ice extent, we show that the individual AR events associated with large cyclones initiate a rapid sea ice decrease through turbulent heat fluxes and winds. We carry out further statistical analysis of the meteorological conditions and sea ice variations for 1981–2020 over the entire Arctic Ocean. We find that on weather timescales the atmospheric moisture content anticorrelates significantly with the sea ice concentration tendency almost everywhere in the Arctic Ocean, while the dynamic sea ice motion driven by northward winds further reduces the sea ice concentration.

Seasonal Variability of Arctic Mid-Level Clouds and the Relationships with Sea Ice from 2003 to 2022: A Satellite Perspective

Mid-level clouds play a crucial role in the Arctic. Due to observational limitations, there is scarce research on the long-term evolution of Arctic mid-level clouds. From a satellite perspective, this study attempts to analyze the seasonal variations in Arctic mid-level clouds and explore the possible relationships with sea ice changes using observations from the hyperspectral Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) over the past two decades. For mid-level clouds of three layers (648, 548, and 447 hPa) involved in AIRS, high values of effective cloud fraction (ECF) occur in summer, and low values primarily occur in early spring, while the seasonal variations are different. The ECF anomalies are notably larger at 648 hPa than those at 548 and 447 hPa. Meanwhile, the ECF values at 648 hPa show a clear reduced seasonal variability for the regions north of 80°N, which has its minimum coefficient of variation (CV) during 2019 to 2020. The seasonal CV is relatively lower in the regions dominated by Greenland and sea areas with less sea ice coverage. Analysis indicates that the decline in mid-level ECF’s seasonal mean CV is closely correlated to the retreat of Arctic sea ice during September. Singular value decomposition (SVD) analysis reveals a reverse spatial pattern in the seasonal CV anomaly of mid-level clouds and leads anomaly. However, it is worth noting that this pattern varies by region. In the Greenland Sea and areas near the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, both CV and leads demonstrate negative (positive) anomalies, probably attributed to the stronger influence of atmospheric and oceanic circulations or the presence of land on the sea ice in these areas.

“Inclining My Heart Towards the End”: Experiencing the Planetary Crisis in Jorie Graham’s Sea Change

Awareness of the planetary climate crisis impacts our sense of being and time. It undermines the significance of our experience and our actions, posing questions about our agency. The drama of our response to moments when the possibility of a life-destroying catastrophe manifests itself is the focus of much of the American poet Jorie Graham’s (1950–) poetry. The intensity of her oeuvre creates difficulties for the uninitiated reader, partly because of the bleakness of its subject matter, partly because of her stylistic innovations. These include a distinctive use of format, deliberate disorientations, and shifts of focus. At the heart of the article is a close reading of the title poem of Jorie Graham’s 2008 volume, Sea Change (New York: Ecco Press). The aim here is to show the complex profundity of her unfolding of moments of experience and reflection. The article then looks more briefly at Jorie Graham’s most recent poetry in which she has gone beyond “inclining [her] heart towards the end”, to imagining a world after the end. The moving power of Jorie Graham’s writing is cathartic, sometimes curiously consoling, as she turns for a moment to showing how we can value what is still here. The article closes with a brief look at some poetry on comparable themes. Above all, the article aims to show how her poetry deepens our consciousness of consciousness, finding beauty in the tragic necessities of our human condition.

A SIMPLE PREDICTION METHOD FOR TEMPORAL CHANGES IN SEA ICE THICKNESS USING RNN AND LSTM

A SIMPLE PREDICTION METHOD FOR TEMPORAL CHANGES IN SEA ICE THICKNESS USING RNN AND LSTM

Shifting Modes of Labor Regulation in Global Supply Chains

executive summary: This essay outlines the changing modes of regulation of labor conditions in global apparel supply chains, which are mostly concentrated in Asia; assesses the effectiveness of 25 years of private voluntary regulation by global firms; and examines critically the implications of new European regulation now mandating what was previously a voluntary corporate activity. main argumentAsia is the global center of apparel production, with Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Vietnam all being major exporters. Since the 1990s, activist pressure in developed country markets has forced global apparel and footwear companies to adopt voluntary methods to ensure that their products are not made under sweatshop conditions. Companies developed codes of conduct for the first-tier factories in their supply chains and found ways to audit whether supplier factories were in compliance. However, this voluntary private-regulation model has not been adequate to alleviate labor and workplace concerns in global apparel supply chains. A shift from private regulation to public regulation—the beginning of which may be currently underway in the European Union with the recent introduction of mandatory due diligence legislation—may prove to be a more effective means of bettering labor rights and conditions. policy implications• If the recent EU legislation allows global companies to be legally liable for violations of mandatory due diligence requirements regarding labor rights and conditions in supply chains, a sea change in worker rights and labor practices could occur. • The new legislation would require global companies to adopt more responsible purchasing practices so that their practices are not responsible for labor violations. • The EU legislation could have an impact on sourcing locations, as companies compete for locations that are more likely to provide institutional environments with lower risk of violations. Global suppliers would have a greater incentive to take the high road in terms of employment practices to obtain more business from European buyers. National governments in apparel-exporting countries may be motivated to improve enforcement of labor regulations.

Aral Sea: Environmental disaster and its consequences

The article examines the history of the Aral Sea and the environmental disaster of the twentieth century associated with the disappearance of the world's fourth sea body of water. A comprehensive author’s research at the interdisciplinary level showed the role and place of the Aral Sea from the moment of its formation in the surrounding space, its influence on the socio-economic development of coastal areas. The purpose of the undertaken research was to determine the cause-and-effect relationships that determined the large-scale man-made environmental disaster that occurred on the border line of the two states of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The authors tried to show how the disappearance of the sea affected the ecological state of the environment, namely the Kyzyl-Orda region, where the remains of the Aral Sea are located. The article provides statistical indicators on the topic of the research, their comparative analysis and the dynamics of the state of the environmental situation in the Aral Sea region. The authors introduce a visual representation of the changes in the Aral Sea throughout modern and recent times. In conclusion, the authors demonstrate the existence of measures taken by the state in an attempt to restore the Small Aral Sea by constructing a hydraulic structure.