---
title: A monster eddy current is forming off Sydney. What is it, and will it bring a new marine heatwave?
description: If a 400km-wide ocean vortex moves close to shore, water temperatures could spike – putting species at risk.
---
[](https://www.greenpeace.org.au)
[](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy)
The Canopy is a weekday morning email newsletter provided by the team at Greenpeace Australia Pacific.
# A monster eddy current is forming off Sydney. What is it, and will it bring a new marine heatwave?
Friday, 3 November 2023
Right now, there’s something big spinning off the coast from Sydney – a giant rotating vortex of sea water, powerful enough to dominate the ocean currents off south-eastern Australia. If a 400km-wide ocean vortex moves close to shore, water temperatures could spike – putting species at risk.
Environment scientist and activist Tim Jarvis named SA Australian of the Year 2024 as recipients announced. He says he hopes his new title as South Australia's 2024 Australian of the Year would inspire people to help stop climate change in any way they can.
Rare white platypus spotted in northern NSW. Researcher shares images of an ultra-rare platypus. “It does have some pigmentation. It has a black bill, and it has black feet and a little bit of colour on its tail. So we’ve said it’s a leucistic platypus.” And it’s possibly the first one ever documented.
TOP STORIES:
[A monster eddy current is forming off Sydney. What is it, and will it bring a new marine heatwave?](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/nov/02/eddy-current-pacific-ocean-sydney-australia-explained)
If a 400km-wide ocean vortex moves close to shore, water temperatures could spike – putting species at risk.
[**Environment scientist Tim Jarvis named SA Australian of the Year 2024 as recipients announced**](https://app.meltwater.com/mwTransition?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.abc.net.au%2Fnews%2F2023-11-02%2Fsa-australian-of-the-year-2024-winners-announced%2F103052564&urlCategories=newsLtd&analytics=false&documentId=OkjLbyvUT5ZSqy71oCvR_I1iSi0&transitionToken=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzUxMiJ9.eyJob3N0bmFtZSI6Ind3dy5hYmMubmV0LmF1In0.G6KfJQf9DTg3BPfDRnL8aNk-KGOfbZc12czKSTcqj9BstN0qGFyj-TGroGNT_097qH1_WRMtfq5v4vGs7BrXgQ)
Environmental scientist and activist Timothy Jarvis says he hopes his new title as South Australia's 2024 Australian of the Year would inspire people to help stop climate change in any way they can.
[**Rare white platypus spotted in northern NSW: ‘I didn’t think anyone would believe me’**](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/nov/02/rare-white-platypus-spotted-in-nsw-australia)
Researcher shares images of an ultra-rare platypus. “It does have some pigmentation. It has a black bill, and it has black feet and a little bit of colour on its tail. So we’ve said it’s a leucistic platypus.” And it’s possibly the first one ever documented.
[**Residents concerned new digital fire danger warning signs difficult to read**](https://app.meltwater.com/mwTransition?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.abc.net.au%2Fnews%2F2023-11-02%2Fdigital-fire-rating-signs-queensland-hinterland-gold-coast%2F103044400&urlCategories=newsLtd&analytics=false&documentId=os7zXWyWziD4YxwX3rk1fkQLONQ&transitionToken=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzUxMiJ9.eyJob3N0bmFtZSI6Ind3dy5hYmMubmV0LmF1In0.G6KfJQf9DTg3BPfDRnL8aNk-KGOfbZc12czKSTcqj9BstN0qGFyj-TGroGNT_097qH1_WRMtfq5v4vGs7BrXgQ)
Residents are raising concerns about the clarity of new digital fire warning signs being rolled out nationally. Some people say sun glare or smoke can make digital writing on the signs difficult to see.
[**Europe's Woolly Rhino Genes Reconstructed From DNA in Predator Poop**](https://www.sciencealert.com/europes-wooly-rhino-genes-reconstructed-from-dna-in-predator-poop)
Scientists have managed to reconstruct the mitochondrial genome of extinct wooly rhinoceros ([*Coelodonta antiquitatis*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/wooly_rhinoceros)) – from DNA extracted from the fossilized feces of the cave hyenas ([*Crocuta crocuta spelea*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cave_hyena)) that dined thereon.
[**NSW Energy Minister says ‘more work’ is needed for state to halve carbon emissions by 2030**](https://app.meltwater.com/mwTransition?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.news.com.au%2Ftechnology%2Fenvironment%2Fsustainability%2Fnsw-energy-minister-says-more-work-is-needed-for-state-to-halve-carbon-emissions-by-2030%2Fnews-story%2F6012de33a31729f49e6fd10ca507f3bb&urlCategories=newsLtd&analytics=false&documentId=Z2aYnCryOgaFRjYsGDZUiEzXZNg&transitionToken=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzUxMiJ9.eyJob3N0bmFtZSI6Ind3dy5uZXdzLmNvbS5hdSJ9._9eIk96tIPNTjXwzMngn8CFnjBniEWEG71sNjH2GiqhhnqHvoch0hnhg2EgYcYnFoZnfeMpFAgXVacvMtxi1Pg)
NSW Energy Minister Penny Sharpe has acknowledged it will be challenging for the state to halve its carbon emissions by 2030.
[**Water Minister responds to calls for water upgrades in Quorn**](https://app.meltwater.com/mwTransition?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.abc.net.au%2Flisten%2Fprograms%2Fsa-late-afternoons%2Fsusan-close-on-quorn-water-issues%2F103056520&urlCategories=newsLtd&analytics=false&documentId=BZWN-uX9rBpRT0oI5fjV69bA9mE&transitionToken=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzUxMiJ9.eyJob3N0bmFtZSI6Ind3dy5hYmMubmV0LmF1In0.G6KfJQf9DTg3BPfDRnL8aNk-KGOfbZc12czKSTcqj9BstN0qGFyj-TGroGNT_097qH1_WRMtfq5v4vGs7BrXgQ)
South Australia's Environment and Water Minister, Dr Susan Close, has responded to complaints from residents in a South Australian town regarding water quality.
[**Regent parrot population is in decline in SA's Riverland and researchers are trying to work out why**](https://app.meltwater.com/mwTransition?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.abc.net.au%2Fnews%2F2023-11-02%2Fregent-parrot-population-decline-riverland-difficult-bird-group%2F103043730&urlCategories=newsLtd&analytics=false&documentId=biBB2q0FxtpxaQDwKTuxd_DErWE&transitionToken=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzUxMiJ9.eyJob3N0bmFtZSI6Ind3dy5hYmMubmV0LmF1In0.G6KfJQf9DTg3BPfDRnL8aNk-KGOfbZc12czKSTcqj9BstN0qGFyj-TGroGNT_097qH1_WRMtfq5v4vGs7BrXgQ)
With its bright plumage and distinctive colours, the regent parrot is a well-recognised part of bird life in South Australia's Riverland and has a devoted following. But numbers have been in decline for several years now — and the local Regent Recovery Team has been looking for answers as to why.
[**Australia could miss emissions targets without drastic change**](https://app.meltwater.com/mwTransition?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.abc.net.au%2Flisten%2Fprograms%2Fpm%2Faustralia-could-miss-emissions-targets-without-drastic-change%2F103058284&urlCategories=newsLtd&analytics=false&documentId=1Q9jOF3gQ8QjCnqeS4rSG8zd99I&transitionToken=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzUxMiJ9.eyJob3N0bmFtZSI6Ind3dy5hYmMubmV0LmF1In0.G6KfJQf9DTg3BPfDRnL8aNk-KGOfbZc12czKSTcqj9BstN0qGFyj-TGroGNT_097qH1_WRMtfq5v4vGs7BrXgQ)
Australia has committed to net zero by 2050 and a majority renewable electricity grid by 2030, but for the moment it's not on track.
[**Pope says to attend COP28 climate conference in Dubai**](https://app.meltwater.com/mwTransition?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.news.com.au%2Fbreaking-news%2Fpope-says-to-attend-cop28-climate-conference-in-dubai%2Fnews-story%2F9fb430bd506d888c8fd5d63bb02e6c9a&urlCategories=newsLtd&analytics=false&documentId=zuXcPK7LwBbcXDuxhWAuwkifrW8&transitionToken=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzUxMiJ9.eyJob3N0bmFtZSI6Ind3dy5uZXdzLmNvbS5hdSJ9._9eIk96tIPNTjXwzMngn8CFnjBniEWEG71sNjH2GiqhhnqHvoch0hnhg2EgYcYnFoZnfeMpFAgXVacvMtxi1Pg)
Pope Francis on Wednesday said he would attend the crucial COP28 climate talks starting in Dubai on November 30, weeks after warning that time is running out to act on global warming.
[energy policy](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/energy-policy), [climate change](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/climate-change), [renewables](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/renewables), [Biodiversity](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/biodiversity)
### Will you share with your friends?
[Share on Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/a-monster-eddy-current-is-forming-off-sydney.-what-is-it-and-will-it-bring-a-new-marine-heatwave%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_term%3Dsocial%2Bshare%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [Share on Whatsapp](whatsapp://send?text=Check%20out%20this%20thing%20from%20Greenpeace!%20https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/a-monster-eddy-current-is-forming-off-sydney.-what-is-it-and-will-it-bring-a-new-marine-heatwave%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_term%3Dsocial%2Bshare%26utm_source%3Dwhatsapp) [Share on Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/a-monster-eddy-current-is-forming-off-sydney.-what-is-it-and-will-it-bring-a-new-marine-heatwave%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_term%3Dsocial%2Bshare%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/a-monster-eddy-current-is-forming-off-sydney.-what-is-it-and-will-it-bring-a-new-marine-heatwave%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_term%3Dsocial%2Bshare%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=)
[Go to the website](https://www.greenpeace.org.au/)
## More news
### ['Up to 40,000 western Sydney residents at risk of flood evacuation within decades'](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/up-to-40000-western-sydney-residents-at-risk-of-flood-evacuation-within-decades)
The Australian government will begin consulting industry and broader stakeholders, including...
### [Insider blows whistle on Australia's fraudulent carbon credit scheme](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/insider-blows-whistle-on-australias-fraudulent-carbon-credit-scheme)
A whistleblower who spent years working on the Australian government’s carbon credit scheme has...
### [World’s biggest carmakers to build 400m more vehicles than 1.5C climate target will allow](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/worlds-biggest-carmakers-to-build-400m-more-vehicles-than-1.5c-climate-target-will-allow)
Yesterday, we published our [report](https://www.greenpeace.org.au/news/toyota-car-sales-to-push-planet-beyond-1-5c-heating-limit-study/) that showed that carmakers worldwide, including Australians'...
Work like this is only made possible by our supporters. Greenpeace accepts NO government funding or corporate donations to remain impartial. To amplify meaningful climate activism in Australia, ***become a regular giver today.***
[Donate to Support Greenpeace](https://donate.greenpeace.org.au/)
[](https://www.greenpeace.org.au/)
Connect with us
**Call:** [1800 815 151](tel:1800815151)
Our team acknowledges that we meet and work on the land of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We wish to pay respect to their Elders — past, present and future — and acknowledge the important role all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to play within Australia, the environmental movement and the Greenpeace crew.
© Greenpeace 2026. [Privacy Policy.](https://www.greenpeace.org.au/privacy-policy/)