, May 14 -- The Southern Ocean is getting wetter as climate change intensifies, with scientists saying storms are now delivering heavier rainfall, a shift that could have global climate impacts.

A new study focusing on remote Macquarie Island located between Tasmania and Antarctica - shows a clear rise in rainfall over recent decades. The island, known for its dense wildlife including elephant seals, king penguins and albatrosses, is also showing visible environmental changes, with boggy terrain expanding and native plant species declining.

Researchers say the island's long-term weather records, among the few in the Southern Ocean region, reveal that annual rainfall has increased by about 28% since 1979, equal to roughly 260 millimetres...