Given the likelihood of continued ocean surface warming throughout the 21st century, we can expect to see more marine heatwaves globally in the future, with implications for marine biodiversity. These long-term trends can be explained by ongoing increases in ocean temperatures. We found that from 1925 to 19 to 2016, the frequency of heatwaves increased 34 per cent and their duration grew by 17 per cent. We collated more than 100 years of sea surface temperature data around the world from ship-based measurements, shore station records and satellite observations, and looked for changes in how often marine heatwaves occurred and how long they lasted. Photo By Eric Oliver/Dalhousie University Yearly count of marine heatwave days from 1900 to 2016, as a global average. The number of marine heatwave days increased by 54 per cent from 1925 to 2016, with an accelerating trend since 1982. Over the past century, marine heatwaves have become longer and more frequent around the world. With the definition in hand, we were finally able to analyze historical data to determine patterns in their occurrence. Importantly, marine heatwaves can occur at any time of the year, summer or winter. READ NEXT: On the move: corals migrate south into NSW’s warming watersīut these changes in ocean temperatures are not steady or even, and scientists have lacked the tools to define, synthesize and understand the global patterns of marine heatwaves and their biological impacts.Īt a meeting in early 2015, we convened a group of scientists with expertise in atmospheric climatology, oceanography and ecology to form a marine heatwaves working group to develop a definition for the phenomenon: A prolonged period of unusually warm water at a particular location for that time of the year. For example, tropical fish species are now commonly found in Sydney Harbour. Photo By Eric Oliver/Dalhousie UniversityĬlimate change is warming ocean waters and causing shifts in the distribution and abundance of seaweeds, corals, fish and other marine species. Marine heatwaves occur everywhere in the ocean.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |