Why is it in the news?

According to an analysis by World Meteorological Organization agency, World Climate Research Programme (WCRP), there’s a 50-80 percent chance that marine heat waves affecting oceans globally, will extend to February 2024.

Marine Heatwaves

• Marine heatwaves occur when ocean temperatures in a specific region are significantly higher than average for an extended period.
• The intensity and widespread coverage of current marine heatwaves have been amplified by climate change.

Causes

• Climate change intensifies and widens marine heatwaves.
• Main causes include El Nino, North Atlantic Oscillation, and ocean heat absorption from human-induced global warming.

Impact

• About 27% of the global ocean experienced marine heatwaves as of August 15, 2023.
• Warming contributes to intensification and persistence of ocean temperature extremes.
• Expected impacts on marine ecosystems and industries like fisheries and tourism.
• Ocean heat fuels tropical cyclones, potentially leading to more intense storms.

Future Trends

• Long-range forecasts predict continuing widespread warming.
• Tropical Atlantic marine heatwaves have a 50-80% chance of persisting into boreal winter 2023.
• Strengthening El Nino may increase marine heatwave risk along the United States west coast in boreal spring 2024.

Climate Change Connections

• Ongoing global warming from greenhouse gas emissions is expected to increase the frequency, duration, and intensity of extreme ocean warming events.
• Serious consequences for biodiversity and marine ecosystem structure and function if mitigation and adaptation efforts are not implemented.