Floricher et al, 2019, Nature, "Marine Heatwaves under Global Warming"

Question 1

What are Marine Heatwaves (MHWs)?

Answer 1

MHWs are prolonged periods of exceptionally warm sea surface temperatures lasting from days to months, often spanning vast oceanic regions.

Question 2

What trends have been observed in MHWs?

Answer 2

Between 1982 and 2016, MHW days globally doubled, with projected further increases under different warming scenarios.

Question 3

What impacts do MHWs have on marine life?

Answer 3

MHWs can trigger significant impacts like changes in biological production, coral bleaching, and mass mortalities, pushing marine ecosystems beyond their resilience.

Question 4

How do future projections of MHWs look?

Answer 4

Under 3.5°C warming, MHW probability could surge by 41 times compared to preindustrial levels, with longer durations, larger extents, and more intense heatwaves.

Question 5

What regional variations are expected in MHW occurrences?

Answer 5

The tropics and Arctic Ocean face the most significant increases in MHW probability, while coastal areas and large marine ecosystems are also at high risk.

Question 6

What’s the attribution of MHWs to human influence?

Answer 6

Anthropogenic warming greatly increases the likelihood of MHWs, with about 87% of current occurrences attributed to human-induced climate change.

Question 7

Why is understanding species-specific responses to MHWs important?

Answer 7

Understanding species-specific responses is crucial for assessing the full risk posed by MHWs and their impacts on marine biodiversity and ecosystem stability.