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Longer and more frequent marine heatwaves over the past century

Author

Listed:
  • Eric C. J. Oliver

    (Dalhousie University
    University of Tasmania
    University of Tasmania)

  • Markus G. Donat

    (University of New South Wales
    University of New South Wales)

  • Michael T. Burrows

    (Scottish Marine Institute)

  • Pippa J. Moore

    (Aberystwyth University)

  • Dan A. Smale

    (The Laboratory, Citadel Hill
    The University of Western Australia)

  • Lisa V. Alexander

    (University of New South Wales
    University of New South Wales)

  • Jessica A. Benthuysen

    (Australian Institute of Marine Science)

  • Ming Feng

    (CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere)

  • Alex Sen Gupta

    (University of New South Wales
    University of New South Wales)

  • Alistair J. Hobday

    (CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere)

  • Neil J. Holbrook

    (University of Tasmania
    University of Tasmania)

  • Sarah E. Perkins-Kirkpatrick

    (University of New South Wales
    University of New South Wales)

  • Hillary A. Scannell

    (University of Washington
    NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory)

  • Sandra C. Straub

    (The University of Western Australia)

  • Thomas Wernberg

    (The University of Western Australia)

Abstract

Heatwaves are important climatic extremes in atmospheric and oceanic systems that can have devastating and long-term impacts on ecosystems, with subsequent socioeconomic consequences. Recent prominent marine heatwaves have attracted considerable scientific and public interest. Despite this, a comprehensive assessment of how these ocean temperature extremes have been changing globally is missing. Using a range of ocean temperature data including global records of daily satellite observations, daily in situ measurements and gridded monthly in situ-based data sets, we identify significant increases in marine heatwaves over the past century. We find that from 1925 to 2016, global average marine heatwave frequency and duration increased by 34% and 17%, respectively, resulting in a 54% increase in annual marine heatwave days globally. Importantly, these trends can largely be explained by increases in mean ocean temperatures, suggesting that we can expect further increases in marine heatwave days under continued global warming.

Suggested Citation

  • Eric C. J. Oliver & Markus G. Donat & Michael T. Burrows & Pippa J. Moore & Dan A. Smale & Lisa V. Alexander & Jessica A. Benthuysen & Ming Feng & Alex Sen Gupta & Alistair J. Hobday & Neil J. Holbroo, 2018. "Longer and more frequent marine heatwaves over the past century," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-03732-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-03732-9
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    Cited by:

    1. Orestis Stavrakidis-Zachou & Konstadia Lika & Panagiotis Anastasiadis & Nikos Papandroulakis, 2021. "Projecting climate change impacts on Mediterranean finfish production: a case study in Greece," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 165(3), pages 1-18, April.
    2. Lina M. Rasmusson & Aekkaraj Nualla-ong & Tarawit Wutiruk & Mats Björk & Martin Gullström & Pimchanok Buapet, 2021. "Sensitivity of Photosynthesis to Warming in Two Similar Species of the Aquatic Angiosperm Ruppia from Tropical and Temperate Habitats," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-19, August.
    3. M. James Salinger & Howard J. Diamond & Erik Behrens & Denise Fernandez & B. Blair Fitzharris & Nicholas Herold & Paul Johnstone & Huub Kerckhoffs & A. Brett Mullan & Amber K. Parker & James Renwick &, 2020. "Unparalleled coupled ocean-atmosphere summer heatwaves in the New Zealand region: drivers, mechanisms and impacts," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 162(2), pages 485-506, September.

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