Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Intense and prolonged subsurface marine heatwaves pose risk to biodiversity

  • Research Briefing
  • Published:

From Nature Climate Change

View current issue Submit your manuscript

An insight into the global patterns of marine heatwaves from the surface to depths of 2,000 m reveals that subsurface events are more intense and long-lasting than surface ones. Biodiversity exposure to the effects of marine heatwaves is higher at depths of 50–250 m, suggesting that subsurface biodiversity could be at considerable risk.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1: Spatial distribution of MHW metrics at varying depth for the period 1993–2019.

References

  1. Oliver, E. C. J. et al. Marine heatwaves. Annu. Rev. Mar. Sci. 13, 313–342 (2021). This review article presents the current understanding of the physical mechanisms behind the emergence of MHWs, including their definition, identification and monitoring.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Smith, K. E. et al. Socioeconomic impacts of marine heatwaves: global issues and opportunities. Science 374, eabj3593 (2023). A review article covering MHW effects on marine ecosystems and their socioeconomic impacts.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Hobday, A. J. et al. A hierarchical approach to defining marine heatwaves. Prog. Oceanogr. 141, 227–238 (2016). This paper reports the most used definition of MHWs and their associated metrics.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Smith, K. E. et al. Biological impacts of marine heatwaves. Annu. Rev. Mar. Sci. 15, 119–145 (2021). A review of MHW impacts on marine ecosystems, from populations to community levels.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Chaikin, S., Dubiner, S. & Belmaker, J. Cold-water species deepen to escape warm water temperatures. Glob. Ecol. Biogeogr. 31, 75–88 (2022). This paper reports the depth responses of marine species to warming.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Additional information

Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

This is a summary of: Fragkopoulou, E. et al. Marine biodiversity exposed to prolonged and intense subsurface heatwaves. Nat. Cim. Change https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-023-01790-6 (2023).

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Intense and prolonged subsurface marine heatwaves pose risk to biodiversity. Nat. Clim. Chang. 13, 1029–1030 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-023-01796-0

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-023-01796-0

  • Springer Nature Limited

Search

Navigation