Marine heat waves reshape global ocean ecosystems

Science

Mother Jones

This year’s widespread marine heat waves have produced dramatic ecological shifts, from a record octopus bloom off Britain to the largest Pacific heat wave spanning more than 24 million square miles. Scientists link rising ocean heat to human-caused warming and an unusually strong El Niño, noting oceans have absorbed over 90 percent of excess heat. Impacts include altered fisheries and species ranges, kelp forest collapses, widespread coral bleaching affecting more than 84 percent of reef areas, toxic algal blooms producing domoic acid, seabird and marine mammal mortalities, and likely longer-term ecosystem changes.

Marine heat waves are causing widespread ecosystem disruption and species shifts