Vertical structures of marine heatwaves
Abstract A marine heatwave (MHW) is typically defined as an anomalous warm event in the surface ocean, with wide-ranging impacts on marine and socio-economic systems. The surface warming associated with MHWs can penetrate into the deep ocean; however, the vertical structure of MHWs is poorly known i...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-42219-0 |
| _version_ | 1797558055018168320 |
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| author | Ying Zhang Yan Du Ming Feng Alistair J. Hobday |
| author_facet | Ying Zhang Yan Du Ming Feng Alistair J. Hobday |
| author_sort | Ying Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract A marine heatwave (MHW) is typically defined as an anomalous warm event in the surface ocean, with wide-ranging impacts on marine and socio-economic systems. The surface warming associated with MHWs can penetrate into the deep ocean; however, the vertical structure of MHWs is poorly known in the global ocean. Here, we identify four main types of MHWs with different vertical structures using Argo profiles: shallow, subsurface-reversed, subsurface-intensified, and deep MHWs. These MHW types are characterized by different spatial distributions with hotspots of subsurface-reversed and subsurface-intensified MHWs at low latitudes and shallow and deep MHWs at middle-high latitudes. These vertical structures are influenced by ocean dynamical processes, including oceanic planetary waves, boundary currents, eddies, and mixing. The area and depth of all types of MHWs exhibit significant increasing trends over the past two decades. These results contribute to a better understanding of the physical drivers and ecological impacts of MHWs in a warming climate. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:25:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-158626ed057c4e0b974a29569b10a2ab |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:25:02Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj.art-158626ed057c4e0b974a29569b10a2ab2023-11-20T10:11:29ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232023-10-0114111210.1038/s41467-023-42219-0Vertical structures of marine heatwavesYing Zhang0Yan Du1Ming Feng2Alistair J. Hobday3State Key Laboratory of Tropical Oceanography, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Tropical Oceanography, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of SciencesCSIRO EnvironmentCSIRO EnvironmentAbstract A marine heatwave (MHW) is typically defined as an anomalous warm event in the surface ocean, with wide-ranging impacts on marine and socio-economic systems. The surface warming associated with MHWs can penetrate into the deep ocean; however, the vertical structure of MHWs is poorly known in the global ocean. Here, we identify four main types of MHWs with different vertical structures using Argo profiles: shallow, subsurface-reversed, subsurface-intensified, and deep MHWs. These MHW types are characterized by different spatial distributions with hotspots of subsurface-reversed and subsurface-intensified MHWs at low latitudes and shallow and deep MHWs at middle-high latitudes. These vertical structures are influenced by ocean dynamical processes, including oceanic planetary waves, boundary currents, eddies, and mixing. The area and depth of all types of MHWs exhibit significant increasing trends over the past two decades. These results contribute to a better understanding of the physical drivers and ecological impacts of MHWs in a warming climate.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-42219-0 |
| spellingShingle | Ying Zhang Yan Du Ming Feng Alistair J. Hobday Vertical structures of marine heatwaves Nature Communications |
| title | Vertical structures of marine heatwaves |
| title_full | Vertical structures of marine heatwaves |
| title_fullStr | Vertical structures of marine heatwaves |
| title_full_unstemmed | Vertical structures of marine heatwaves |
| title_short | Vertical structures of marine heatwaves |
| title_sort | vertical structures of marine heatwaves |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-42219-0 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yingzhang verticalstructuresofmarineheatwaves AT yandu verticalstructuresofmarineheatwaves AT mingfeng verticalstructuresofmarineheatwaves AT alistairjhobday verticalstructuresofmarineheatwaves |