Seasonal stratification and complex local dynamics control the sub-surface structure of marine heatwaves in Eastern Australian coastal waters
Abstract Marine heatwaves are extreme seawater temperature events that can have severe impacts on marine life. The extent of the ecological damage depends not only on the easily observed surface signature but on the marine heatwave structure at depth. However, due to a paucity of in situ sub-surface...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Communications Earth & Environment |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-00966-4 |
| _version_ | 1797556180146454528 |
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| author | Amandine Schaeffer Alex Sen Gupta Moninya Roughan |
| author_facet | Amandine Schaeffer Alex Sen Gupta Moninya Roughan |
| author_sort | Amandine Schaeffer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Marine heatwaves are extreme seawater temperature events that can have severe impacts on marine life. The extent of the ecological damage depends not only on the easily observed surface signature but on the marine heatwave structure at depth. However, due to a paucity of in situ sub-surface observations the vertical structure of marine heatwaves is poorly understood. Here we analyse the sub-surface coherence and controls of marine heatwaves using one of the world’s longest (28 years) records of daily sub-surface ocean temperature off Sydney, Australia. We show that seasonal stratification, large-scale circulation and local downwelling processes control the vertical coherence of coastal marine heatwaves. We define three classes of marine heatwaves which can extend through the water column, form in the shallow surface layer, or sub-surface independently, and are therefore not always evident in surface data. We conclude that sub-surface data need to be considered in monitoring marine heatwaves in coastal areas where maximum biological damage is reported. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:59:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ad57ec5a3c15468fb0c357600f55f234 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2662-4435 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:59:13Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Earth & Environment |
| spelling | doaj.art-ad57ec5a3c15468fb0c357600f55f2342023-11-20T11:02:49ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Earth & Environment2662-44352023-09-014111210.1038/s43247-023-00966-4Seasonal stratification and complex local dynamics control the sub-surface structure of marine heatwaves in Eastern Australian coastal watersAmandine Schaeffer0Alex Sen Gupta1Moninya Roughan2School of Mathematics and Statistics, UNSW SydneyCenter for Marine Science and Innovation, UNSW SydneyCenter for Marine Science and Innovation, UNSW SydneyAbstract Marine heatwaves are extreme seawater temperature events that can have severe impacts on marine life. The extent of the ecological damage depends not only on the easily observed surface signature but on the marine heatwave structure at depth. However, due to a paucity of in situ sub-surface observations the vertical structure of marine heatwaves is poorly understood. Here we analyse the sub-surface coherence and controls of marine heatwaves using one of the world’s longest (28 years) records of daily sub-surface ocean temperature off Sydney, Australia. We show that seasonal stratification, large-scale circulation and local downwelling processes control the vertical coherence of coastal marine heatwaves. We define three classes of marine heatwaves which can extend through the water column, form in the shallow surface layer, or sub-surface independently, and are therefore not always evident in surface data. We conclude that sub-surface data need to be considered in monitoring marine heatwaves in coastal areas where maximum biological damage is reported.https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-00966-4 |
| spellingShingle | Amandine Schaeffer Alex Sen Gupta Moninya Roughan Seasonal stratification and complex local dynamics control the sub-surface structure of marine heatwaves in Eastern Australian coastal waters Communications Earth & Environment |
| title | Seasonal stratification and complex local dynamics control the sub-surface structure of marine heatwaves in Eastern Australian coastal waters |
| title_full | Seasonal stratification and complex local dynamics control the sub-surface structure of marine heatwaves in Eastern Australian coastal waters |
| title_fullStr | Seasonal stratification and complex local dynamics control the sub-surface structure of marine heatwaves in Eastern Australian coastal waters |
| title_full_unstemmed | Seasonal stratification and complex local dynamics control the sub-surface structure of marine heatwaves in Eastern Australian coastal waters |
| title_short | Seasonal stratification and complex local dynamics control the sub-surface structure of marine heatwaves in Eastern Australian coastal waters |
| title_sort | seasonal stratification and complex local dynamics control the sub surface structure of marine heatwaves in eastern australian coastal waters |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-00966-4 |
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