Evolution of marine heatwaves in warming seas: the Mediterranean Sea case study
Anomalous warming of the upper ocean is increasingly being observed in the Mediterranean Sea. Extreme events, known as marine heatwaves (MHWs), can have a profound impact on marine ecosystems, and their correct detection and characterization are crucial to define future impact scenarios. Here, we an...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Marine Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2023.1193164/full |
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| author | Justino Martínez Francesca Elisa Leonelli Emilio García-Ladona Joaquim Garrabou Diego K. Kersting Nathaniel Bensoussan Andrea Pisano |
| author_facet | Justino Martínez Francesca Elisa Leonelli Emilio García-Ladona Joaquim Garrabou Diego K. Kersting Nathaniel Bensoussan Andrea Pisano |
| author_sort | Justino Martínez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Anomalous warming of the upper ocean is increasingly being observed in the Mediterranean Sea. Extreme events, known as marine heatwaves (MHWs), can have a profound impact on marine ecosystems, and their correct detection and characterization are crucial to define future impact scenarios. Here, we analyze MHWs observed over the last 41 years (1982–2022) in the Mediterranean sea surface temperatures (SSTs). We show that the intensification in frequency, intensity, and duration of Mediterranean MHWs in recent years is mainly due to a shift in SST mean that occurred in the last two decades and largely reduced when analyzing detrended SST data. Detrending thus allows the use of a fixed climatology without overestimating MHW properties over time and distinguishes long-term warming (i.e., trend) from transient and abrupt SST changes. Analogous results are also found over a shorter temporal period, by analyzing 13 years (2007–2020) of in situ data collected at different depths (5 to 40 m) at Columbretes Islands. Additionally, the in situ analysis reveals that atmospheric summer heatwaves could affect a layer of 10 m in depth. Lastly, a catalogue of the major Mediterranean MHWs that have occurred since 1982 is presented. This catalogue evidences an exceptionally long-lasting and intense MHW, starting in May 2022 and persisting, at least, until the end of the year, resulting in the event with the highest cumulative intensity just after the well-known 2003 MHW event. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T02:15:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e586eb5bc7634227ab78b4bc73aef257 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-7745 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T02:15:28Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-e586eb5bc7634227ab78b4bc73aef2572023-06-30T14:54:26ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452023-06-011010.3389/fmars.2023.11931641193164Evolution of marine heatwaves in warming seas: the Mediterranean Sea case studyJustino Martínez0Francesca Elisa Leonelli1Emilio García-Ladona2Joaquim Garrabou3Diego K. Kersting4Nathaniel Bensoussan5Andrea Pisano6Institute of Marine Sciences, ICM-CSIC, Barcelona, SpainItalian National Research Council, Institute of Marine Sciences, CNR-ISMAR, Roma, ItalyInstitute of Marine Sciences, ICM-CSIC, Barcelona, SpainInstitute of Marine Sciences, ICM-CSIC, Barcelona, SpainInstitute of Aquaculture Torre de la Sal, IATS-CSIC, Castello, SpainAix Marseille Université, Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIO UM 110, UMR ´ 7294, Marseille, FranceItalian National Research Council, Institute of Marine Sciences, CNR-ISMAR, Roma, ItalyAnomalous warming of the upper ocean is increasingly being observed in the Mediterranean Sea. Extreme events, known as marine heatwaves (MHWs), can have a profound impact on marine ecosystems, and their correct detection and characterization are crucial to define future impact scenarios. Here, we analyze MHWs observed over the last 41 years (1982–2022) in the Mediterranean sea surface temperatures (SSTs). We show that the intensification in frequency, intensity, and duration of Mediterranean MHWs in recent years is mainly due to a shift in SST mean that occurred in the last two decades and largely reduced when analyzing detrended SST data. Detrending thus allows the use of a fixed climatology without overestimating MHW properties over time and distinguishes long-term warming (i.e., trend) from transient and abrupt SST changes. Analogous results are also found over a shorter temporal period, by analyzing 13 years (2007–2020) of in situ data collected at different depths (5 to 40 m) at Columbretes Islands. Additionally, the in situ analysis reveals that atmospheric summer heatwaves could affect a layer of 10 m in depth. Lastly, a catalogue of the major Mediterranean MHWs that have occurred since 1982 is presented. This catalogue evidences an exceptionally long-lasting and intense MHW, starting in May 2022 and persisting, at least, until the end of the year, resulting in the event with the highest cumulative intensity just after the well-known 2003 MHW event.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2023.1193164/fullmarine heatwavesMediterranean Seasea surface temperatureextreme eventsclimate changewarming seas |
| spellingShingle | Justino Martínez Francesca Elisa Leonelli Emilio García-Ladona Joaquim Garrabou Diego K. Kersting Nathaniel Bensoussan Andrea Pisano Evolution of marine heatwaves in warming seas: the Mediterranean Sea case study Frontiers in Marine Science marine heatwaves Mediterranean Sea sea surface temperature extreme events climate change warming seas |
| title | Evolution of marine heatwaves in warming seas: the Mediterranean Sea case study |
| title_full | Evolution of marine heatwaves in warming seas: the Mediterranean Sea case study |
| title_fullStr | Evolution of marine heatwaves in warming seas: the Mediterranean Sea case study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evolution of marine heatwaves in warming seas: the Mediterranean Sea case study |
| title_short | Evolution of marine heatwaves in warming seas: the Mediterranean Sea case study |
| title_sort | evolution of marine heatwaves in warming seas the mediterranean sea case study |
| topic | marine heatwaves Mediterranean Sea sea surface temperature extreme events climate change warming seas |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2023.1193164/full |
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