High-impact marine heatwaves attributable to human-induced global warming

Laufkötter, Charlotte; Zscheischler, Jakob; Frölicher, Thomas L.

doi:10.1126/science.aba0690

Cited by 268 publications

(210 citation statements)

References 53 publications

(33 reference statements)

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“…Marine heatwaves (MHWs) have become distinguishable features of northeast (NE) Pacific Ocean temperature variability that disrupt the productivity of marine ecosystems and their services (Smale et al, 2019). These prolonged, discrete, and anomalously warm water events (Hobday et al, 2016) are most recognizable at the sea surface and are influenced by anthropogenic warming (Laufkötter et al, 2020). The effects of long-term ocean warming have led to a near doubling in the average annual count of MHW days globally since the early twentieth century (Oliver et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The effects of long-term ocean warming have led to a near doubling in the average annual count of MHW days globally since the early twentieth century (Oliver et al, 2018). Although MHWs have occurred throughout the global ocean, the NE Pacific has recently emerged as a hot spot for extremely persistent and large-scale events that are forced by anomalous air-sea heat flux driven by remote forcing from the tropics (Di Lorenzo & Mantua, 2016;Holbrook et al, 2019), in addition to long-term warming from anthropogenic greenhouse forcing (Laufkötter et al, 2020). The most remarkable NE Pacific MHWs have occurred in 2013-2016 and 2019-2020 and are colloquially referred to as The Blob (Bond et al, 2015) and Blob2.0 (Amaya et al, 2020), respectively ( Figure 1 and Figure S1 in the supporting information).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Subsurface Evolution and Persistence of Marine Heatwaves in the Northeast Pacific

Scannell

Johnson

Thompson

et al. 2020

Geophysical Research Letters

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The reappearance of a northeast Pacific marine heatwave (MHW) sounded alarms in late summer 2019 for a warming event on par with the 2013-2016 MHW known as The Blob. Despite these two events having similar magnitudes in surface warming, differences in seasonality and salinity distinguish their evolutions. We compare and contrast the ocean's role in the evolution and persistence of the 2013-2016 and 2019-2020 MHWs using mapped temperature and salinity data from Argo floats. An unusual near-surface freshwater anomaly in the Gulf of Alaska during 2019 increased the stability of the water column, preventing the MHW from penetrating deep as strongly as the 2013-2016 event. This freshwater anomaly likely contributed to the intensification of the MHW by increasing the near-surface buoyancy. The gradual buildup of subsurface heat content throughout 2020 in the region suggests the potential for persistent ecological impacts. Plain Language Summary Surface marine heatwaves (MHWs) are periods of prolonged and extremely warm regional sea surface temperature that can negatively impact the health and productivity of marine ecosystems. Using surface and subsurface ocean observations, we compare and contrast two recent MHWs to show that salinity variations play an important role in the vertical distribution of temperature anomalies by changing the overall stability of the water column. During the 2019-2020 MHW, the near-surface waters in the Gulf of Alaska were fresher than normal, preventing warm sea surface temperatures from mixing as deeply into the subsurface as in the 2013-2016 MHW. The freshening in 2019 likely enhanced warming in the buoyant surface layer. As warmer temperatures gradually mix downward they can persist long after the surface MHW disappears, suggesting that the ocean can provide memory for long-lived MHWs. The subsurface persistence of MHWs has potential ramifications for long-lasting ecological impacts.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Subsurface Evolution and Persistence of Marine Heatwaves in the Northeast Pacific

Scannell

Johnson

Thompson

et al. 2020

Geophysical Research Letters

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“…However, overall projected MHW intensity was strongly dependent on greenhouse gas emission scenarios. Still, compiling information provided by Oliver et al [ 12 ], Smale et al [ 26 ] and Viglione [ 28 ], the following trends could be depicted: (i) some of the most prominent MHW of the past decade happened in salmon farming areas, especially around Tasmania, the Gulf of Maine (USA), Newfoundland (Canada) and Iceland (see Figure 1 from Viglione [ 28 ] and Laufkötter et al [ 29 ]), (ii) areas where salmon farming occurs show a projected increase between +1 to +2 MHW days per year per decade (Chile) and +4 to +5 MHW days per year per decade (ex. Tasmania) (see Figure 1 from Smale et al [ 26 ]) and (iii) salmon production areas have historically been subjected to heatwaves of maximum intensity between +1 to +3 °C, with total annual MHW days between ~27 (e.g., Chile) to ~33 days (e.g., Norway, UK, Tasmania).…”

Section: Adult Atlantic Salmon Thermal Tolerance and Physiological Responses To Heat Stressmentioning

confidence: 99%

Summer Is Coming! Tackling Ocean Warming in Atlantic Salmon Cage Farming

Calado

Mota

Madeira

et al. 2021

Animals

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Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) cage farming has traditionally been located at higher latitudes where cold seawater temperatures favor this practice. However, these regions can be impacted by ocean warming and heat waves that push seawater temperature beyond the thermo-tolerance limits of this species. As more mass mortality events are reported every year due to abnormal sea temperatures, the Atlantic salmon cage aquaculture industry acknowledges the need to adapt to a changing ocean. This paper reviews adult Atlantic salmon thermal tolerance limits, as well as the deleterious eco-physiological consequences of heat stress, with emphasis on how it negatively affects sea cage aquaculture production cycles. Biotechnological solutions targeting the phenotypic plasticity of Atlantic salmon and its genetic diversity, particularly that of its southernmost populations at the limit of its natural zoogeographic distribution, are discussed. Some of these solutions include selective breeding programs, which may play a key role in this quest for a more thermo-tolerant strain of Atlantic salmon that may help the cage aquaculture industry to adapt to climate uncertainties more rapidly, without compromising profitability. Omics technologies and precision breeding, along with cryopreservation breakthroughs, are also part of the available toolbox that includes other solutions that can allow cage farmers to continue to produce Atlantic salmon in the warmer waters of the oceans of tomorrow.

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“…As a result of anthropogenic climate change, the frequency, duration, and intensity of marine heat waves increased more than 20-fold between 1981 to 2017 (Laufkötter et al, 2020). Global mean sea surface temperature is projected to reach 1.5 • C above that in pre-industrial times between 2030 and 2052, suggesting that shallow water corals have ∼10-30 years to adapt to this temperature increase (Hoegh-Guldberg et al, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Experimental Framework for Selectively Breeding Corals for Assisted Evolution

et al. 2021

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Coral cover on tropical reefs has declined during the last three decades due to the combined effects of climate change, destructive fishing, pollution, and land use change. Drastic reductions in greenhouse gas emissions combined with effective coastal management and conservation strategies are essential to slow this decline. Innovative approaches, such as selective breeding for adaptive traits combined with large-scale sexual propagation, are being developed with the aim of pre-adapting reefs to increased ocean warming. However, there are still major gaps in our understanding of the technical and methodological constraints to producing corals for such restoration interventions. Here we propose a framework for selectively breeding corals and rearing them from eggs to 2.5-year old colonies using the coral Acropora digitifera as a model species. We present methods for choosing colonies for selective crossing, enhancing early survivorship in ex situ and in situ nurseries, and outplanting and monitoring colonies on natal reefs. We used a short-term (7-day) temperature stress assay to select parental colonies based on heat tolerance of excised branches. From six parental colonies, we produced 12 distinct crosses, and compared survivorship and growth of colonies transferred to in situ nurseries or outplanted to the reef at different ages. We demonstrate that selectively breeding and rearing coral colonies is technically feasible at small scales and could be upscaled as part of restorative assisted evolution initiatives. Nonetheless, there are still challenges to overcome before selective breeding can be implemented as a viable conservation tool, especially at the post-settlement and outplanting phases. Although interdisciplinary approaches will be needed to overcome many of the challenges identified in this study, selective breeding has the potential to be a viable tool within a reef managers toolbox to support the persistence of selected reefs in the face of climate change.

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High-impact marine heatwaves attributable to human-induced global warming

Cited by 268 publications

References 53 publications

Subsurface Evolution and Persistence of Marine Heatwaves in the Northeast Pacific

Subsurface Evolution and Persistence of Marine Heatwaves in the Northeast Pacific

Summer Is Coming! Tackling Ocean Warming in Atlantic Salmon Cage Farming

An Experimental Framework for Selectively Breeding Corals for Assisted Evolution

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