The spatiotemporal characteristics and driving mechanisms of subsurface marine heatwaves in the Xisha Region

Abstract

Under the background of global climate change, Subsurface Marine Heatwaves (SSMHWs) have become a ‘hot-spot’ research due to their significant impacts on marine ecosystems. Temperature data from the ECCO2 for the years 1992 to 2021 is used to research the spatiotemporal characteristics of SSMHWs in the upper 500 m over the Xisha region (110°E to 113°E, 15°N to 18°N). This study indicates that SSMHWs of high intensity occur in the Xisha area, with the vertical maximum intensity at approximately 100 m. These events exhibit significant seasonal variations, with the highest intensity occurring in May. The intensity of SSMHW in the analysis region varies interannually. SSMHWs have intensified at a rate of 1.53°C·Days/Year and tend to shift to deeper water over the past three decades. A block-based method for SSMHW identification is proposed, in order to take the vertical extent of the event in consideration. By analyzing the eight most intense events based on spatial cumulative intensity, it suggested that warm mesoscale eddies may play an important role on the spatial distribution of the SSMHWs. Statistical analysis shows that the intensity and coverage of the warm mesoscale eddy in the Xisha zone may influence the intensity and evolution of the SSMHWs. Additionally, only 18.27% of SSMHW events occur with apparent surface marine heatwave signals. These findings are vital for uncovering SSMHW dynamics in the Xisha area, and are important for future monitoring, early warnings and marine conservation.