"The waters of southern California historically warm every few years as tropical currents make their way north, a phenomenon known as El Nino. However, the current marine heatwave is not caused by these currents but by a high-pressure atmospheric system that has settled over the region."
"The extended ocean warming has drawn comparisons to the Blob, a three-year marine heatwave caused by similar prolonged high-pressure conditions a decade ago that devastated marine life."
"Andrew Leising, an oceanographer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, stated that if the warm conditions persist, we could be looking at much larger impacts next fall and winter, especially if followed by a strong El Nino."
Shoreline stations by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography report record-high water temperatures along the California coast, with the La Jolla station reaching 10F above average. Unlike typical El Nino events, this marine heatwave is driven by a high-pressure atmospheric system. Comparisons are made to a previous marine heatwave known as the Blob, which harmed marine life. The future of this heatwave is uncertain, with potential larger impacts anticipated if warm conditions persist into fall and winter, especially with a strong El Nino.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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