Heat waves are reaching the bottoms of Earth's oceans, and that could be a big problem for the creatures that live there.
And these so-called"bottom marine heat waves" can be devastating because they last longer than surface heat waves and affect many key species, such as lobster and cod.For example, from 2013 to 2016, the surface waters of the Pacific Ocean along the North American coastline warmed up in a phenomenon dubbed"the blob," which led to the deaths of 1 million seabirds because their main meal source had been severely impacted.
"This is a global phenomenon," lead author Dillon Amaya , a research scientist in NOAA's Physical Science Laboratory in Boulder, Colorado, told Live Science."We're seeing [bottom] marine heat waves happening around Australia and in places like the Mediterranean and Tasmanian seas. This is not something that's unique to North America."
To understand how atmospheric temperature changes were affecting the ocean bottom, scientists used existing measurements to simulate atmospheric conditions and ocean currents to"fill in the blanks" for difficult-to-access seafloor ecosystems. These ecosystems are often populated by lobsters, scallops, flounder, cod, and other commercially fished creatures, according to the statement.
Scientists don't yet have a good enough picture to predict when and where such bottom marine heat waves will occur.—Logic-defying 'bottom blooms' could sustain hidden ecosystems in Arctic and Antarctica
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Large asteroid to fly between Earth and the moon on SaturdayThe space rock's anticipated trajectory places it at about half the distance to the moon, so people with telescopes may be able to see it from Earth.
Read more »
No One Knows How the Biggest Animals on Earth—Baleen Whales—Find Their FoodHow do giant filter-feeding whales find their tiny prey? The answer could be key to saving endangered species
Read more »
Skyscraper-size asteroid will get closer to Earth than the moon on March 25Asteroid 2023 DZ2 will zip between Earth and the moon's orbit on March 25 and may be visible with the right telescope.
Read more »
Hollywood-Loved Label Mansur Gavriel’s Best-Selling Bag Is Now Easier On Mother EarthReese Witherspoon, Margot Robbie and Jessica Alba are just a few stars who wear the minimalist brand, which has just released a new apple leather version of its cult-favorite bucket silhouette.
Read more »
Large asteroid impacts to Earth more likely than previously thought, study suggestsEarth may be more prone to large asteroid impacts than humanity previously believed. At least, that’s the suggestion made by a new NASA-funded study presented …
Read more »