What impact can atmospheric rivers have on marine ecosystems? This is what a recent study published in Nature Communications hopes to address as a team of scientists investigated how atmospheric could influence marine heatwaves. This study has the potential to help scientists better understand the impacts of atmospheric rivers and the steps that can be taken to prepare or even prevent them.
For the study, the researchers analyzed data from satellites and other sources to examine the formation and evolution of atmospheric rivers and their role in influencing marine heatwaves. The primary motivation behind the study comes from filling a knowledge gap regarding the impact atmospheric rivers have on ocean environments, since past studies have focused on how atmospheric rivers impact land, specifically flooding. In the end, the researchers found a strong connection between atmospheric rivers and marine heatwaves, specifically the former influencing the latter.
“Whether atmospheric rivers promote marine heatwaves depends on how heat moves between the air and the ocean,” said Dr. Suqiong Hu, who is a postdoctoral associate at Duke University and lead author of the study. “Cloud cover tends to increase with atmospheric rivers, causing the sea surface to cool. However, warm and moist air associated with atmospheric rivers cause the sea surface to warm up. These opposing mechanisms play out differently depending on the season and region.”
This study comes as the strength and number of atmospheric rivers caused by climate change continues to become a burden on global ecosystems. Therefore, studies like this demonstrate how their influence extends beyond land and also has a long-term impact on ocean ecosystems, and specifically marine heatwaves.
What new insights into atmospheric rivers and marine ecosystems will researchers make in the coming years and decades? Only time will tell, and this is why we science!
As always, keep doing science & keep looking up!
Sources: Nature Communications, EurekAlert!