Rising seafloor temperatures could have a negative impact on marine life, an expert has said.
A new study has revealed marine heatwaves on the seafloor could be more than 50% more frequent in future than at the surface of the ocean during hot summer months.
The study, by the Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML), described the findings as a “concerning prospect” for bottom-dwelling species which would not be able to escape rising temperatures.
Dr Robert Wilson, lead scientist for the PML study, said a marine heatwave was a period where there were “very extreme temperatures”.