A marine heatwave could reach “extreme” levels around parts of the UK later this week, according to the Met Office, raising concerns for marine life.<\/p>\n
Long periods of sea heat can trigger mass die-offs among some seagrasses, shellfish and other species, as well as encouraging greater numbers of warm-water creatures including octopus.<\/p>\n
The heatwave is currently strongest off the coasts of eastern and southern England, and sea temperatures could reach 4-5C above average in places. <\/p>\n
The marine heatwave has been fuelled by the “heat domes” that brought record-breaking air temperatures in May and June, on top of long-term ocean warming due to climate change.<\/p>\n
Important marine habitats such as seagrasses and kelp forests are suited to cooler waters and can experience high levels of heat stress when temperatures surge.<\/p>\n
This can reduce their growth or even lead to mass mortality events, which could have knock-on effects for species that rely on these habitats.<\/p>\n
The UK has experienced marine heatwaves – prolonged periods of unusually high sea surface temperatures – before. <\/p>\n
But scientists fear this event could be particularly intense and long-lasting, particularly for parts of the English Channel and the southern North Sea.<\/p>\n
“We’re starting to see temperatures now that we would expect to see at the height of summer, [at the] end of August,” said Dr Zoe Jacobs of the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton.<\/p>\n
“So, if this event keeps coming\u2026 we might start seeing some serious impacts on ecological systems.”<\/p>\n