<
https://theconversation.com/climate-change-is-causing-marine-coldwaves-too-killing-wildlife-227781>
"The effects of ocean warming are profound and well-documented. But sometimes
changes in the patterns of winds and ocean currents cause seawater to suddenly
cool, instead.
Surface temperatures can plummet rapidly — by 10ºC or more over a day or two.
When these conditions persist for several days or weeks, the area experiences a
“coldwave”, which is the opposite of more familiar marine heatwaves.
When a “killer coldwave” manifested along South Africa’s southeast coast in
March 2021, it killed hundreds of animals across at least 81 species. More
worrying still was the fact these deaths included vulnerable manta rays and
even specimens of notoriously robust migratory bull sharks. In southern Africa,
bull sharks, whale sharks and manta rays have previously washed up dead
following such sudden cold events, especially over the past 15 years.
As we report in
Nature Climate Change, the conditions that can drive these
killer coldwaves have grown increasingly common over the past four decades.
Ironically, strengthening winds and currents as a result of climate change can
also make these deadly localised coldwaves more likely in places such as the
east coasts of South Africa and Australia, potentially putting even highly
mobile species such as sharks in harm’s way."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
