Warm-water anomaly in NE Pacific affecting weather and marine animals
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.028802
New Scientist : An extensive “blob” of warm water—some 2000 km wide and 100 m deep—has been lingering off the US Pacific coast for the past year and a half. Between 1 °C and 4 °C warmer than normal, the blob has been affecting water circulation, inland weather, and ocean ecosystems. Researchers studying the anomaly through the use of satellite imagery say it may have been caused by an “unusually strong and persistent” weather pattern that deflected winds and prevented the natural mixing of cooler air and water from high latitudes. Of most concern to scientists is the impact on marine species, which are being forced to adjust to new habitats and feeding patterns.