Marine heatwaves in the Tasman Sea: future projections

As our climate has warmed, the severity, duration and frequency of marine heatwaves – periods of abnormally high temperatures in the ocean – have increased. The Tasman Sea is a global hotspot for ocean warming, with sea temperatures rising faster than the global average rate. The two most intense marine heatwaves in this region have occurred in recent years (2015/16 and 2017/18), causing widespread impacts to the regional ecology and ocean-dependent industries. Earth System and Climate Change Hub researchers have investigated the likelihood of marine heatwaves with a similar intensity and duration to these two events occurring in the Tasman Sea in the future.