New Zealand's coastal marine heatwaves grow longer, stronger, and more frequent

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2023-06-12 03:00

New Zealand

Image by David Tip on UnSplash

Marine heatwaves have become longer, stronger, and more frequent across coastal New Zealand since 1982, especially over the last ten years. Different regions experienced more marine heatwaves in different seasons - with the greatest increases observed in the Chatham islands in winter, Central New Zealand in autumn, Northeastern New Zealand in summer and autumn, and Bounty and Antipodes Islands in spring. Authors of the study say marine heatwaves can have severe impacts on near-shore ecosystems, and call for better monitoring of these habitats.

Journal/
conference: NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF MARINE AND FRESHWATER RESEARCH

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: University of Canterbury, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA)

Funder: This research was supported by funding from the University of Canterbury, the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), Brian Mason - Scientific & Technical Trust (Impacts of Marine Heatwaves) and contributes toward the Moana Project (www.moanaproject. org) funded by the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment, contract number METO1801, as well as with support from the New Zealand Ministry of Primary Industries and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

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