Understanding how the vertical structure of marine heatwaves (MHWs) influences ecosystems remains limited. Here we investigated subsurface‐intensified (Type‐1) and surface (Type‐2) MHWs in tropical oceans using reanalysis data sets. Type‐1 MHWs occur most frequently and are concentrated near the equator, with a threefold greater median vertically integrated cumulative anomaly (VICA) than Type‐2 MHWs. Although both types are primarily modulated by ENSO, their underlying mechanisms differ: Type‐1 MHWs are more closely linked to oceanic dynamics, whereas Type‐2 MHWs are strongly influenced by atmospheric heating. Critically, the annual mean VICA of Type‐1 MHWs increased significantly during 1993–2020, driven by a deepening of the anomaly penetration depth rather than by intensification per unit depth. Ecologically, both types of MHWs reduce surface chlorophyll‐a; however, Type‐1 MHWs suppress deep chlorophyll maxima by exacerbating nutrient limitation, posing more severe vertical threats to phytoplankton biomass. These findings highlight the distinct nature and increasing risk of subsurface MHWs.
Marine heatwaves (MHWs) are extreme warm‐water events that can strongly perturb marine ecosystems. Although MHWs are known to extend into subsurface and deep waters, their vertical structures and biogeochemical consequences remain poorly quantified. Here, we use a physical‐biogeochemical model to characterize the verti...
Jing-Jing Zheng, Peng Xiu, Li-Li Zeng et al.· Limnology and Oceanography· 0 citations
Marine heatwaves (MHWs) and atmospheric heatwaves (AHWs) are intensifying under climate change, yet their concurrent occurrence can amplify thermal stress and pose greater risks to marine ecosystems than either event alone. This study investigates the spatiotemporal variability, physical drivers, and ecological impacts...
Waqar Ul Hassan, Md. Saquib Saharwardi, Harikishan Gandham et al.· Frontiers in Marine Science· 0 citations
Marine heatwaves are increasing in frequency and intensity globally against a background of long-term climate warming, yet their impacts on subsurface biogeochemistry in temperate shelf seas remain poorly constrained. Here, we present high-resolution in situ observations of chlorophyll during a Category IV marine hea...
C. Williams, B. Scott, T. Rippeth et al.· Communications Earth & E...· 0 citations
This study investigates how precipitation‐induced freshwater flux affects the upper‐ocean structure during Typhoon Mangkhut (2018) using an atmosphere‐ocean coupled model (COAWST). It was found that accounting for precipitation forcing can modulate the simulated intensity of tropical cyclones (TCs). At a buoy near...
Fu Liu, Han Zhang, Ren-Hao Wu· Journal of Geophysical Resea...· 0 citations
ABSTRACT Marine heatwaves (MHWs) are increasing in frequency, duration and intensity under climate change. Although current MHWs trigger broad ecological impacts, such as coral bleaching, mass mortality of seagrass meadows, and declines in important fish stocks, the cascading effects of MHWs on ecosystem structure and...
Vianney Guibourd de Luzinais, William W. L. Cheung, T. Frölicher et al.· Global Change Biology· 0 citations
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