Biogeochemical extremes and compound events in the ocean

Area of Science:

• Marine biology
• Oceanography
• Climate science

Background:

• The ocean is experiencing warming, deoxygenation, and acidification due to anthropogenic carbon emissions.
• Extreme marine events, including heatwaves, are projected to intensify and become more frequent.
• Current understanding of oceanic extreme events and their ecological impacts is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess patterns and trends in open ocean extreme events.
• To discuss the impacts of individual and compound extreme events on marine ecosystems.
• To propose a pathway for improving the understanding of extreme events and marine life's response.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of existing research on oceanic extremes.
• Analysis of global and regional climate model simulations.
• Assessment of impacts on marine organisms and ecosystems.

Main Results:

• Ocean warming, acidification, and deoxygenation are increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme marine events.
• Compound events, occurring simultaneously or sequentially, pose synergistic risks.
• Limited understanding currently exists regarding the full scope of these events and their ecological consequences.

Conclusions:

• Enhanced understanding of extreme marine events is vital for predicting ecosystem responses to climate change.
• Current extreme conditions may represent future oceanic norms.
• Research into extreme events can improve predictions of marine ecosystem resilience and adaptation strategies.