Ocean Science
Ocean Science
OS
Articles | Volume 21, issue 4
Articles | Volume 21, issue 4
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-1695-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Special issue:
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-1695-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Articles | Volume 21, issue 4
Research article
 | Highlight paper
 | 
05 Aug 2025
Research article | Highlight paper |  | 05 Aug 2025

Subsurface manifestation of marine heat waves in the southwestern Indian Ocean

Clea B. Welch, Neil Malan, Daneeja Mawren, Tamaryn Morris, Janet Sprintall, and Juliet C. Hermes

Related authors

Observed multi-decadal trends in subsurface temperature adjacent to the East Australian Current
Michael P. Hemming, Moninya Roughan, Neil Malan, and Amandine Schaeffer
Ocean Sci., 19, 1145–1162, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-19-1145-2023,https://doi.org/10.5194/os-19-1145-2023, 2023
Short summary

Cited articles

Amaya, D. J., Jacox, M. G., Alexander, M. A., Scott, J. D., Deser, C., Capotondi, A., and Phillips, A. S.: Bottom marine heatwaves along the continental shelves of North America, Nat. Commun., 14, 1038, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-36567-0, 2023. 
Azarian, C., Bopp, L., Sallée, J.-B., Swart, S., Guinet, C., and d'Ovidio, F.: Marine heatwaves and global warming impacts on winter waters in the Southern Indian Ocean, J. Marine Syst., 243, 103962, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmarsys.2023.103962, 2024. 
Bai, L., Zhu, G., Huang, H., Zhang, L., Lü, H., and Zhang, Y.: Characteristics of mesoscale eddies in the Mozambique Channel, PLOS ONE, 19, e0302367, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0302367, 2024. 
Banzon, V., Smith, T. M., Chin, T. M., Liu, C., and Hankins, W.: A long-term record of blended satellite and in situ sea-surface temperature for climate monitoring, modeling and environmental studies, Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 8, 165–176, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-8-165-2016, 2016. 
Beal, L. M., De Ruijter, W. P. M., Biastoch, A., Zahn, R., SCOR/WCRP/IAPSO Working Group 136, Cronin, M., Hermes, J., Lutjeharms, J., Quartly, G., Tozuka, T., Baker-Yeboah, S., Bornman, T., Cipollini, P., Dijkstra, H., Hall, I., Park, W., Peeters, F., Penven, P., Ridderinkhof, H., and Zinke, J.: On the role of the Agulhas system in ocean circulation and climate, Nature, 472, 429–436, https://doi.org/10.1038/nature09983, 2011. 
More articles (58)
Download
Co-editor-in-chief
Marine heatwaves are of particular interest globally currently, both scientifically and for their impact on communities. While much work has been done on surface expressions of marine heatwaves, their subsurface expressions have been less well studied. This is particularly the case in the Southwest Indian Ocean. This region is climatically important and the ecological impacts of marine heatwaves (both surface and subsurface) in this area could be significant, with consequential negative socio-economic outcomes.
Read more
Short summary
Marine heat waves (MHWs) are prolonged periods of extreme ocean temperatures with significant impacts on marine ecosystems. Much research has focused on surface MHWs, but less is known about their subsurface extent. This study uses satellite and in situ data to investigate MHWs in the southwestern Indian Ocean (SWIO). We find that MHWs in the SWIO are closely linked to mesoscale eddies and that strong temperature anomalies extend below surface-identified MHWs.
Read more
Share
Special issue
Extremes in the marine environment: analysis of multi-temporal...