Articles | Volume 22, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-22-2027-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-22-2027-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
30 Jun 2026
Research article |
| 30 Jun 2026
| 30 Jun 2026
The past evolution of marine heatwaves and their drivers in the southern North Sea
GEOMAR Helmholtz Center for Ocean Research, Kiel, Germany
Franziska U. Schwarzkopf
GEOMAR Helmholtz Center for Ocean Research, Kiel, Germany
Arne Biastoch
GEOMAR Helmholtz Center for Ocean Research, Kiel, Germany
Christian-Albrechts Universität zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany
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Short summary
Marine heatwaves are periods of unusually warm ocean temperatures that can affect ecosystems and weather. In the North Sea, they have become more frequent over recent decades, but their peak intensity has decreased in many areas. Our results show that marine heatwaves depend on both short-term weather and longer seasonal to decadal variability. The local atmospheric conditions play a key role in the German Bight.
Marine heatwaves are periods of unusually warm ocean temperatures that can affect ecosystems and...
