El Niño is coming, and ocean temps are already at record highs – that can spell disaster for fish and corals

Apr 21, 2023

El Niño weather events trigger intense and widespread periods of extreme ocean warming known as marine heat waves. Image: Pexels/Francesco Ungaro

Dillon Amaya

Climate Research Scientist, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

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Marine heatwaves can trigger coral bleaching. Image: REUTERS/Jorge Silva

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El Niño. Fierce marine heat waves like this one in 2019 can wreak havoc on sea life off the North American Pacific Coast with temperatures about 4 to 6 F (2 to 3 C) above normal.

Fierce marine heat waves like this one in 2019 can wreak havoc on sea life off the North American Pacific Coast with temperatures about 4 to 6 F (2 to 3 C) above normal. Image: Dillon Amaya

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A chart showing how marine heat waves spike during El Niño years.

How marine heat waves have spiked during El Niño years. Image: The Conversation/CC-BY-ND

NOAA’s marine heat wave forecast issued in early April predicting October 2023. Image: NOAA/Jacox

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