Ocean extremes as a stress test for marine ecosystems and society

Kathryn E. Smith; Alex Sen Gupta; Michael T. Burrows; Karen Filbee-Dexter; Alistair J. Hobday; Neil J. Holbrook; Neil Malan; Pippa J. Moore; Eric C. J. Oliver; Mads S. Thomsen; Thomas Wernberg; Zijie Zhao; Dan A. Smale

doi:10.1038/s41558-025-02269-2

Ocean extremes as a stress test for marine ecosystems and society

Kathryn E. Smith, Alex Sen Gupta, Michael T. Burrows, Karen Filbee-Dexter, Alistair J. Hobday, Neil J. Holbrook, Neil Malan, Pippa J. Moore, Eric C. J. Oliver, Mads S. Thomsen, Thomas Wernberg, Zijie Zhao, Dan A. Smale

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Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

In 2023–2024, widespread marine heatwaves associated with record ocean temperatures impacted ocean processes, marine species, ecosystems and coastal communities, with economic consequences. Despite warnings, interventions were limited. Proactive strategies are needed for inevitable future events.

The global oceans are warming at an unprecedented rate, and temperatures in 2023 and 2024 were exceptionally warm1. By March 2023, globally averaged sea surface temperatures (SSTs) had reached record highs and temperature extremes were recorded repeatedly over the following year1. This rapid warming, fuelled by human-induced climate change2, but amplified by El Niño conditions and record low global cloud cover, resulted in an unprecedented number of extreme marine heatwaves (MHWs), with global average MHW days in the summers of 2023–2024 being 240% higher than in any other year in the instrumental record (Fig. 1). These events spanned the globe, with 8.8% of the ocean experiencing the highest SSTs ever recorded, almost four times more than the historical annual average.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	231-235
Number of pages	5
Journal	Nature Climate Change
Volume	15
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-025-02269-2
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 28 Feb 2025

Keywords

climate-change ecology
climate-change impacts
ecosystem services
ocean sciences
scientific community

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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Smith, K. E., Sen Gupta, A., Burrows, M. T., Filbee-Dexter, K., Hobday, A. J., Holbrook, N. J., Malan, N., Moore, P. J., Oliver, E. C. J., Thomsen, M. S., Wernberg, T., Zhao, Z., & Smale, D. A. (2025). Ocean extremes as a stress test for marine ecosystems and society. Nature Climate Change, 15, 231-235. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-025-02269-2

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title = "Ocean extremes as a stress test for marine ecosystems and society",

abstract = "In 2023–2024, widespread marine heatwaves associated with record ocean temperatures impacted ocean processes, marine species, ecosystems and coastal communities, with economic consequences. Despite warnings, interventions were limited. Proactive strategies are needed for inevitable future events.The global oceans are warming at an unprecedented rate, and temperatures in 2023 and 2024 were exceptionally warm1. By March 2023, globally averaged sea surface temperatures (SSTs) had reached record highs and temperature extremes were recorded repeatedly over the following year1. This rapid warming, fuelled by human-induced climate change2, but amplified by El Ni{\~n}o conditions and record low global cloud cover, resulted in an unprecedented number of extreme marine heatwaves (MHWs), with global average MHW days in the summers of 2023–2024 being 240% higher than in any other year in the instrumental record (Fig. 1). These events spanned the globe, with 8.8% of the ocean experiencing the highest SSTs ever recorded, almost four times more than the historical annual average.",

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AU - Smith, Kathryn E.

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AU - Hobday, Alistair J.

AU - Holbrook, Neil J.

AU - Malan, Neil

AU - Moore, Pippa J.

AU - Oliver, Eric C. J.

AU - Thomsen, Mads S.

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AB - In 2023–2024, widespread marine heatwaves associated with record ocean temperatures impacted ocean processes, marine species, ecosystems and coastal communities, with economic consequences. Despite warnings, interventions were limited. Proactive strategies are needed for inevitable future events.The global oceans are warming at an unprecedented rate, and temperatures in 2023 and 2024 were exceptionally warm1. By March 2023, globally averaged sea surface temperatures (SSTs) had reached record highs and temperature extremes were recorded repeatedly over the following year1. This rapid warming, fuelled by human-induced climate change2, but amplified by El Niño conditions and record low global cloud cover, resulted in an unprecedented number of extreme marine heatwaves (MHWs), with global average MHW days in the summers of 2023–2024 being 240% higher than in any other year in the instrumental record (Fig. 1). These events spanned the globe, with 8.8% of the ocean experiencing the highest SSTs ever recorded, almost four times more than the historical annual average.

KW - climate-change ecology

KW - climate-change impacts

KW - ecosystem services

KW - ocean sciences

KW - scientific community

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DO - 10.1038/s41558-025-02269-2

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VL - 15

SP - 231

EP - 235

JO - Nature Climate Change

JF - Nature Climate Change

ER -

Ocean extremes as a stress test for marine ecosystems and society

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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