Ocean heatwaves, not just El Niño, impact Taiwan's fisheries, latest research suggests

A latest study indicates that ocean heatwaves in the Northwest Pacific have been intensifying since 1970. This could become another climate pattern, besides El Niño, affecting Taiwan, posing higher risks to Taiwan's coastal and offshore fishing, aquaculture, and coral reef ecosystems.

A research team led by Professor Jin-Yi Yu of the University of California, Irvine, and the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at National Central University, published a study on the 4th in "Science Advances." It points out that ocean heatwaves lasting for several seasons, or even spanning multiple years, have become more frequent in the Northwest Pacific east of Japan in recent years.

The study indicates that this mechanism has been continuously strengthening since 1970, meaning that under current continuous warming, ocean heatwaves will occur more frequently, last longer, and be more severe.

The Taiwan Science Media Center invited Jin-Yi Yu to explain the research. He explained that in the past, ocean heatwaves were often considered regional events caused by local oceanic and atmospheric conditions. This study suggests that ocean heatwaves in the Northwest Pacific are not just an internal Pacific oceanic phenomenon but also a trans-basin climate phenomenon, influenced by the distant North Atlantic and large-scale atmospheric fluctuations.

Jin-Yi Yu further explained that during summer, high-pressure systems cause reduced cloud cover in the Northwest Pacific, leading the ocean to absorb more solar radiation and maintain high temperatures. Nearly stagnant atmospheric fluctuations in summer can simultaneously warm both the Northwest Pacific and the North Atlantic. The heat stored in the North Atlantic then persists into winter and spring, influencing the Northwest Pacific through atmospheric fluctuations, causing ocean heatwaves to last longer.

Jin-Yi Yu believes that this research shows that Taiwan's future extreme weather and climate change may not only be affected by El Niño but also by the combined influence of North Pacific ocean heatwaves and the state of the North Atlantic Ocean.

Jin-Yi Yu stated that although the core area of the research is the Northwest Pacific east of Japan, not directly targeting Taiwan's coastal waters, Taiwan is influenced by the Kuroshio Current, monsoons, and background warming in the Northwest Pacific. Therefore, large-scale ocean heatwaves will affect Taiwan's surroundings. In recent years, phenomena such as higher sea surface temperatures, increased risk of coral bleaching, and changes in fishery resource distribution have also been observed near Taiwan.

Jin-Yi Yu said that corals are prone to bleaching when exposed to high temperatures for extended periods, and can die in severe cases, affecting fish and ecosystems that depend on coral reefs. For fisheries, high water temperatures can alter the suitable habitats for fish, causing some species to move to more northern or deeper waters, and may also change migration times, spawning environments, fishing seasons, and catch volumes. Therefore, prolonged ocean heatwaves could pose higher risks to Taiwan's coastal and offshore fishing, aquaculture, and coral reef ecosystems. (Editor: Li Heng-shan) 1150707

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