Marine heat waves may become more intense, frequent: study

Context

The mixed layer of the ocean loss may lead to more frequent and destructive warming events such as marine heat waves, as per a recent study.

What is mixed layer of the ocean?

• It blankets the top 20 to 200 metres.
• It is becoming thinner each year.
• The continued loss of this buffer may lead to more frequent and destructive warming events such as marine heat waves.
• The thickness of this top layer of the ocean is responsible for marine heat events.
• The thicker this mixed layer, the more it can act as a buffer to shield the waters below from incoming hot air.

What could be the impacts of the thinning of the layer?

• It might lose the ability to predict annual ocean surface temperatures.
• The thinning of this layer causing the oceans to become more susceptible to rapid swings in temperature.
• Marine heatwaves will be more intense and happen more often in the future.