Not only were surface water temperatures rising, but also water as deep as 100 metres, which meant ocean warming was affecting species that lived in deeper waters. , Photo Credit: Reuters
The waters around New Zealand’s South Island are as much as 6 °C (42.8 °F) warmer than normal due to climate change, the weather phenomenon La Nina and a series of high pressure systems, according to scientists.
Metservice oceanographer Joao de Souza, who is part of the Moana project, said waters around the southern South Island were well above normal for this time of year, with temperatures in Fiordland six degrees warmer than normal.
The Moana Project said water temperatures on the west coast of the South Island are currently 4 degrees above average.
These temperatures are going to have important consequences for ecosystems that are built or adapted to cold water, he said.
“There are always winners and losers,” he said, with those marine species that cannot relocate being more likely to be affected.
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New Zealand saw several marine heatwaves last year, with a previous heatwave in Fiordland resulting in severe bleaching of native sponges. Anecdotal reports of the more common species are also being seen further south in the warmer waters of New Zealand.
De Souza said their research showed that it was not only surface water temperatures rising, but water as deep as 100 metres, which meant marine heatwaves were affecting species living in deeper waters. Was staying
The marine heatwave comes as a La Niña weather pattern causes warmer than normal temperatures in New Zealand’s South Island. De Souza said it was a high pressure system and climate change along with the heatwave were factors.
He said he expected sea temperatures to remain above normal until at least April.