Study: Heatwaves Can Force Ocean Life to Flee Great Distances
2020-08-12
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1A new study shows that heatwaves can cause fish and other creatures in the world's oceans to travel thousands of kilometers in search of cooler waters.
2Scientists at the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, reported on the study last week.
3Their research is based on a new way of measuring heatwaves. It is called "thermal displacement."
4A research paper describing the process appeared in the publication Nature.
5NOAA notes that earlier research has centered on how hot weather can increase ocean surface temperatures over time.
6Heatwaves can cause changes to the ocean environment, killing large numbers of seabirds and affecting corals and other sea life.
7Thermal displacement measures how far fish, whales and other mobile species must travel to find cooler ocean surface temperatures.
8The measurement depends on the rate at which temperature changes across the ocean.
9Research scientist Michael Jacox calls thermal displacement a powerful new way of looking at ocean heatwaves.
10"When the environment changes, many species move," he said in a statement.
11"This research helps us understand and measure the degree of change they may be responding to."
12Jacox is with the NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center in California.
13Heatwaves can add to the difficulties the world's oceans are already facing from long-term warming linked to climate change.
14The scientists examined information related to ocean heatwaves from 1982 to 2019.
15They looked at the displacement of different species during these events.
16In some places, cooler water would not be far from warmer seas, such as where different parts of the ocean meet, the study found.
17But in tropical areas - where temperature changes are usually small - some sea creatures would need to travel more than 2,000 kilometers to find cooler water.
18Jacox says fast-moving displacement of sea life can affect many kinds of sea creatures and have human costs, as well.
19"Some of the most mobile species - many fish, whales, and turtles - hold great value for humans," he said.
20Fisheries and tourism could be harmed, and threatened species could also face displacement, he added.
21Michael Alexander of NOAA's Physical Sciences Laboratory helped lead the research team.
22He said the study "may give us an idea how the ecosystem may change in the future."
23This could, for example, help predict how far fishermen would have to travel to reach the fish they want to harvest, he said.
24I'm Bryan Lynn.
1A new study shows that heatwaves can cause fish and other creatures in the world's oceans to travel thousands of kilometers in search of cooler waters. 2Scientists at the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, reported on the study last week. Their research is based on a new way of measuring heatwaves. It is called "thermal displacement." 3A research paper describing the process appeared in the publication Nature. 4NOAA notes that earlier research has centered on how hot weather can increase ocean surface temperatures over time. Heatwaves can cause changes to the ocean environment, killing large numbers of seabirds and affecting corals and other sea life. 5Thermal displacement measures how far fish, whales and other mobile species must travel to find cooler ocean surface temperatures. The measurement depends on the rate at which temperature changes across the ocean. 6Research scientist Michael Jacox calls thermal displacement a powerful new way of looking at ocean heatwaves. "When the environment changes, many species move," he said in a statement. "This research helps us understand and measure the degree of change they may be responding to." 7Jacox is with the NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center in California. 8Heatwaves can add to the difficulties the world's oceans are already facing from long-term warming linked to climate change. 9The scientists examined information related to ocean heatwaves from 1982 to 2019. They looked at the displacement of different species during these events. 10In some places, cooler water would not be far from warmer seas, such as where different parts of the ocean meet, the study found. But in tropical areas - where temperature changes are usually small - some sea creatures would need to travel more than 2,000 kilometers to find cooler water. 11Jacox says fast-moving displacement of sea life can affect many kinds of sea creatures and have human costs, as well. 12"Some of the most mobile species - many fish, whales, and turtles - hold great value for humans," he said. Fisheries and tourism could be harmed, and threatened species could also face displacement, he added. 13Michael Alexander of NOAA's Physical Sciences Laboratory helped lead the research team. He said the study "may give us an idea how the ecosystem may change in the future." This could, for example, help predict how far fishermen would have to travel to reach the fish they want to harvest, he said. 14I'm Bryan Lynn. 15Agence France-Presse reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English, with additional information from NOAA. George Grow was the editor. 16We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. 17________________________________________________________________ 18Words in This Story 19thermal - adj. relating to heat 20coral - n. a hard, usually pink or white substance produced by a type of a very small sea animal 21mobile - adj. able to move or be easily moved 22species - n. a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants 23tropical - adj. from or in the hottest parts of the world 24tourism - n. the activity of traveling to a place for pleasure 25ecosystem - n. a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment