Share to ClassroomNOAA Warns of Bigger Pacific Heatwave
The eastern Pacific Ocean is very warm right now. Warm water stretches from Hawaii to Mexico. NOAA (a U.S. weather agency) says it will grow bigger soon. In California, ocean water is much hotter than normal. Many daily heat records have been broken since January.
A marine heatwave is a long time of very warm ocean water. When water is warm, fish swim deeper to find cool water. Then seabirds can not find food easily. A similar warm area in 2014– 2018 killed one million seabirds. El Niño is also forming. El Niño changes weather around the world.
Many seabirds have died on California beaches. Brown pelicans left Mexico early and flew north for food. A great white shark was seen near British Columbia. The western United States had its warmest winter ever. Scientists worry about more fires and fish loss.
