Marine heatwaves off Western Australia: future projections

As our climate has warmed, the severity, duration and frequency of marine heatwaves – periods of abnormally high temperatures in the ocean – have increased. The Western Australian coast experienced its most devastating marine heatwave event in 2011. It caused widespread impacts to the local environment, ecology and ocean-dependant industries. Earth System and Climate Change Hub researchers have investigated the likelihood of marine heatwaves with a similar intensity and duration occurring on the coast of Western Australia in the future.