Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
Is The Blob Back?
()
Given that you may have been a bit distracted over the summer – though I’m not sure why – you may not have noticed that the northeast Pacific Ocean was hit by its second hottest marine heat wave on record, with alarmingly warm water stretching from Alaska down past California.
2020 appears to be a near repeat of what we saw last year off the West Coast – when the area was hit by its now third hottest heat wave on record – but last year, surface temperatures had cooled down across large swaths of the area by November.
A sea surface temperature anomaly map from November 2019. (Courtesy of Andrew Leising at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
()
This year it’s still worryingly hot, especially close to the coast.
Support for LAist comes from
Sea surface temperature anomaly map from November 2020. (Courtesy of Andrew Leising at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
()
“This year it regrew from the ashes of the heat wave from last year,” said Andrew Leising, research oceanographer and marine heat wave tracker at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “I think there’s a chance that some of this heat could stick around.”
That’s concerning, because marine heat waves can lead to toxic algal blooms, which can hurt sea life and force fisheries to shut down. We’ve also seen mass sea lion and seal pup strandings, when their parents take off to go hunt for food, like squid, that’s migrated north in search of colder waters.
This is all reminiscent of the record setting “Blob” that hit the area just five years ago. Marine heat waves are becoming more common as the climate continues to warm, which of course has a ton of terrifying implications.
“That’s what we’re concerned about right now," said Leising. "Because it’s too much of a coincidence to have this many heat waves right on top of each other."
We could see things cool down a bit if strong enough winds pass over the region and mix up the warmer surface waters with the colder ones deeper down. But Leising said he's starting to see waters as much as 300 feet beneath the surface begin to warm. That's another reason to be concerned about the staying power of this marine heat wave.
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily newsletters. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity. -
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
-
The weather’s been a little different lately, with humidity, isolated rain and wind gusts throughout much of Southern California. What’s causing the late-summer bout of gray?
Best of LAist