With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
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.
Sponsored message
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.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
