Geophysical Research Letters · 21 September 2026 · From issue 40
Subsurface‐Intensified Marine Heatwaves: A Hidden and Intense Warming Threat to Tropical Ocean Ecosystems
Deep-ocean heatwaves near the equator are growing stronger and harming ocean plant life.
Wenbo He, Fuan Xiao et al.
Ocean heatwaves that form below the surface are getting stronger in tropical waters near the equator. These deep heatwaves have three times more built-up heat than surface heatwaves. They have grown deeper each year between 1993 and 2020. Deep heatwaves cut off nutrients in the water, which hurts tiny floating ocean plants more than surface heatwaves do.
How much more built-up heat subsurface heatwaves hold compared to surface heatwaves near the equator.
Based on ocean model data from 1993 to 2020, not direct field measurements.
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