Marine heatwaves are increasingly being recognized as more than an environmental problem. New research warns that prolonged periods of unusually warm ocean temperatures can also threaten human physical and mental health.
Researchers from Adelaide University and the University of Hong Kong say marine heatwaves should be treated as an important public health concern. They argue that the effects on people have received relatively little attention, even as evidence continues to show how widely these events can affect communities.
The consequences can be severe. The rapid strengthening of Hurricane Otis in 2023 and the destruction it caused in Mexico (an estimated damage bill of more than US$15 billion) have been linked to marine heatwaves. Typhoon Doksuri in 2023, which had impacts across Asia (which affected more than two million people across Asia), has also been associated with unusually warm ocean conditions.
In South Australia, a devastating algal bloom linked to marine heat conditions has also been associated with numerous health problems in coastal communities.
How Marine Heatwaves Can Affect Human Health
