Extreme temperature events such as marine heatwaves are increasingly affecting waters globally and are projected to increase in occurrence and magnitude with future climate change. Conversely, marine cold spells are expected to decline in frequency. Recent events have highlighted the potential impacts of heatwaves and cold spells on marine species (including invertebrates, fish, marine mammals, and seabirds), on fishing and aquaculture operations, and on human hazards such as harmful algae and pathogens. There remains a critical gap in understanding the consequences of these events for marine systems – including biology, economy and society – and adaptation strategies that may buffer direct and secondary impacts of extreme temperature events.
The session aims to create a better understanding of the formation of heatwaves and cold spells and the impacts on marine species, alongside their interconnectivity with wider socio-environmental systems and processes. This will help to guide adaptive and reactive management of the marine social-ecological system impacted by these events and synergies with long-term climate change and non-climate stressors. Abstracts are welcome that focus on increasing our understanding of the drivers and development of extreme temperature events, the physical and biogeochemical changes involved, biological and socio-ecological effects, critical thresholds, and management and adaptation responses.
