Drivers of the summer 2024 marine heatwave and record salmon lice outbreak in northern Norway
Abstract Marine heatwaves are prolonged periods of extreme ocean warming that can strongly impact marine ecosystems, fisheries, and aquaculture. In August 2024, northern Norway experienced one of its most intense marine heatwaves on record, with sea surface temperatures exceeding 18 °C—more than 4 °...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-08-01
|
| Series: | Communications Earth & Environment |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02618-1 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849234397246521344 |
|---|---|
| author | Silvana Gonzalez Anne D. Sandvik Mari F. Jensen Jon Albretsen Anne Britt Sandø Randi B. Ingvaldsen Solfrid S. Hjøllo Frode Vikebø |
| author_facet | Silvana Gonzalez Anne D. Sandvik Mari F. Jensen Jon Albretsen Anne Britt Sandø Randi B. Ingvaldsen Solfrid S. Hjøllo Frode Vikebø |
| author_sort | Silvana Gonzalez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Marine heatwaves are prolonged periods of extreme ocean warming that can strongly impact marine ecosystems, fisheries, and aquaculture. In August 2024, northern Norway experienced one of its most intense marine heatwaves on record, with sea surface temperatures exceeding 18 °C—more than 4 °C above the long-term average. This event contributed to an unprecedented salmon lice outbreak at aquaculture sites, causing increased fish mortality and economic losses. Here we use numerical ocean model hindcast data, atmospheric reanalysis data, and in situ observations to identify the factors behind this event. Local weather conditions, including high solar radiation, unusually warm air temperatures, and weak winds, caused increased heat transfer to the sea surface and reduced ocean mixing. Additionally, large-scale atmospheric pressure patterns intensified warm air advection and freshwater transport along the coast, reinforcing local stratification and warming. These findings highlight the importance of advancing regional marine heatwave forecasting to support fisheries and aquaculture resilience under a warming climate. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7dd417aae7f54da3906fe17c83588ac2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2662-4435 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Earth & Environment |
| spelling | doaj-art-7dd417aae7f54da3906fe17c83588ac22025-08-20T04:03:11ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Earth & Environment2662-44352025-08-016111110.1038/s43247-025-02618-1Drivers of the summer 2024 marine heatwave and record salmon lice outbreak in northern NorwaySilvana Gonzalez0Anne D. Sandvik1Mari F. Jensen2Jon Albretsen3Anne Britt Sandø4Randi B. Ingvaldsen5Solfrid S. Hjøllo6Frode Vikebø7Institute of Marine ResearchInstitute of Marine ResearchInstitute of Marine ResearchInstitute of Marine ResearchInstitute of Marine ResearchInstitute of Marine ResearchInstitute of Marine ResearchInstitute of Marine ResearchAbstract Marine heatwaves are prolonged periods of extreme ocean warming that can strongly impact marine ecosystems, fisheries, and aquaculture. In August 2024, northern Norway experienced one of its most intense marine heatwaves on record, with sea surface temperatures exceeding 18 °C—more than 4 °C above the long-term average. This event contributed to an unprecedented salmon lice outbreak at aquaculture sites, causing increased fish mortality and economic losses. Here we use numerical ocean model hindcast data, atmospheric reanalysis data, and in situ observations to identify the factors behind this event. Local weather conditions, including high solar radiation, unusually warm air temperatures, and weak winds, caused increased heat transfer to the sea surface and reduced ocean mixing. Additionally, large-scale atmospheric pressure patterns intensified warm air advection and freshwater transport along the coast, reinforcing local stratification and warming. These findings highlight the importance of advancing regional marine heatwave forecasting to support fisheries and aquaculture resilience under a warming climate.https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02618-1 |
| spellingShingle | Silvana Gonzalez Anne D. Sandvik Mari F. Jensen Jon Albretsen Anne Britt Sandø Randi B. Ingvaldsen Solfrid S. Hjøllo Frode Vikebø Drivers of the summer 2024 marine heatwave and record salmon lice outbreak in northern Norway Communications Earth & Environment |
| title | Drivers of the summer 2024 marine heatwave and record salmon lice outbreak in northern Norway |
| title_full | Drivers of the summer 2024 marine heatwave and record salmon lice outbreak in northern Norway |
| title_fullStr | Drivers of the summer 2024 marine heatwave and record salmon lice outbreak in northern Norway |
| title_full_unstemmed | Drivers of the summer 2024 marine heatwave and record salmon lice outbreak in northern Norway |
| title_short | Drivers of the summer 2024 marine heatwave and record salmon lice outbreak in northern Norway |
| title_sort | drivers of the summer 2024 marine heatwave and record salmon lice outbreak in northern norway |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02618-1 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT silvanagonzalez driversofthesummer2024marineheatwaveandrecordsalmonliceoutbreakinnorthernnorway AT annedsandvik driversofthesummer2024marineheatwaveandrecordsalmonliceoutbreakinnorthernnorway AT marifjensen driversofthesummer2024marineheatwaveandrecordsalmonliceoutbreakinnorthernnorway AT jonalbretsen driversofthesummer2024marineheatwaveandrecordsalmonliceoutbreakinnorthernnorway AT annebrittsandø driversofthesummer2024marineheatwaveandrecordsalmonliceoutbreakinnorthernnorway AT randibingvaldsen driversofthesummer2024marineheatwaveandrecordsalmonliceoutbreakinnorthernnorway AT solfridshjøllo driversofthesummer2024marineheatwaveandrecordsalmonliceoutbreakinnorthernnorway AT frodevikebø driversofthesummer2024marineheatwaveandrecordsalmonliceoutbreakinnorthernnorway |