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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Mar. Sci.
Sec. Coastal Ocean Processes
Volume 11 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fmars.2024.1452125
This article is part of the Research Topic Climate Change and Human Impact: Assessing Vulnerability and Intensification of Hazards in Estuarine and Coastal Zones View all articles

Trends of Maximum Annual Sea Surface Temperature in the Eastern China Seas

Provisionally accepted
Wenxiang Ding Wenxiang Ding Qiong Wu Qiong Wu *Yongxin Chen Yongxin Chen
  • College of Marine Science and Technology, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    The increasing ocean warming due to climate change significantly threatens regional marine ecosystems by raising the frequency and severity of extreme temperature events. This study examines patterns and trends of maximum annual sea surface temperature (Tmax) in the Eastern China Seas from 1985 to 2022. The results show a significant warming trend in Tmax, exceeding the global average, with notable differences between southern and northern regions. The northern Tmax warming rate is faster, with occurrence times significantly advancing, while the southern Tmax warming rate is slower, with occurrence times significantly delayed. The southern Tmax and its timing are closely correlated with the annual maximum air temperature and its timing. In the north, Tmax timing is influenced by latent heat flux (QLH); a significant increase in August QLH inhibits the continued rise of SST, causing Tmax to advance. The study also highlights a significant increase in marine heatwaves at Tmax timing, with higher Tmax indicating a higher occurrence probability. By elucidating these Tmax trends and dynamics, our study enhances understanding of regional climate impacts, supporting targeted conservation efforts and adaptive ecosystem management strategies in the Eastern China Seas.

    Keywords: Sst, Extreme temperature, Eastern china seas, marine heatwaves, Latent heat flux

    Received: 20 Jun 2024; Accepted: 29 Jul 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Ding, Wu and Chen. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Qiong Wu, College of Marine Science and Technology, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, 316000, Zhejiang Province, China

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