19 January 20256: Ocean Circulation and Climate Dynamics Colloquium

When?  Monday 19 January 2026 at 11 am
Where?    Conference Room 5-1.214, Building 5, Wischhofstr. 1-3 and online
via Meeting link:https://geomar.webex.com/geomar-en/j.php?MTID=ma73a9dd4db0f5cb6275b471e1c5e6005

Meeting number: 2789 008 5026
Password: nhPGUfGj553

Abstract:
Marine heatwaves (MHWs), prolonged periods of elevated ocean temperatures, are intensifying globally and have become more frequent in the Arctic under ongoing climate warming. Yet, they remain little studied in the high Arctic, despite rapid environmental changes and distinctive regional features such as extensive sea ice and strong salinity stratification. These conditions likely produce polar-specific driving mechanisms and impacts, which are especially unclear for MHWs occurring below the Arctic surface.

In this presentation, we review and synthesise scattered yet valuable insights from across disciplines to address two questions: (i) What are the drivers of Arctic MHWs, and (ii) what are their impacts? We extend this reflection beyond the surface to the largely overlooked subsurface dimension. We clarify where knowledge is well-established, and where understanding remains speculative but supported by indirect evidence. In particular, we highlight Arctic-specific processes associated with MHWs, and outline knowledge gaps. We conclude by discussing ways forward for future MHW research in the rapidly changing Arctic Ocean.

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