Northwestern Pacific Marine Heatwaves Tied to Circumglobal Wave

Researchers at National Central University have identified the Circumglobal Wave—a large‑scale atmospheric pattern that circles the Northern Hemisphere—as the primary driver sustaining multi‑year marine heatwaves in the northwestern Pacific. The study, published in Science Advances, shows that these heatwaves can persist for four to five years and are reinforced by a feedback loop that has intensified since the 1970s, extending the duration of ocean‑warming events.

At the same time, the 2026 Super El Niño has raised sea‑surface temperatures along the U.S. West Coast, pushing juvenile great white sharks closer to California beaches as their prey, such as seals and sea lions, shift their foraging locations. While the sharks generally target fish and pose little danger to humans, the increased coastal presence has drawn attention from surfers and beachgoers. Improved understanding of the atmospheric mechanisms behind prolonged marine heatwaves could enhance seasonal climate forecasts and aid fisheries management and marine‑ecosystem conservation.