Warming coastal water, thinning marine populations: Tracking of 2010 El Niño reveals marine life reductions
Thursday, March 4, 2010 - 14:14
in Earth & Climate
The ongoing El Niño of 2010 is affecting north Pacific Ocean ecosystems in ways that could affect the West Coast fishing industry, according to scientists. Researchers report a stronger than normal northward movement of warm water up the Southern California coast, a high sea-level event in January and low abundances of plankton and pelagic fish -- all conditions consistent with El Niño.