Hottest Ever Water Temperatures Off East Coast All the Way Down to the Bottom of the Ocean

[XemaSab]

Sea surface temperatures (SSTs) off the East Coast from North Carolina to the Gulf of Maine were the hottest ever recorded for the first six months of 2012, according to NOAA's latest Ecosystem Advisory. Above-average temperatures were found everywhere: from the sea surface to the ocean bottom and out beyond the Gulf Stream.

The area is known as the Northeast Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem. Parts of it were declared a fisheries disaster last week (I posted about that here: Fisheries Declared Disasters on Four Coasts). This was due to the fact that stocks of cod, yellowtail flounder, and other groundfish are not rebuilding even though most fishers have adhered to tough quotas.

The problem lies in the warming waters. The super warm SSTs of 2012 jumpstarted an early and intense spring plankton bloom—which began in some places as early as February—and lasted longer than average. This ricocheted through the marine foodweb from the smallest creatures to the largest marine mammals like whales.

http://m.motherjones.com/blue-marble/2012/09/hottest-ever-ocean-temperatures-east-coast-all-way-down-bottom-ocean

[madrchsod]

1. i think my grand and great grandkids will not live as long as i have

my 65 and counting. the arctic warming has effected the climate across america.

[AverageJoe90]

3. We probably won't be that unlucky.

I doubt that life expectancy will go down much, if at all, in most parts of America. On the other hand, our standard of living may end up suffering pretty badly, which is a disaster in and of itself.

[RobertEarl]

2. Possible inputs

Gulf of Mexico oil spill feeding the plankton

Less snow and warm winter on the east coast making rivers warmer than usual.

General warming of the oceans globally.

Melting ice resulting in cold fresh water blocking off the Gulf Stream causing that warm body of water to not mix as well and lose heat as rapidly.