Record-Breaking Marine Heatwave Event in the Yellow Sea During Summer 2024 and Its Underlying Mechanisms
Abstract
Marine heatwaves (MHWs) are persistent extreme warm events in the ocean that pose substantial threats to marine ecosystems, fisheries, aquaculture, and offshore energy infrastructure. In 2024, the Yellow Sea experienced the most intense MHW on record in terms of cumulative intensity, with sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies exceeding 5 °C and an exceptional duration of 118 days. Using the ERA5 atmospheric reanalysis and GLORYS12V1 ocean reanalysis, this study systematically investigates the characteristics, driving mechanisms, and extremity of this event. Mixed-layer heat budget analysis indicates that enhanced shortwave radiation was the primary contributor to the warming, which is closely linked to the westward-extending and northward-shifting subtropical high. During MHW decay, sea surface cooling is dominated by enhanced latent heat flux, closely linked to typhoon and cold air activities. Further analysis links the positive SST anomalies to the North Atlantic and the Barents Sea warming, which triggered a Eurasian teleconnection wave train. These results highlight the importance of cross-basin climate connectivity in driving regional maritime temperature extremes.