Mongabay iconMongabaySep 29, 2026

New global maps chart 40 years of ocean heat and acidification extremes

Between 2014 and 2015, a marine heatwave known as "The Blob" warmed an area of the Pacific Ocean larger than the United States and Mexico combined. The massive event fueled toxic algae blooms, collapsed fisheries, killed off millions of emaciated seabirds, sent dead fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) and sea otters washing up on Alaska and […]

New global maps chart 40 years of ocean heat and acidification extremes

Share this story

Send the public story page.

Useful takeaways from this story.

Between 2014 and 2015, a marine heatwave known as "The Blob" warmed an area of the Pacific Ocean larger than the United States and Mexico combined.

The massive event fueled toxic algae blooms, collapsed fisheries, killed off millions of emaciated seabirds, sent dead fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) and sea otters washing up on Alaska and […]

Building the complete brief

The page is ready to read now. The fuller skim-friendly version will appear here automatically.

The useful part

Between 2014 and 2015, a marine heatwave known as "The Blob" warmed an area of the Pacific Ocean larger than the United States and Mexico combined. The massive event fueled toxic algae blooms, collapsed fisheries, killed off millions of emaciated seabirds, sent dead fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) and sea otters washing up on Alaska and […]

Keep reading in the app

Open the app view to save this story, compare related coverage, and continue from the same source.

Open in app