By summer of 2014,
the heated mass of water stretched from Alaska to Mexico
and had been nicknamed “the blob.” As the blob spread, unusually warm waters triggered extended harmful algae blooms. Although such blooms are common, they usually only last a couple of weeks before dissipating.
What is the blob and what do scientists believe causes it?
Scientists believe that an atmospheric phenomenon known as the Ridiculously Resilient Ridge may be causing the blob
to form by blocking storms
, which normally mix and cool the ocean, from entering the region.
What is causing the blob?
Marine heat waves like The Blob are caused by combinations of several factors, such as
high air temperatures, changing wind patterns
, and regular ocean warming events like the El Niño Southern Oscillation in the Pacific Ocean. Though The Blob is over, it continues to harm marine ecosystems to this day.
How does the blob affect weather?
The warm water mass was unusual for open ocean conditions and was considered to have played a role in the formation of the unusual weather conditions experienced along the Pacific coast of North America during the same time period. The warm waters of the Blob were
nutrient-poor and adversely affected marine life
.
What causes marine heatwaves?
Marine heatwaves can be caused by a whole range of factors, and not all factors are important for each event. The most common drivers of marine heatwaves include
ocean currents
which can build up areas of warm water and air-sea heat flux, or warming through the ocean surface from the atmosphere.
What does the blob mean?
1a :
a small drop or lump of something viscid
or thick. b : a daub or spot of color. 2 : something shapeless. blob. verb.
Which ocean is the coldest?
The Arctic Ocean
is the smallest, shallowest, and coldest part of the ocean.
What is a water blob?
The WaterBlob
®
is
a giant water inflatable created to give the adrenaline rush of a lifetime
. It is typically set up at summer camps, lakes, or shorelines. The person being launched (the “flyer”) sits at the front end of the Blob
®
. … The flyer is launched into the water for an amazing high-flying dive!
Where does the Pacific Ocean get warm?
These are normal ocean surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, with warm water
along the equator in the western Pacific Ocean
and cooler water along the equator in the eastern Pacific Ocean (below).
Why is the blob hot?
Chief Meteorologist Jeff Ranieri examines why ‘The Blob’ could be making a return. We hear about heat waves on land but not so much about marine heat waves. They are created by
strong areas of high pressure
that bring stagnant ocean conditions and help to increase the water temperature.
What is the warmest ocean?
The waters of
the Pacific Ocean
comprise the world’s largest heat reservoir, by far, and it is the warmest ocean, overall, of the world’s five oceans.
Is there a Blob 2?
The Blob (also known as: Beware the Blob, Son of Blob, The Blob II or The Blob Returns) is a 1972 American independent comedy science-fiction horror film. It is a
sequel to
The Blob. The film was directed by Larry Hagman. … The film originally earned a PG rating from the MPAA, though it is now unrated.
How long do marine heatwaves last?
Although scientists have come up with a few different ways to define the events, they generally agree that they involve warm spells in surface waters of the ocean that last
at least five days
and reach a temperature threshold well above the normal range
1
.
Why are marine heatwaves bad?
On land, heatwaves can be
deadly
for humans and wildlife and can devastate crops and forests. Unusually warm periods can also occur in the ocean. These can last for weeks or months, killing off kelp forests and corals, and producing other significant impacts on marine ecosystems, fishing and aquaculture industries.
What is happening in our oceans?
Global warming
is causing sea levels to rise, threatening coastal population centers. Many pesticides and nutrients used in agriculture end up in the coastal waters, resulting in oxygen depletion that kills marine plants and shellfish. Factories and industrial plants discharge sewage and other runoff into the oceans.
