Ocean heatwaves are increasing

Marine heatwaves are growing more frequent, making hurricanes and
tropical cyclones more likely to become intense and destructive, as
seen in 2024 when heatwaves stretched over a record area of ocean

OCEAN SURFACE AREA
AFFECTED BY HEATWAVES (%)

2000 2010 2020

50
40
30
20
10
0

1. JAN 2000
4.2%

2. DEC 2009
16.6%

3. MAR 2016
29.6%

4. JAN 2024
40.9%

DEC 2024
25.8%

1
2
3
4

PACIFIC
OCEAN

Sources: New York Times/Pulitzer Center’s Ocean Reporting Network
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