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40 priority questions to advance understanding of the risks and opportunities of UK marine heatwaves

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Pip MooreORCiD, Dr Fabrice StephensonORCiD, Dr Sarah Coulthard

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).

Abstract

© The Author(s) 2025.Marine heatwaves (MHWs) are periods of anomalously warm sea temperatures that are becoming increasingly recognised as ocean stressors. Globally, MHWs have impacted marine ecosystems, with significant socioeconomic implications for coastal communities and industries. The unprecedented MHW that occurred in the waters surrounding the UK and Ireland in summer 2023 highlighted a crucial gap in our understanding of the region-specific characteristics of MHWs and their impacts on marine ecosystems, the services they underpin, the blue economy and society. Using diverse expert opinion, we propose 40 priority questions for interdisciplinary research in the UK that must urgently be addressed to prepare for future risks and potential opportunities associated with MHWs. The targeted questions are listed under a broad range of themes. Recommendations to policy makers and those influencing the strategic direction and allocation of funding and resources are also suggested to assist decision-makers towards evidence-based action and guide funding streams.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Jacobs Z, Smith KE, Kajtar JB, Smale DA, Moore PJ, Stephenson F, Burrows MT, Rowland C, Renshaw R, Oliver S, Jakins-Pollard M, Palmer FI, Kloker A, Baker-Austin C, Townhill B, Rees S, Coulthard S, Popova E

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: NPJ Ocean Sustainability

Year: 2026

Volume: 5

Issue: 1

Print publication date: 05/01/2026

Online publication date: 17/12/2025

Acceptance date: 12/11/2025

Date deposited: 19/01/2026

ISSN (electronic): 2731-426X

Publisher: Springer Nature

URL: https://doi.org/10.1038/s44183-025-00171-0

DOI: 10.1038/s44183-025-00171-0

Data Access Statement: Temperature data to generate Fig. 1 was downloaded and sourced from [http://marine.copernicus.eu/services-portfolio/access-to-products/] (http:/marine.copernicus.eu/services-portfolio/access-to-products). No new datasets were generated

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