40 priority questions to advance understanding of the risks and opportunities of UK marine heatwaves
40 priority questions to advance understanding of the risks and opportunities of UK marine heatwaves
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.
Jacobs, Zoe
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Smith, Kathryn E.
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Kajtar, Jules B.
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Smale, Dan A.
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Moore, Pippa J.
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Stephenson, Fabrice
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Burrows, Michael T.
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Rowland, Caroline
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Renshaw, Richard
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Oliver, Sophy
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Jakins-Pollard, Martyn
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Palmer, Freya Ivy
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Kloker, Alice
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Baker-Austin, Craig
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Townhill, Bryony
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Rees, Sian E.
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Coulthard, Sarah
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Popova, Ekaterina
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5 January 2026
Jacobs, Zoe
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Smith, Kathryn E.
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Kajtar, Jules B.
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Smale, Dan A.
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Moore, Pippa J.
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Stephenson, Fabrice
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Burrows, Michael T.
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Rowland, Caroline
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Renshaw, Richard
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Oliver, Sophy
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Jakins-Pollard, Martyn
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Palmer, Freya Ivy
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Kloker, Alice
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Baker-Austin, Craig
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Townhill, Bryony
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Rees, Sian E.
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Coulthard, Sarah
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Popova, Ekaterina
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Jacobs, Zoe, Smith, Kathryn E., Kajtar, Jules B., Smale, Dan A., Moore, Pippa J., Stephenson, Fabrice, Burrows, Michael T., Rowland, Caroline, Renshaw, Richard, Oliver, Sophy, Jakins-Pollard, Martyn, Palmer, Freya Ivy, Kloker, Alice, Baker-Austin, Craig, Townhill, Bryony, Rees, Sian E., Coulthard, Sarah and Popova, Ekaterina
(2026)
40 priority questions to advance understanding of the risks and opportunities of UK marine heatwaves.
npj Ocean Sustainability, 5 (1), [1].
(doi:10.1038/s44183-025-00171-0).
Abstract
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.
Text
s44183-025-00171-0
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Accepted/In Press date: 12 November 2025
e-pub ahead of print date: 17 December 2025
Published date: 5 January 2026
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Local EPrints ID: 509251
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/509251
ISSN: 2731-426X
PURE UUID: 0e3dbe14-ec88-4ee6-abc7-5bdd16508c0e
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Date deposited: 16 Feb 2026 17:41
Last modified: 17 Feb 2026 03:08
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Contributors
Author:
Zoe Jacobs
Author:
Kathryn E. Smith
Author:
Jules B. Kajtar
Author:
Dan A. Smale
Author:
Pippa J. Moore
Author:
Fabrice Stephenson
Author:
Michael T. Burrows
Author:
Caroline Rowland
Author:
Richard Renshaw
Author:
Sophy Oliver
Author:
Martyn Jakins-Pollard
Author:
Freya Ivy Palmer
Author:
Alice Kloker
Author:
Craig Baker-Austin
Author:
Bryony Townhill
Author:
Sian E. Rees
Author:
Sarah Coulthard
Author:
Ekaterina Popova
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