Anomalous warming in near-shore waters of the Southern California Bight as observed by the SCCOOS Automated Shore Station (SASS) network

Since 2005 a network of 4 instrument packages mounted on piers have recorded water properties in shallow, near-shore waters of the Southern California Bight. Preliminary analysis of the temperature anomaly time series reveals multiple marine heatwaves (MHWs) such as the “Warm Blob” of 2014-15 and the following El Niño in 2015-16. A more subtle change in the time series was a ~1 °C temperature increase at the beginning of 2014 that still persists. The temperature increase was recorded across all 4 pier sites: Scripps Pier, Newport Beach Pier, Santa Monica Pier, and Stearns Wharf. The increase was also recorded in the long record of glider transects of the California Underwater Glider Network. Ongoing research will identify future MHWs and evaluate the duration of the 1 °C temperature increase. Long-term changes in other water properties such as salinity and chlorophyll a fluorescence will also be examined. Funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill and the Inflation Reduction Act will help establish new and consistent measurements across the SASS network including pH, dissolved oxygen, fluorescent dissolved organic material, and turbidity.