Marine heatwaves (MHWs) are prolonged and extreme warm ocean conditions that cause substantial ecological and socio-economic damage. Understanding of the physical mechanisms that generate MHWs is important to improving our capacity to forecast them. Meanwhile, gaining a better understanding of the impacts of MHWs on ecosystems, and their interactions with other parts of the climate system, is significant for promoting sustainable development in the face of climate change. We welcome abstract submissions across all aspects of marine heatwave research and particularly encourage studies of the following themes.

Definition and Methods: novel physics and impact-based definitions which challenge the now-traditional statistical framework; observational and modelling requirements for reliable monitoring; AI/ML-based detection and prediction for surface and subsurface MHWs.
Impacts: Socio-economic damage to marine activities and industries including but not limited to tourism, fisheries, aquaculture; discussions with stakeholders.
Mitigation/Adaptation: forecasting efforts on short-term to decadal timescales; projections of future changes; studies of precursors and predictability.
Interactions: compound and concurrent events, ecosystem and biogeochemical implications (e.g. on nutrient/oxygen availability/harmful algal blooms/ocean acidification and trophic web), impacts on atmospheric circulation/extreme weather events (e.g. Tropical Cyclones/Monsoon Circulation).

This session welcomes studies across all spatial scales; studies on coastal scales and processes are particularly welcome.