and wild life that depends on it. joining me now is dr. cynthia lewis, director of the florida keys marine laboratory. i really appreciate your time this morning. i was reading the water off the coast of florida is on the brink of an ocean heatwave. what does that mean and why should we be so concerned? good morning. well, the ocean water out there on our reefs right now has been between 88 and 90 degrees actually out on the reef, and these reefs are incredibly important. first it s the only living barrier reef in the continental united states and the third largest barrier reef in the world, and as such it provide as barrier or protection to our coastal communities here in florida. it s the first line of defense that knocks down the wave energy
The 2013-2016 marine heat wave known as "The Blob" warmed a vast expanse of surface waters across the northeastern Pacific, disrupting West Coast marine ecosystems, depressing salmon returns, and damaging commercial fisheries. It also prompted a wave of research on extreme warming of ocean surface waters.