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<p>Marine ecosystems are increasingly influenced by extreme temperature events, which have significant ecological and economic impacts. Among these events, Marine Heat Waves (MHWs) and Marine Cold Spells (MCSs) represent two contrasting phenomena that disrupt oceanic environments. While MHWs are identified by extended periods of unusually warm sea surface temperatures, leading to widespread coral bleaching and the displacement of marine species, MCSs involve periods of anomalously cold temperatures that can equally disrupt marine life by causing stress, reduced metabolic rates, and even mortality in temperature-sensitive species. Both phenomena are critical to understanding climate variability’s broader impacts on marine ecosystems, yet MCSs have received comparatively less attention in scientific literature. This paper explores some of the key elements, characteristics, and effects of MCSs that occurred in the Bay of Bengal (BoB) on atmospheric and oceanic variables. Two significant MCSs are identified in this investigation that occurred over the BoB region (88.5°E-92.5°E, 19°N-22°N) during 1982–2023. Based on maximum duration and maximum intensity, these two significant MCS episodes are distinguished. It is found that the maximum duration MCS event that occurred during 2000-01, continued for 71 days with peak intensity of -2.51&#xa0;°C. Meanwhile, the maximum intensity MCS event that occurred in 1982, spanned for 15 days with peak intensity of -3.49&#xa0;°C. It is observed that the values of heat fluxes, wind speed, and ocean currents decrease while evaporation is high during the MCS events.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p> <p>Marine Cold Spells (MCSs) significantly influence upper-ocean thermal structure and air-sea interactions over the Bay of Bengal (BoB), yet their governing mechanisms remain insufficiently explored. This study examines MCS events over the BoB region (88.5°E-92.5°E, 19°N-22°N) during the winter season (December-February) from 1982 to 2023, a region characterized by high sea surface temperature (SST) variability and pronounced seasonal SST minima, indicating enhanced susceptibility to MCS occurrences. Two extreme MCS events, characterized by maximum duration and maximum intensity are identified. It is found that the maximum duration MCS event that occurred during 2000-01, continued for 71 days with peak intensity of -2.51&#xa0;°C. Meanwhile, the maximum intensity MCS event that occurred in 1982, spanned for 15 days with peak intensity of -3.49&#xa0;°C. Upon investigation their associated atmospheric and oceanic responses show a marked reduction in surface heat fluxes prior to the onset of both MCS events, suggesting suppressed oceanic heat gain and the absence of SST recovery during the events.</p>

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Analysis of Long-duration and High-intensity Marine Cold Spells in the Bay of Bengal

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月14日

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  • Rama Kanta Nayak,
  • Biplab Sadhukhan,
  • Swapnil Das,
  • Rashmi Rekha Nayak,
  • Arun Chakraborty

摘要

Marine ecosystems are increasingly influenced by extreme temperature events, which have significant ecological and economic impacts. Among these events, Marine Heat Waves (MHWs) and Marine Cold Spells (MCSs) represent two contrasting phenomena that disrupt oceanic environments. While MHWs are identified by extended periods of unusually warm sea surface temperatures, leading to widespread coral bleaching and the displacement of marine species, MCSs involve periods of anomalously cold temperatures that can equally disrupt marine life by causing stress, reduced metabolic rates, and even mortality in temperature-sensitive species. Both phenomena are critical to understanding climate variability’s broader impacts on marine ecosystems, yet MCSs have received comparatively less attention in scientific literature. This paper explores some of the key elements, characteristics, and effects of MCSs that occurred in the Bay of Bengal (BoB) on atmospheric and oceanic variables. Two significant MCSs are identified in this investigation that occurred over the BoB region (88.5°E-92.5°E, 19°N-22°N) during 1982–2023. Based on maximum duration and maximum intensity, these two significant MCS episodes are distinguished. It is found that the maximum duration MCS event that occurred during 2000-01, continued for 71 days with peak intensity of -2.51 °C. Meanwhile, the maximum intensity MCS event that occurred in 1982, spanned for 15 days with peak intensity of -3.49 °C. It is observed that the values of heat fluxes, wind speed, and ocean currents decrease while evaporation is high during the MCS events.

Graphical Abstract

Marine Cold Spells (MCSs) significantly influence upper-ocean thermal structure and air-sea interactions over the Bay of Bengal (BoB), yet their governing mechanisms remain insufficiently explored. This study examines MCS events over the BoB region (88.5°E-92.5°E, 19°N-22°N) during the winter season (December-February) from 1982 to 2023, a region characterized by high sea surface temperature (SST) variability and pronounced seasonal SST minima, indicating enhanced susceptibility to MCS occurrences. Two extreme MCS events, characterized by maximum duration and maximum intensity are identified. It is found that the maximum duration MCS event that occurred during 2000-01, continued for 71 days with peak intensity of -2.51 °C. Meanwhile, the maximum intensity MCS event that occurred in 1982, spanned for 15 days with peak intensity of -3.49 °C. Upon investigation their associated atmospheric and oceanic responses show a marked reduction in surface heat fluxes prior to the onset of both MCS events, suggesting suppressed oceanic heat gain and the absence of SST recovery during the events.