NEW YORK: A new study has revealed that the worst drought ever has loomed over the US west coast and it may be attributable to mysterious Pacific Ocean ‘warm blob’. Researchers behind the study have revealed that the blob was found in the ocean and its temperature is two to seven degrees higher than the temperature of the surrounding water. As a result, marine ecosystem of the West Coast is being altered and other species have to find their ways to somewhere else.
According to the researchers, the location of the blob is about 1,000 miles offshore, from Alaska to Mexico. It is about 300 feet deep.
The blob is caused by a high-pressure ridge, which is trapping heat in the water, said a University of Washington study. Researchers believe that it could be the possible reason behind a mild 2014 winter in Washington state, and a warmer summer could be the next effect of the blob.
Scientists have not been able to figure out when the blob was formed and how long it is expected to exist. However, their efforts have helped them determine the highly likely effects of the blob.
Researchers have explained that more heat is experienced after air goes over the warmer water and hits the coasts. This answers why Washington, Oregon and California are experiencing some nasty drought conditions.
Fish are living in places where they usually do, but their food web is disturbed by the warmer water as the nutrient content reduces significantly.
Scientists have predicted that occurrences of the blob and other meteorological anomalies of indeterminate origin will become more often with time, which will cause even more disruption to the earth’s climate cycle.
