@article{fdi:010097049,
  title = {{M}arine heatwaves across the central {S}outh {P}acific : characteristics, mechanisms, and modulation by {E}l {N}iño {S}outhern {O}scillation},
  author = {{P}agli, {B}astien and {I}zumo, {T}akeshi and {B}arboni, {A}lexandre and {C}hevillard, {C}. and {D}utheil, {C}yril and {L}egrand, {R}. and {M}enk{\`e}s, {C}hristophe and {R}ocuet, {C}. and {C}ravatte, {S}ophie},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{M}arine heatwaves ({MHW}s) are intensifying with climate change, endangering ecosystems such as coral reefs. {Y}et their regional characteristics and drivers remain poorly understood in many parts of the {P}acific. {H}ere we provide a comprehensive assessment of {MHW}s in the central {S}outh {P}acific and across the five archipelagos of {F}rench {P}olynesia ({FP}; representing more than 5 million km2 of maritime area, a region as vast as {E}urope), using sea surface temperature observations and an ocean reanalysis to investigate underlying mechanisms. {MHW} characteristics vary widely across the region: its northern and southern parts (the {M}arquesas and {A}ustral archipelagos, respectively) experience the highest number of {MHW} days and the strongest cumulative intensities, especially during the warm season ({N}ovember-{A}pril). {I}n contrast, its central part (the {S}ociety, {T}uamotu, and {G}ambier {I}slands) exhibits more moderate {MHW} characteristics. {H}eat budget analyses highlight the seasonally and regionally diverse mechanisms shaping {MHW}s. {I}n central {FP} during the warm season (austral summer), most {MHW}s are driven by air-sea heat fluxes, while in the northern part, those driven by oceanic horizontal advection dominate. {D}uring the cold season (austral winter), more {MHW}s driven by horizontal advection are observed in the whole region since the thicker seasonal mixed layer reduces the proportion of {MHW}s driven by air-sea fluxes. {E}l {N}i & ntilde;o-{S}outhern {O}scillation ({ENSO}) strongly modulates {MHW} occurrences: {E}l {N}i & ntilde;o favors {MHW} occurrences in northeastern {FP}, while {L}a {N}i & ntilde;a increases {MHW} occurrence in the southwest with different spatial extent depending on {ENSO} flavors ({C}entral or {E}astern {P}acific {ENSO} events). {T}his modulation arises from reduced wind-evaporation cooling with reduced wind speed, shoaled mixed layers, and enhanced horizontal heat advection, occurring primarily to the northeast of {F}rench {P}olynesia during {E}l {N}i & ntilde;o and to the southwest during {L}a {N}i & ntilde;a. {T}hese results greatly improve our understanding of {MHW} characteristics, dynamics and variability in this ecologically-fragile region.},
  keywords = {{PACIFIQUE} ; {PACIFIQUE} {SUD}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{O}cean {S}cience},
  volume = {22},
  numero = {2},
  pages = {1329--1352},
  ISSN = {1812-0784},
  year = {2026},
  DOI = {10.5194/os-22-1329-2026},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010097049},
}