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The Drought and "The Blob" Delivering One-Two Punch To Puget Sound Ecosystems

Bellamy Pailthorp
Jerry Borchert, the state’s marine biotoxin coordinator, shows the net used to sample algae. ";

A who’s who of scientists from about a dozen local agencies gathered on Thursday to share what they’re learning about the warm patch of water off the west coast that’s been keeping temperatures higher than normal.

Standing near the Viking statue at Seattle’s Shilshole Bay, State Climatologist Nick Bond said he could go on and on about all the local temperature records being broken lately. But what’s concerning many scientists now, he said, is how warm the water is becoming. And some of those concerns focus specifically on "the blob."

Bond identified the patch of warm water off the west coast a year and a half ago.

“I started calling this mass of water “the blob,” I now kind of think that’s a four-letter word. But it’s still rearing its ugly head.”

The warmth of the water has been connected with ill effects such as earlier outbreaks of toxic algae. There has been an increase this year in harmful algae blooms, shellfish closures and unfavorable conditions for salmon.

“The buoys deployed by the University of Washington and the monitoring by the dept of ecology and King County and so forth are indicating upper layer temperatures well above normal – four degrees and more," Bond said. "And while that may not sound like a big difference, that really does have a large impact on the biology.” 

While many of the speakers emphasized there is no clear connection to climate change at the moment, scientific consensus is that these kinds of temperatures in the air and water could become the norm in the next 50 to 100 years.
 
In other words, the current conditions are providing a kind of dress rehearsal for that future. The current heat wave is expected to continue because of the strong El Nino weather pattern that is emerging, although the effects of El Nino could also weaken or kill the blob.
 
As a result of the blob, the razor clam and Dungeness crab fishing seasons have been shut down too.  And Bond says this year’s beach closures have already far surpassed the number last year – with nearly two more months of a hot summer ahead. 

Bellamy Pailthorp covers the environment for KNKX with an emphasis on climate justice, human health and food sovereignty. She enjoys reporting about how we will power our future while maintaining healthy cultures and livable cities. Story tips can be sent to bpailthorp@knkx.org.