California's Marine Ecosystems Under Threat from Cold Spills

A new study has found that the California Current System, a vital region for marine life off the US West Coast, is experiencing increasingly frequent and severe "cold-spells" - periods of unusually cold water temperatures. These cold-spells can have devastating effects on endangered species like leatherback turtles and blue whales, which rely on specific temperature ranges to survive. However, surprisingly, these cold-spells may also provide a temporary refuge for some of these species, potentially allowing them to gain habitat in the future. The study's findings suggest that by 2099, most of the California Current System will no longer experience the frequent and severe cold-spells it has in recent decades, but may still see some benefits from these events.