SEA surface temperatures in Fiji waters have hit more than 31 degrees Celsius recently, sparking concerns about fish migration and tropical cyclone formation.
Director of Meteorology Misaeli Funaki says while the phenomenon is rare, it has happened before.
When compared with conditions pre-TC Winston, Mr Funaki said the temperature increase in recent days had been concentrated in waters off Yasawa.
During Winston, sea surface temperatures were on a broader front across waters around Fiji.
Sea surface temperatures in recent days have been unusually high, and director of Meteorology Misaeli Funaki says the spike could lead to fish migration and provide favourable conditions for tropical cyclone formation.
He also said while this was a rare phenomenon, it had happened before.
“The sea surface temperatures in some of the Fiji waters — mainly in waters to the west of Viti Levu — in recent days have been above 29 degrees Celsius,” he said.
“The in-situ ocean observation at the Lautoka tidal gauge at 3.10pm on 11th March registered 30.1 degrees Celsius.
“This is more than 1 degree Celsius warmer than usual in some of the areas at this time of the year.
“This pattern of warmer than usual waters has been persisting for some time now with the monthly average sea surface temperature for February 2019 being very much above average in some of the Fiji Waters.
“This is a rare thing to happen but not abnormal, it happens every 10 out of 100 years.
“It occurred in January and February last year and it is rare that it happened two consecutive years — last year and this year again.”
Mr Funaki added that the warm waters would have a number of effects on the climate and biological systems.
“Different species of fish are sometimes known to be found at certain temperature ranges. “Consequently, prolonged warm conditions could lead to fish migration.
“The formation of tropical cyclones requires sea surface temperatures higher than 26.5 degrees Celsius.
“As such, these warm ocean conditions would favour tropical cyclone formation.”
