California's ocean is up to 4°C hotter than normal; whales are disappearing, pelicans are starving and sharks are moving closer

Ocean temperatures along the California coast have climbed up to 4°C above average, driving whales away from usual feeding spots, starving seabirds, and pushing great white sharks uncomfortably close to public beaches.

Data from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows this marine heatwave has lasted for about six months. The heat is now linking up with El Niño, a weather pattern that warms surface waters across the central and eastern Pacific Ocean.