Kelp forests are important marine ecosystems that provide food, shelter, and breeding grounds for a variety of marine life. However, kelp forests are also vulnerable to environmental stressors, such as rising ocean temperatures.

The 2014–2016 Pacific marine heat wave was one of the strongest and longest-lasting marine heat waves on record. The heat wave caused widespread damage to kelp forests along the Pacific coast of North America, with some kelp forests losing up to 90% of their biomass.

A new study has revealed how some kelp forests persisted through the marine heat wave. The study, published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution, found that kelp forests that were located in areas with strong upwelling currents were more likely to survive the heat wave.

Upwelling currents bring cold, nutrient-rich water from the deep ocean to the surface. This cold water helps to keep kelp forests cool and provides them with the nutrients they need to grow.

The study's findings suggest that upwelling currents may provide a refuge for kelp forests during marine heat waves. This information could be used to help managers protect kelp forests from the impacts of climate change.

The study was conducted by researchers from the University of California, Santa Barbara, the University of California, Los Angeles, and the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center.