Warming coastal water, thinning marine populations: Tracking of 2010 El Niño reveals marine life reductions

ScienceDaily (2010-03-04) -- The ongoing El Niño of 2010 is affecting north Pacific Ocean ecosystems in ways that could affect the West Coast fishing industry, according to scientists. Researchers report a stronger than normal northward movement of warm water up the Southern California coast, a high sea-level event in January and low abundances of plankton and pelagic fish -- all conditions consistent with El Niño.