In July 2021, the Optimum Interpolation Sea Surface Temperature (OISST) recorded abnormally high temperatures in the northwest Pacific Ocean. This marine heat wave led to massive marine animal deaths and the loss of approximately $8.19 million in coastal fisheries in Japan.
In this case study, Jamie Epstein provides an analysis of the event, presenting its environmental causes and epidemiological consequences. Given the fact that global warming is a major cause of extreme heat events, Epstein urges that more actions be taken at the societal level to slow down climate change.