I'd never heard of a yellow-bellied sea snake, but el nino is bringing them to CA.+

[DocVikingo]

http://www.laobserved.com/archive/20...ake_arrive.php

Cheers,

DocVikingo​

 

[drrich2]

Very interesting. I wonder if they're common south of California? I haven't read a lot about the diving in the Sea of Cortez, but what I have read, I don't remember seeing them mentioned.

The climate impact of en nino is interesting, and confused me. From your link:

Extreme sea level drops in the western Pacific will also last longer, putting coral under even more stress. During the 1997-98 El Niño, sea levels dropped up to a foot in the western Pacific, leaving coral reefs high and dry. 2015’s El Niño has already caused the sea level to drop seven inches in the western tropical Pacific Ocean.

and

El Niño-caused sea level rise, coupled with sea levels rising from ice sheet melt associated with climate change, is projected to lead to more coastal flooding, shrinking beaches, and shoreline erosion. This year’s El Niño has western U.S. cities planning for coastal flooding. Higher sea levels, high tides and storm surges that force waves well past their usual reach pose very real threats.

Richard.