This photo taken Aug. 20, 2017 shows coral in the sea in Raja Ampat in Indonesia's far eastern Papua.

(GOH CHAI HIN/AFP/Getty Images)

At a Glance

A new study found heat waves have increased dramatically in our oceans since 1925.This is having a profound effect on the underwater ecosystem, from fish to coral reefs.The scientists believe man-made climate change is what's causing this increase.

Heat waves in our oceans are getting longer and more frequent, and that's having a severe impact on marine life, according to a new study.

The findings, in the journal Nature Communications, concluded our oceans have seen a 54-percent increase in heat wave days from 1925 to 2016. Climate change is responsible for the change, and the trend is expected to continue to increase in the coming decades, the study also said.

"We can expect further increases in marine heat wave days under continued global warming," said the study.

(MORE: )

The rise in greenhouse gas emissions means more heat is being stored in our oceans, and that's what has caused the increase in heat wave days, the study also said. Abnormally warm oceans have been blamed for the recent deaths of and seabirds, according to USAToday.

These heat waves are also wiping out coral reefs in widespread bleaching events as yet another key piece of the ocean ecosystem falls victim to global warming.

"This increase in marine heat waves is having devastating impacts ," NOAA coral reefs specialist Mark Eakin told the WashingtonPost.

The study, which was led byEric Oliver, an assistant professor in physical oceanography at theDalhousie University in Nova Scotia, shows how fragile the underwater ecosystem upon which millions rely for food has become in the face of a changing climate.