Marine heat waves (MHWs), which are characterized by prolonged periods of anomalously warmer seawater temperature, have been increasingly observed over the global oceans. In this study, we investigate the MHW activity in the Arabian Sea (AS) and Bay of Bengal (BoB) during the period 1982–2024, focusing on their contrasting features. Our results show collateral differences in the MHW activity in the two basins. Seasonal variability was distinctive, with the AS showing peak MHW occurrences in pre-monsoon, in contrast to post-monsoon events dominating the BoB. Most MHW events in the two basins were observed in the recent decades. We show that although MHWs are intensifying across both basins, the AS is experiencing a more pronounced strengthening in their intensity and persistence, whereas the BoB shows...
