As global ocean temperatures continue to rise, Tampa Bay and other Florida estuaries have warmed even faster, according to new research from University of South Florida scientists.

Why it matters: That's bad news for the seagrass, fish and other marine life that call Tampa Bay home, study co-author and USF professor Chuanmin Hu told Axios.

What they did: Along with Tampa Bay, researchers looked at Florida Bay west of the Florida Keys, the Caloosahatchee River estuary near Fort Myers and the St. Lucie estuary on the east coast.

What they found: Between 2003 and 2023, sea surface temperatures rose 67% faster than the Gulf of Mexico and 500% faster than global oceans, per a news release announcing the findings.

• Those estuaries have also warmed faster than similar bodies of water around Florida and in other states, Hu said, "which is not good news."
• Among the possible reasons: higher air temperatures spurred by climate change and the relatively shallow depth of estuaries, he said.

Threat level: Plant and animal life may not be able to adapt fast enough to the accelerating temperatures, Hu said. Warm water can also feed algae growth.

• Algal blooms block sunlight, release toxins and, when they die, consume oxygen, which is all harmful to marine life, Hu said.

Case in point: Old Tampa Bay, tucked between South Tampa and Central Pinellas County, is home to an algae species called pyrodinium that has similar impacts to red tide in the Gulf, Hu said.

Between the lines: The findings add to recent research from the Tampa Bay Estuary Program that found Tampa Bay has grown both warmer and less salty.

• The group has been working to restore more than 11,000 acres of seagrass lost since 2016 — nearly a third of the total population.

The bottom line: "To keep Tampa Bay's seagrass meadows healthy, we may need to do more to offset the effects of climate change on water quality," the group said in an Instagram post announcing the study.

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👋 Selene here. This is my last time writing to you here — perhaps my last time writing in Smart Brevity.

Why it matters: The past three and a half years since I helped start the Tampa Bay newsletter have had a lot of ups and downs, and you've been with me through it all.

• Even if you only respond to the newsletter to point out typos or say you disagree with our reporting, your readership has still meant the world to me.
• A lot of you respond, often, with kindness. I've felt that overwhelming kindness since the company announced layoffs this week, including my own.

Flashback: Moving back to Tampa Bay from Maryland to start this newsletter in 2021 was one of the best decisions I ever made.

• Covering this community has been an immense privilege, from its grisly veteran Santas and little girl rock stars to its mental health and criminal justice system.

What's ahead: You're in great hands with Kathryn and Yacob. I've been endlessly impressed with them since they started last year. And I'll be proud to keep reading their work. I hope you will too.

• And I'll be alright. I'm finishing up a manuscript thesis for my Masters in Fine Arts at NYU's Creative Writers in Paris program. And you can keep following my work.

The bottom line: Somewhere, somehow, I'll be back in your inbox soon.

🩺 USF's new dean for its College of Public Health is Sten Vermund, a former dean for Yale's School of Public Health and vice president for Vanderbilt University's Medical Center. (Tampa Bay Times)

• Vermund is also president of the Global Virus Network, which last month relocated its headquarters to USF.

✍️ A woman in Safety Harbor found a message, apparently written by a Virginia-based sailor during World War II, which was in a bottle that washed up among debris from Hurricane Debby. (WFLA)

🕵️ State Sen. Joe Gruters is calling for an investigation into the severe flooding that occurred in Sarasota County neighborhoods during Debby, including some that haven't flooded before. (Fox 13)

Early voting sites have begun opening this week across Tampa Bay for the Aug. 20 primary election.

Why it matters: Early voting lets you skip the crowds on Election Day.

How it works: You'll need a photo ID, which can be a driver's license, a U.S. passport, or other forms.

• Hillsborough opened its sites on Aug. 5, and will run through Aug. 18. Early voting in Citrus is Aug. 9-17.
• The window in Hernando, Manatee, Pasco and Polk counties is Aug. 10-17. Pinellas and Sarasota go from Aug. 10 to Aug. 18.

Between the lines: Florida is a closed primary state. However, the Aug. 20 primary includes open races (school board seats, for one), in which all voters can cast a ballot.

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Breaking is making its debut at the Paris Olympics this weekend, and hip-hop culture will be on full display.

Why it matters: For the first time in Olympic history, 32 breakers (16 B-boys and 16 B-girls) will compete in one-on-one battles.

Breaking is judged and scored on five criteria: technique, vocabulary, execution, musicality and originality, per Olympics.com.

What we're watching: Each country has four breakers, and Team USA includes Victor Montalvo, Jeffrey Louis, Sunny Choi and Logan Edra.

• Breaking will take place today and Saturday. Stream here.

More: Terms to know