18 July 2016
Industrial-era Global Ocean Heat Uptake Doubles in Recent Decades
Increasing rate of global ocean heat uptake
Science
A diversity of measurement systems and model results have been used to examine the evolution of excess heat strored in the global ocean since the beginning of the industrial era. The results suggest that in recent decades the rate of heat uptake has substantially increased with evidence of warming penetrating into the deeper ocean.
Impact
This work improves understanding of global energy budget changes (oceans account for ~95% of budget), and suggests that the total ocean heat uptake during the industrial era has doubled in recent decades. By 2015, the deeper ocean (>700m) accounts for 35% of the total heat uptake and is rapidly increasing.
Summary
This work fills important voids in understanding of global energy budget changes (oceans account for ~95% of budget), and suggests that the total ocean heat uptake during the industrial era has doubled in recent decades. By 2015, the deeper ocean (>700m) accounts for 35% of the total heat uptake and is rapidly increasing.
Contact
Peter Gleckler
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)