Last year, the World Ocean in the upper 2000-meter layer was 1.51 × 1022 J warmer than during the warmest year of 2015, and 19.19 × 1022 J warmer than the climatological reference period 1981-2010. Because of the large heat capacity, the ocean accumulates heat, which is released as a result of human activity. In fact, more than 90 percent of the residual heat of the Earth, associated with global warming, is absorbed by the ocean. Thus, global ocean warming rates can serve as a reliable sign of global warming, to which weather-related noises and climate events, such as El Niño and La Niña, are less affected. According to the analysis of Chinese scientists, the last five years were the warmest years for the ocean. Therefore, the long-term trend of warming caused by human activity is not weakening.
The increase in heat content in the ocean in 2017 was observed in most regions of the world. The greenhouse gases continue to affect the Earth’s system. The increase in ocean temperature causes its expansion, which contributes to an increase in the average level in the world. The increase in the ocean’s heat content to 1.51 × 1022 J in 2017 led to an increase in the global sea level by 1.7 mm. Other effects include lowering oxygen levels in water, coral reef discoloration and melting of sea ice and ice shelves.
The study was published in the journal Advances in Atmospheric Sciences.
