In 2023, the world’s oceans experienced an unprecedented surge in heat absorption, reaching levels that could “evaporate billions of Olympic-sized swimming pools,” as revealed in a recent annual report. With oceans covering 70 percent of the planet, their crucial role in maintaining a livable Earth cannot be overstated. Since the dawn of the industrial age, they have absorbed a staggering 90 percent of the excess heat generated by carbon pollution from human activities.
Last year, the oceans absorbed an estimated 9 to 15 zettajoules more heat compared to 2022, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Chinese Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IAP). To put this into perspective, one zettajoule is equivalent to ten times the electricity generated worldwide in a year. In other words, the additional heat absorbed by the oceans in 2023 could boil away a mind-boggling 2.3 billion Olympic-sized swimming pools.
The study, published in the journal “Advances in Atmospheric Sciences,” highlights that both sea surface temperature and the energy stored in the upper 2,000 meters of the ocean reached record highs in 2023. The energy stored in the oceans serves as a critical indicator of global warming since it is less influenced by natural climate variability compared to sea surface temperature.
The consequences of this excessive heat absorption were felt worldwide in 2023, as the year witnessed an onslaught of heatwaves, droughts, and wildfires. This can be attributed to the fact that warmer oceans release more heat and moisture into the atmosphere, leading to increasingly erratic weather patterns, including fierce winds and intense rainfall.
Global warming, primarily caused by the burning of fossil fuels, is the main driver behind the rising sea surface temperatures. Additionally, a naturally occurring weather phenomenon called El Niño periodically warms the sea surface in the southern Pacific, contributing to hotter weather globally. The current El Niño is expected to peak in 2024. Conversely, a counterpart phenomenon known as La Niña helps cool the surface of the ocean.
Moreover, increasing water temperatures and ocean salinity, which are currently at all-time highs, contribute to a process called “stratification.” This phenomenon causes water to separate into layers, inhibiting proper mixing. Stratification has far-reaching implications as it disrupts the exchange of heat, oxygen, and carbon between the ocean and the atmosphere, leading to a decline in oxygen levels within the ocean.
While the oceans have been resilient in absorbing excess heat for decades, scientists are now expressing concerns about their long-term capacity to continue doing so. The relentless increase in human-induced heat poses a significant challenge, and it is imperative that we take immediate action to address climate change and reduce carbon emissions.
Understanding the impact of excess heat absorption by the oceans is crucial for comprehending the gravity of global warming. As the world grapples with the consequences of rising temperatures, it becomes increasingly evident that urgent measures are needed to protect our oceans, our planet, and the future of generations to come.
Source: The Manila Times
