Monday, December 09, 2013

NOAA Posts Another Large Jump in Ocean Heating

Global Ocean Heat Content 1955-present 0-700 mNew data for ocean heat content for the third quarter was just posted by NOAA. It shows another large increase for the 0-700 meter layer.

Compared to a year ago, 0-700 m OHC was up 0.90 x 1022 Joules, which works out to 285 terawatts, or 0.56 W/m2 over the Earth's entire surface.

(Using the Earth's entire surface area, instead of the area of the oceans, is probably a better calculation, since 90+% of the extra heat goes into the oceans.)

Comparing, the 0-700 m heating in the last year is twice the 15-year trend of 0.45 x 1022 J/yr, and 3.4 times the trend since 1955. An acceleration of warming?

The figure for the 0-2000 m region hasn't been posted yet.

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