With the advancement of science and technology, climate scientists have gradually uncovered the mystery of global warming.Research shows that since 1971, the ocean has absorbed more than 90% of the world's excess energy.This stunning figure has attracted global attention because the warming of the ocean will have profound impacts on ecosystems and climate systems.So, what kind of human activities make the ocean so hot?
The ocean absorbs most of the excess heat from the atmosphere, making it the largest heat storage on Earth.
According to climate science research, Ocean Heat Content (OHC) refers to the thermal energy stored in the ocean, which is closely related to changes in the ocean's temperature.As ocean temperature rises, the ocean also begins to release warmth, which has exacerbated the process of global warming.From 2003 to 2018, the heat increase of 2,000 meters in the upper ocean was faster than before, which is undoubtedly closely related to the greenhouse gases emitted by humans.
Comprehensive data from many places around the world, most of the ocean heating is caused by human activities.These activities include burning of fossil fuels, deforestation and other greenhouse gas production.The increase in greenhouse gases not only makes the atmosphere hotter, but also increases the ocean's heat capacity, resulting in a significant increase in the heat absorbed by the ocean.
The heat capacity of seawater is much greater than that of gas, so even on the surface, the ocean can store more energy.
Such changes have brought many ecological impacts.The warming ocean directly leads to coral bleaching, which poses a threat to species that rely on coral reef ecosystems.In addition, habitats of different species also change due to rising water temperatures, forcing them to migrate to cooler areas.
In addition to ecological influence, ocean heating also promotes sea level rise.According to the latest research, thermal expansion of the ocean caused sea levels to rise by 30% to 40% between 1900 and 2020.Such an increase poses a potential threat to low-lying coastal areas, and many countries are under pressure to migrate.
Thermal expansion and melting of the ice sheet are the main factors in sea level rise.
The ocean's thermal capacity makes it the Earth's thermal equilibrium system.Through the heat exchange between the ocean and the atmosphere, the ocean not only becomes a reservoir of heat energy, but also can appropriately allocate the energy flow of the climate system.However, as temperatures continue to rise, this balance is in danger of collapse, and future extreme weather events such as heat waves and hurricanes may also increase in frequency.
While we already know that heat changes in the ocean are related to human activities, how to effectively deal with this challenge remains a major issue.Governments and international organizations need to strengthen cooperation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable development so that ocean warming and its impact can be curbed.
As the earth's "heat engine", its temperature changes are one of the indicators of global warming.
As the global oceans break the heat record again in 2023, this means our actions must be more united and decisive.From the research data, we can see that the above overall trends not only involve ecology and climate issues, but also affect finance, society and international relations.To effectively address global warming, are we really ready to take action to avoid the catastrophic consequences of the continued warming of the ocean?