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Ocean heat hits record high in 2023! What's making the ocean so hot?
According to the latest research report, the heat of the global ocean hit a new record high in 2023, exceeding the highest record in 2022. This alarming change has attracted widespread attention from the scientific community and environmental organizations, who are trying to find the cause of this phenomenon and consider its possible impact on the ecosystem in the future.
"The increase in ocean heat accounts for more than 90% of the unnecessary energy contribution to global warming from 1971 to 2018."
Ocean heat content (OHC) refers to the amount of energy absorbed and stored by the ocean. By measuring ocean temperatures at different locations and depths, it is possible to estimate changes in the heat content of the ocean as a whole. According to reports, ocean heat is likely to increase further in the coming years, which is directly related to human activities, especially the increase in greenhouse gas emissions.
The ocean is able to absorb so much heat mainly because the specific heat capacity of water is much higher than that of the gases in the atmosphere. This means that even the top few meters of the ocean's water can store more energy than the entire atmosphere. Research conducted since 1960, according to new data, shows that changes in sea surface temperature significantly affect multiple factors that interact with ecosystems, including sea level rise and the balance of marine ecology.
"Ocean thermal content and sea level rise are important indicators of climate change."
In addition to the basic heat gain, the researchers also observed heat storage in ocean water below a depth of 700 meters. Not only the North Pacific and North Atlantic, but also the Mediterranean and Antarctic Oceans recorded the highest heat observations in the past sixty years. Such changes will not only affect marine ecosystems, but also the coastal communities that depend on them.
With about 4,000 marine robotic buoys, scientists continuously monitor temperature anomalies at depth and collect a variety of data to further analyze changes in ocean thermal content. These floats can penetrate the ocean to depths of up to 2,000 meters, taking measurements of temperature, salinity, and pressure, a technique that is critical to improving estimates of the ocean's thermal content.
"The reason why ocean heat absorption accounts for more than 90% of the park is due to the huge thermal inertia of the ocean surface and below."
Climatologists point out that the changes in recent years are closely related to climate change and human activities. Over the past few decades, the ocean's heat absorption has not only continued to rise, but has also begun to expand at deeper levels of the ocean. This phenomenon shows the importance of the ocean in regulating climate. As the largest heat reservoir on Earth, the ocean can mitigate changes in land and ice sheets to a certain extent.
Changes affecting ecosystems
As ocean heat increases, the impacts on ecosystems are becoming increasingly apparent. Among them, coral bleaching and the migration of marine species are closely related to the rise in sea temperature. The emergence of marine heat waves not only threatens the survival of marine life, but may also lead to the collapse of major ecosystems.
In addition, increased ocean heat also affects global sea level rise. According to the study, the increase in OHC accounts for about 30% to 40% of global sea level rise between 1900 and 2020. The thermal expansion of ocean water causes more glaciers and sea ice to melt, further accelerating the pace of global climate change.
"The ocean plays an integral role in Earth's carbon cycle, acting as both a sink and a releaser of carbon."
While the rate at which the ocean absorbs carbon dioxide has increased over the past few decades, its ability to absorb oxygen and other gases has decreased significantly as waters warm. This entangled relationship has important implications for future research decisions.
As global climate change becomes increasingly severe, we need to learn more about changes in ocean heat and its profound impact on Earth's ecosystems. Can we take effective actions in the future to mitigate the threat of this wave?
