ocean heat content

Ocean warming is the absorption of excess heat from global warming by ocean water. This phenomenon is measured as ocean heat content (OHC), which quantifies the change in thermal energy within a specific volume of water. The primary cause of ocean warming is the emission of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels, which trap solar energy in the atmosphere. Since the 1970s, over 90 percent of this trapped heat has been absorbed by the oceans.12

OHC is measured using data from floating sensors on buoys (Argo floats), ships, and aircraft probes. Satellite radar altimeters also track the thermal expansion of water to verify these measurements. Ocean warming affects marine ecosystems by stressing organisms, altering cellular respiration, and threatening the survival of coral and other species. It also contributes to sea level rise and can intensify tropical cyclones.12