Thursday, January 30, 2014

Warming Oceans Consistent with Rising Sea Level & Global Energy Imbalance

Black carbon over northern India. Some estimates state that 18% of global warming is caused by black carbon. (Credit: NASA) Click to enlarge.
Key Points:
  • The ocean is quickly accumulating heat and is doing so at an increased rate at depth during the so-called “hiatus” – a period over the last 16 years during which average global surface temperatures have risen at a slower rate than previous years.
  • This continued accumulation of heat is apparent in ocean temperature observations, as well as reanalysis and modeling experiments, and is now supported by up-to-date assessments of Earth's energy imbalance.
  • Another key piece of evidence is rising global sea level.  The expansion of the oceans (as they warm) has contributed to 35–40% of sea level rise over the last two decades - providing independent corroboration of the increase in ocean temperatures.
Warming Oceans Consistent with Rising Sea Level & Global Energy Imbalance

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