Ocean heat content hit a record high in 2022, a new study found, in a clear indication of continued global warming, Andrew writes.
The big picture: The research, published in the journal Advances in Atmospheric Sciences, indicates that ocean warming is leading to widespread changes throughout the sea, with salty areas getting saltier and fresh regions of the ocean getting fresher.
- This alters key ocean currents responsible for distributing heat around the world.
- The two-dozen researchers involved in the study found that the vertical slice of the ocean from 0 to 2,000 meters deep gained about 10 zettajoules of heat between 2021 and 2022.
- According to a statement, this heat is equal to about 100 times the world’s electricity generation in 2021.
Context: Warmer waters are also tied to stronger, wetter hurricanes, heat waves, droughts and heavy precipitation events, studies show.
What they’re saying: “If you want to know how fast the globe has warmed and if you want to look into the future climate, the answer is in the oceans,” study co-author John Abraham of the University of St. Thomas told Axios via email.
- “It tells us the past and helps us project into the future,” he said.
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