Distinctive pattern of global warming in ocean heat content

Huge heat anomalies in the atmosphere and ocean in recent years are not yet explained. Strong characteristic patterns in temperatures for upper layers of the ocean occurred from 2000 to 2023 in the presence of global warming from increasing atmospheric greenhouse gases. Here, we show that the deep tropics are warming, although sharply modulated by El Niño–Southern Oscillation events, with strong heating in the extratropics near 40°N and 40°–45°S but little heating near 20°N and 25°–30°S. The heating is most clearly manifested in zonal-mean ocean heat content and is evident in sea surface temperatures. The strongest heating is in the Southern Hemisphere, where aerosol effects are small. Estimates are made of the contributions to heating of top-of-atmosphere (TOA) radiation, atmospheric energy transports, surface fluxes of energy, and redistribution of energy by surface winds and ocean currents. The patterns of change are not directly related to TOA radiation but are evident in net surface energy fluxes and inferred ocean heat transports, underscoring their coupled origin. Changes in the atmospheric circulation through a poleward shift in ocean jet streams and storm tracks are reflected in surface wind-driven ocean Ekman transports. As well as human-induced climate change, internal natural variability is likely in play. Hence, the atmosphere and ocean currents are systematically redistributing heat from global warming, profoundly affecting local climates.

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Copyright 2025 American Meteorological Society (AMS).


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Author Trenberth, Kevin E.
Cheng, L.
Pan, Y.
Fasullo, John T.
Mayer, M.
Publisher UCAR/NCAR - Library
Publication Date 2025-05-01T00:00:00
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Topic Category geoscientificInformation
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Metadata Date 2025-07-10T19:46:59.479504
Metadata Record Identifier edu.ucar.opensky::articles:43593
Metadata Language eng; USA
Suggested Citation Trenberth, Kevin E., Cheng, L., Pan, Y., Fasullo, John T., Mayer, M.. (2025). Distinctive pattern of global warming in ocean heat content. UCAR/NCAR - Library. https://n2t.net/ark:/85065/d7k64ph0. Accessed 31 July 2025.

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