Climate change skeptics won't be happy seeing this evidence of their folly:
"A new analysis, published Tuesday in the journal Advances in Atmospheric Sciences, showed that oceans contained the most heat energy in 2021 since measurements began six decades ago — accelerating at a rate only possible because of human-emitted greenhouse gases.
Since the late 1980s, Earth’s oceans warmed at a rate eight times faster than the preceding decades." (our emphasis)
Using a network of buoys in seven ocean basins measuring the heat in the top 2,000 meters of water, the study found the oceans absorbed far more heat than in the 1981-2010 average, with each decade since 1980 warmer than the previous one:
"Through climate model experiments, the researchers showed that the warming pattern since 1979 was mainly attributed to increased anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations. The longer-term trends brought on by human activity are also overpowering short-term climate fluctuations, such as La Niña and El Niño, which can have regional effects.
“Ocean stores more than 90 percent of the Earth’s net heat gain due to greenhouse gases. Thus ocean warming is a fundamental indicator of the climate change,” Lijing Cheng, lead author and associate professor at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, wrote in an email. “The record ocean warming in 2021 is strong evidence that global warming continues.” (our emphasis)
As to the effects of the warming pattern, they include erosion of ice shelves in the Antarctic and, closer to home, violent weather:
"Last year, the record warmth manifested in several extreme weather events. Warmer water provides more energy, or fuel, for tropical storms, increasing their intensity and longevity. Following a record-breaking 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, 2021 brought another intense stretch of storms.
Hurricane Ida caused intense flooding and thunderstorms, ranking as the fifth-most expensive hurricane on record, with damage costing $75 billion. Hurricane Nicholas and Tropical Storms Elsa and Fred also inflicted billions of dollars’ worth of damage. [snip]
The unusual December tornadoes that struck several states can also be traced back to the warm waters. In December, record warm temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico created an atmosphere more reminiscent of spring than winter. As such, two tornado outbreaks occurred in the southern and central United States in the same week." (our emphasis)
Since oceans store the bulk of the Earth's heat gain, they're the best "thermometer" demonstrating global warming over time. Failing to heed this and to act on it is an existential issue.
