A new study published on Tuesday by researchers at the University of Reading has found that the rate of ocean warming has more than quadrupled over the past 40 years, primarily due to Earth’s growing energy imbalance. The research suggests that the sun is a significant contributor to this phenomenon, accounting for roughly 44 percent of extra heat in recent El Niño years.
The study’s lead author, Professor Christopher Merchant, notes that there has been an uptick in the planet’s energy imbalance over the past decade, leading to increased ocean warming. The researchers found a tight correlation between ocean warming and Earth’s energy imbalance, with both phenomena escalating in lockstep since 1985.
Merchant warns that this relationship is bad news for the oceans, which have absorbed nearly 90% of excess warming from human activity. The next 20 years could see further ocean warming, with the sun’s energy imbalance playing a key role. To mitigate these effects, efforts to curb air pollution from factories in countries like China are essential.
The research highlights the complex interplay between climate change and natural patterns, such as El Niño and La Niña. The study’s findings also underscore the importance of understanding ocean warming and its far-reaching consequences, including more frequent and intense hurricanes, wildfires, droughts, and floods.
Source: https://www.civilbeat.org/2025/01/finally-an-answer-to-why-earths-oceans-have-been-on-a-record-hot-streak