Record Warming of Oceans in 2021

According to a recently published study, the world’s oceans underwent record warming in 2021.

Key Findings

Ocean Heating

• The oceans have been experiencing an unambiguous increase in heat since the late 1980s.
• The warming rates in 1986-2021 represents a maximum eight-fold increase compared to 1958–85.
• There is an energy imbalance from the build-up of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. The oceans are absorbing most of the heating from human carbon emissions.
• This heating will continue until net-zero carbon emission is reached.
• The upper 2,000 metres of the ocean absorbed 235 zettajoules (ZJ) of heat in 2021 relative to the 1981-2010 average.
• Last year, ....