NODC OHC reaches new records

[Frivolousz21]

Updated

[ivica]

Source: http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/OC5/3M_HEAT_CONTENT/

[Frivolousz21]

[deep octopus]

That's quite the spike. And this, despite neutral ENSO and the PDO now approaching neutral (and maybe even positive, seeing recent SST anomalies in Pacific northwest.)

[Anne]

Really stupid question here: what is the baseline, heat content zero in relation to what temperature?

ETA: Oh, I get it. It's a flux of energy, not a store. Sorry for being thick.

[ivica]

World Ocean Heat Content and Thermosteric Sea Level change (0-2000 m), 1955-2010, pdf (8.1 MB).
Note [4] in the introduction:
"The importance of the variability of the total heat content of the world ocean can hardly be underestimated.
Levitus et al. [2001] documented quantitatively that global ocean heat content is the major term in earth's heat balance."

At the end of note [1] we read:
"A lack of high-quality CTD and reversing thermometer data at depths exceeding 2000 m in recent years precludes us from producing recent analyses for deeper depths."

Major term == 2001, Lack of data == recent, Eh

[Glenn Tamblyn]

Ivica

The Argo float array gives us good global coverage for depths down to 2000 meters. However for any assessment of what is happening at depths below that we are dependent on far more expensive and sporadic sampling by oceanographic research ships. They sail 'transects', dropping instrument packages on long cables over the side to sample the deep waters. Expensive & time consuming to do.

I assume that comment is a reference to the possibility that their haven't been enough voyages recently, or that they don't have enough geographic coverage.

There is apparently a deeper diving version of Argo under development but I don't know where that is at at present.

[ivica]

We have a small problem: this board/folder has similar topic (a few weeks older) here: "Ocean warming"