Ocean heat content: Difference between revisions

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'''Ocean heat content''' (OHC) refers to the amount of [[heat]] stored in the Earth’s oceans.  As the Sun warms the Earth, a very thin layer of ocean water is warmed.  Through convection and dynamic forces of wind and waves, the heat is transported to lower depths.  Most of the ocean’s heat is in the top 500 meters.  Tropical oceans are heated most.  Heat from the tropics is transported toward the poles through ocean currents.  Oceanic heat content is measured in [[joules]] and is used by scientists to analyze and to help make projections of [[global warming]].
==Importance of Ocean Heat Content==
The oceans cover 70% of the Earth’s surface. The northern hemisphere is 61% ocean and the southern hemisphere is 81% ocean.  Oceans are also deep. They are the world’s largest solar energy collector and energy storage system.  Scientists believe computing ocean heat content over time may be the best way to monitor [[anthropogenic]] [[climate change]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Estimating Annual Global Upper-Ocean Heat Content Anomalies despite Irregular In Situ Ocean Sampling | author = Lyman and Johnson| date = November 2008 | publisher = Journal of Climate| url =  http://ams.allenpress.com/archive/1520-0442/21/21/pdf/i1520-0442-21-21-5629.pdf| accessdate = 2008-12-26 }}</ref> 
Because the ocean and atmosphere are a coupled system, heat stored in the ocean can be released in the air and change surface [[temperature]]s.  The release of ocean heat and its effect on weather and climate is most easily seen by changes in oceanic oscillations such as the [[El Nino Southern Oscillation]] (ENSO), the [[Pacific Decadal Oscillation]] (PDO) and the [[Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation]] (AMO).
The surface temperature record is less valuable as a monitor of climate change because it is two-dimensional, subject to time lags, and subject to measurement uncertainties from urban heat island (UHI) effect and microsite issues.<ref>{{cite web | title = Heat storage within the Earth system |author = Roger A. Pielke Sr. | publisher = Bulletin of American Meteorological Society | date = March 2003 | url =  http://climatesci.org/publications/pdf/R-247.pdf| accessdate = 2008-12-26 }}</ref>  <ref>{{cite web | title = Surfacestations.org: A resource for climate station records and surveys |authors = Anthony Watts| publisher = Surfacestations.org| url =  http://www.surfacestations.org| accessdate = 2008-12-26 }}</ref>  Through recent improvements to the ocean monitoring system, ocean heat content may be the most accurate and reliable metric for analyzing and projecting climate change.
==History of ocean observations==
The earliest observations of ocean temperature were sea surface temperature readings.  Researchers on ocean vessels used wooden buckets to pull up sea water and then measure the temperature of water about one meter deep.  Later, temperatures were measured in water taken in by engine water intakes as deep as 20 meters. Sea surface temperatures are still being taken today by satellites, but these temperature readings do not give enough information deep into the oceans to compute ocean heat content.
===Pre-XBT Era (1955-1966)===
Data on ocean heat content goes back to about 1955.  Observations during this period were sparse, mainly near coastlines in the northern hemisphere and no deeper than 300 meters. <ref>{{cite web | title = Heat Content Variability Related to ENSO Events in the Pacific | author = Takuya Hasegawa and Kimio Hanawa |publisher = Journal of Physical Oceanography | date = February 2003 |url =  http://ams.allenpress.com/archive/1520-0485/33/2/pdf/i1520-0485-33-2-407.pdf | accessdate = 2008-12-28 }}</ref> 
===XBT Era (1967-2003)===
[[Expendable Bathythermograph]] (XBT) was the dominant instrument during this era and is still used today.<ref>{{cite web | title = Expendable Bathythermograph (XBT) | publisher = NOAA | url = http://seas.amverseas.noaa.gov/seas/xbt.html| accessdate = 2008-12-26 }}</ref>  XBT can obtain values on the temperature structure of the oceans to a depth of 2000 meters.  About 80 voluntary observing ships take about 14,000 observations each year.  The XBT is capable of temperature accuracies of ±0.1°C.<ref>{{cite web | title = (XBT/XSV) Expendable Profiling Systems | publisher = Lockheed Martin | url = http://www.sippican.com/stuff/contentmgr/files/0dad831400ede7b5f71cf7885fdeb110/sheet/xbtxsv92005.pdf | accessdate = 2008-12-26 }}</ref> 
===Argo Network Era (2004 to present)===
The [[Argo Network]] began deployment in 2000, reached sparse global coverage in 2004 and reached its complete size in November 2007 when its 3000th ocean float was launched.  Argo grew out of the [[World Ocean Circulation Experiment]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Argo takes the pulse of the ocean | author = Brian Smoliak |publisher = The Daily of the University of Washington | date = November 29, 2007 |url =  http://thedaily.washington.edu/article/2007/11/29/argoTakesThePulseOfTheOcean | accessdate = 2008-12-26 }}</ref> 
The Argo Network measures the ocean temperature, currents and [[salinity]].  Argo floats use [[conductivity]], temperature, depth (CTD) sensors to collect data and send it back in real time.  The quality and distribution of the data is much better than in the past when it was collected by ocean going ships and mainly restricted to shipping lanes.  All data is freely available to everyone.<ref>{{cite web | title = Global Argo Data Depository | publisher = National Oceanographic Data Center of NOAA | url =  http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/argo/index.htm | accessdate = 2008-12-26 }}</ref> 
While the Argo Network is able to take measurements to a depth of 2000 meters, a portion of the ocean depths are not being monitored.  The average depth of the oceans is 3,785 meters.  It is possible to sample lower depths, but the lower depths are not watched as closely.<ref>{{cite web | title = Recent Bottom Water Warming in the Pacific Ocean| author = Gregory Johnson et al | publisher = American Meteorological Society | date = November 2007 | url =  http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/people/gjohnson/gcj_3m.pdf| accessdate = 2008-12-26 }}</ref> 
====Polar Ocean Profiling System====
[[Polar Ocean Profiling System]] (POPS) uses a network of Argo type buoys specially designed for use in the multiyear ice zone of the [[Arctic Ocean]].  One type, called [[Compact Arctic Drifters]], have been collecting data since 2000.<ref>{{cite web | title = Global Argo Data Depository | publisher = National Oceanographic Data Center of NOAA | url =  http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/argo/index.htm | accessdate = 2008-12-26 }}</ref>  The buoys are able to collect data to a depth of 250 meters with plans to increase depth to 1000 meters.<ref>{{cite web | title = Major Observation Systems | publisher = Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology | url =  http://www.jamstec.go.jp/jamstec-e/kansoku/observ/jcad/jcad.html | accessdate = 2008-12-26 }}</ref>  Researchers also use under-ice floats in this region.<ref>{{cite web | title =Major  Under-ice Floats Offer a ‘Breakthrough’| publisher = Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute | url =  http://www.whoi.edu/oceanus/viewArticle.do?id=9210&sectionid=1000 | accessdate = 2008-12-26 }}</ref>
==What causes changes in Oceanic Heat ontent?==
===Solar variation===
Solar variations are changes in the level of [[solar radiation]] emitted by the Sun.  Changes in total solar irradiance (TSI) are often related to the 11-year sunspot cycle.  An increase in the number of sunspots increases the brighness of the Sun.  But aperiodic changes may also play a role.  While solar variation is not a high percentage of TSI (perhaps 0.1%), the climate sensitivity to these changes is still subject to debate. 
Related to solar variation are changes to the influx of [[galactic cosmic rays]] (GCR).  Low level clouds reduce sunlight to the Earth’s surface and so reduce surface temperature and oceanic heat content.  Galactic cosmic rays have been shown to be essential to the formation of low clouds.<ref>{{cite web | title = The SKY Experiment | publisher = Danish National Space Center |date = March 2003 | url =  http://www.spacecenter.dk/research/sun-climate/experiments/the-sky-experiment| accessdate = 2008-12-26 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Galactic cosmic ray and El Niño–Southern Oscillation trends in International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project D2 low-cloud properties | author = Nigel Marsh and Henrik Svensmark | publisher = Journal of Geophysical Research |date = March 2003 | url =  http://www.agu.org/pubs/crossref/2003/2001JD001264.shtml| accessdate = 2008-12-26 }}</ref>  However, most scientists believe it is impossible for a reduction in low clouds to have caused the observed 20th century warming of the oceans and land surface temperature.<ref>{{cite web | title = Recent oppositely directed trends in solar climate forcings and the global mean surface air temperature |author = Mike Lockwood and Claus Froelich| publisher = Proceedings of the Royal Society |date = 2007 | url =  http://publishing.royalsociety.org/media/proceedings_a/rspa20071880.pdf | accessdate = 2008-12-26 }}</ref> 
The [[Maunder Minimum]] was probably caused by a combination of solar variation and volcanic eruptions.
===Volcanic eruptions===
Large volcanic eruptions can inject [[aerosol]]s into the [[stratosphere]] which scatter solar radiation, decreasing surface air temperatures and lowering ocean heat content.<ref>{{cite web | title = Significant decadal-scale impact of volcanic eruptions on sea level and ocean heat content |author = John A. Church, Neil J. White and Julie M. Arblaster| publisher = Nature|date = November 2005 | url =  http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v438/n7064/abs/nature04237.html | accessdate = 2008-12-26 }}</ref>
===Greenhouse gases===
Mankind’s release of [[greenhouse gas]]es, like [[carbon dioxide]], into the lower atmosphere are believed to hold back some of the warmth the Earth would release into space causing the planet and oceans to warm.  Some scientists believe the Earth is now receiving more energy than it is emitting back to space.<ref>{{cite web | title = Earth’s Energy Imbalance: Confirmation and Implications | author = James Hansen et al. | publisher = Science Express | date = April 2004  | url =  http://meteora.ucsd.edu/cap/pdffiles/Hansen-04-29-05.pdf | accessdate = 2008-12-26 }}</ref>  During the 1990s, researchers at [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]] began calculating ocean heat content because of its possible importance in signaling the Earth was warming due to greenhouse gases.<ref>{{cite web | title = Warming of the world ocean: scientific interest in ocean heat content | publisher = NOAA | url =  http://celebrating200years.noaa.gov/breakthroughs/warming_ocean/welcome.html | accessdate = 2008-12-26 }}</ref>
==Correcting biases in the OHCA record==
==Correcting biases in the OHCA record==
Scientists use data about ocean heat content to create a time series of ocean heat content anomalies (OHCA).  Certain changes to the observational network introduced a warm bias which artificially increased the ocean’s warming trend in the years 1987-1996.  Exactly how much the trend was biased has been a subject of debate among scientists.<ref>{{cite web | title = How much is the ocean really warming? |author = Viktor Gouretski1 and Klaus Peter Koltermann
Scientists use data about ocean heat content to create a time series of ocean heat content anomalies (OHCA).  Certain changes to the observational network introduced a warm bias which artificially increased the ocean’s warming trend in the years 1987-1996.  Exactly how much the trend was biased has been a subject of debate among scientists.<ref>{{cite web | title = How much is the ocean really warming? |author = Viktor Gouretski1 and Klaus Peter Koltermann
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In the years from 2003-2005, the OHCA originally showed the oceans were cooling.  However, the cooling was determined to be the result of a data processing error and not actual cooling.  Once the error was corrected, the oceans showed neither significant cooling nor significant warming during those years.<ref>{{cite web | title = In Situ Data Biases and Recent Ocean Heat Content Variability |author = Josh Willis et al.| publisher = Submitted to Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology| url =  http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/people/lyman/Pdf/hc_bias_jtech_v1.pdf| accessdate = 2008-12-26 }}</ref>
In the years from 2003-2005, the OHCA originally showed the oceans were cooling.  However, the cooling was determined to be the result of a data processing error and not actual cooling.  Once the error was corrected, the oceans showed neither significant cooling nor significant warming during those years.<ref>{{cite web | title = In Situ Data Biases and Recent Ocean Heat Content Variability |author = Josh Willis et al.| publisher = Submitted to Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology| url =  http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/people/lyman/Pdf/hc_bias_jtech_v1.pdf| accessdate = 2008-12-26 }}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist|2}}

Revision as of 16:11, 31 December 2008

Correcting biases in the OHCA record

Scientists use data about ocean heat content to create a time series of ocean heat content anomalies (OHCA). Certain changes to the observational network introduced a warm bias which artificially increased the ocean’s warming trend in the years 1987-1996. Exactly how much the trend was biased has been a subject of debate among scientists.[1] [2]

In the years from 2003-2005, the OHCA originally showed the oceans were cooling. However, the cooling was determined to be the result of a data processing error and not actual cooling. Once the error was corrected, the oceans showed neither significant cooling nor significant warming during those years.[3]

  1. ↑ Viktor Gouretski1 and Klaus Peter Koltermann (2007). How much is the ocean really warming?. Geophysical Research Letters. Retrieved on 2008-12-26.
  2. ↑ Syd Levitus, John Antonov, Tim Boyer (presented March 10, 2008). Global Ocean Heat Content 1955-2007 in light of recently revealed instrumentation problems. Ocean Climate Laboratory – National Oceanographic Data Center NOAA. Retrieved on 2008-12-26.
  3. ↑ Josh Willis et al.. In Situ Data Biases and Recent Ocean Heat Content Variability. Submitted to Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology. Retrieved on 2008-12-26.
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