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New Record Ocean Temperatures and Related Climate Indicators in 2023

Journal Article · · Advances in Atmospheric Sciences
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  1. Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing (China); National Center for Atmospheric Research
  2. University of St. Thomas, St Paul, MN (United States)
  3. National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO (United States); University of Auckland (New Zealand)
  4. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Silver Springs, MD (United States)
  5. University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA (United States)
  6. Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing (China); University of St. Thomas, St Paul, MN (United States)
  7. Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao (China)
  8. Ministry of Natural Resources of China, Beijing (China)
  9. National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO (United States)
  10. Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing (China)
  11. Hohai University, Nanjing (China)
  12. National Marine Data and Information Service, Tianjin (China)
  13. Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Lerici (Italy)
  14. Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Bologna (Italy)
  15. Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou (China)
  16. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Silver Springs, MD (United States); University of Maryland, College Park, MD (United States)
  17. Mercator Ocean International, Toulouse (France)
  18. Pearl River Valley and South China Sea Ecology and Environment Administration, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, PRC, Guangzhou (China)
  19. China Meteorological Administration, Beijing (China)
  20. International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals, Beijing (China)
+ Show Author Affiliations

The global physical and biogeochemical environment has been substantially altered in response to increased atmospheric greenhouse gases from human activities. In 2023, the sea surface temperature (SST) and upper 2000 m ocean heat content (OHC) reached record highs. The 0–2000 m OHC in 2023 exceeded that of 2022 by 15 ± 10 ZJ (1 Zetta Joules = 1021 Joules) (updated IAP/CAS data); 9 ± 5 ZJ (NCEI/NOAA data). The Tropical Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, and southern oceans recorded their highest OHC observed since the 1950s. Associated with the onset of a strong El Niño, the global SST reached its record high in 2023 with an annual mean of ~0.23°C higher than 2022 and an astounding > 0.3°C above 2022 values for the second half of 2023. The density stratification and spatial temperature inhomogeneity indexes reached their highest values in 2023.

Research Organization:
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), Boulder, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER); National Natural Science Foundation of China; NOAA
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0022070
OSTI ID:
2281239
Journal Information:
Advances in Atmospheric Sciences, Journal Name: Advances in Atmospheric Sciences Vol. 41; ISSN 0256-1530
Publisher:
SpringerCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
climate
global warming
ocean heat content
salinity
stratification