Oceans

Recent cooling of the upper ocean

  1. John M. Lyman1,3,
  2. Josh K. Willis2,
  3. Gregory C. Johnson1

Article first published online: 20 SEP 2006

DOI: 10.1029/2006GL027033

Issue

Geophysical Research Letters

Geophysical Research Letters

Volume 33, Issue 18, September 2006

Additional Information

How to Cite

Lyman, J. M., J. K. Willis, and G. C. Johnson (2006), Recent cooling of the upper ocean, Geophys. Res. Lett., 33, L18604, doi:10.1029/2006GL027033.

Author Information

  1. 1

    Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, NOAA, Seattle, Washington, USA

  2. 2

    Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA

  3. 3

    Also at Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 20 SEP 2006
  2. Article first published online: 20 SEP 2006
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 11 AUG 2006
  4. Manuscript Revised: 29 JUN 2006
  5. Manuscript Received: 26 MAY 2006

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[1] We observe a net loss of 3.2 (±1.1) × 1022 J of heat from the upper ocean between 2003 and 2005. Using a broad array of in situ ocean measurements, we present annual estimates of global upper-ocean heat content anomaly from 1993 through 2005. Including the recent downturn, the average warming rate for the entire 13-year period is 0.33 ± 0.23 W/m2 (of the Earth's total surface area). A new estimate of sampling error in the heat content record suggests that both the recent and previous global cooling events are significant and unlikely to be artifacts of inadequate ocean sampling.

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