Warming of the world ocean, 1955-2003

Abstract

We present new estimates of the variability of ocean heat content based on: a) additional data that extends the record to more recent years; b) additional historical data for earlier years. During 1955-1998 world ocean heat content (0-3000 m) increased 14.5 × 1022 J corresponding to a mean tem erature increase of 0.037°C at a rate of 0.20 Wm-2 (per unit area of Earth's total surface area). Copyright 2005 by the American Geophysical Union.