Monitoring global ocean heat content from space geodetic observations to estimate the Earth energy imbalance

Abstract

Abstract. This study presents an improved space geodetic approach to estimate the global ocean heat content (GOHC) change and the Earth energy imbalance (EEI) over 1993–2022. The EEI exhibits a positive trend of 0.29 W m−2 per decade, significant at the 90 % confidence level, indicating accelerated ocean warming in line with independent Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) data. The study highlights the importance of comparing various estimates (e.g. in-situ-based GOHC) and their uncertainties to reliably assess EEI changes.