Oceans continue to warm, especially the deeps

[Still Waters]

When discussing global warming, the public eye is mostly directed to global average surface air temperatures, but that’s just one slice of the climate pie. If you haven’t noticed, the ocean is awfully big, and it holds a great deal more heat energy than the atmosphere. In fact, about 90 percent of the energy that’s been added to the climate system by human activities has gone into the ocean.

http://arstechnica.c...ally-the-deeps/

[iizay]

If it implicates the release of greater amount's of methane from the ocean floor we might actually be looking at another PETM; It's hard not to be a little mysanthropic these day's.

[Guest]

The actual temperature changes are so slight at this stage that that is very unlikely to happen to the deep oceans. Only where the permofrost is removed from coastal sea sediments is that a likely outcome - and that is already happening.

Br Cornelius

Edited April 4, 2013 by Guest

[Ashotep]

Is another Permian extinction in our forecast if all that methane is released and heats things up even more.

[Guest]

If the worst predictions are realized then I think so.

Br Cornelius

[Little Fish]

did anyone think to subtract the heat given out of thermal vents and undersea volcanoes before blaming the usual suspect. thought not (since nobody actually knows about all the volcanoes and thermal vents).

[Guest]

did anyone think to subtract the heat given out of thermal vents and undersea volcanoes before blaming the usual suspect. thought not (since nobody actually knows about all the volcanoes and thermal vents).

This could only ever be an argument if there was evidence for massive upturns in deep sea vent activity. No such evidence exists.

Wishful thinking.

Br Cornelius

[Doug1029]

This could only ever be an argument if there was evidence for massive upturns in deep sea vent activity. No such evidence exists.

Wishful thinking.

Br Cornelius

This was actually a serious proposal about ten years ago. Two geologists claimed that ocean currents were affected by magmatic heating of the water, which re-routed circulation and determined climate. I tried to find the reference, but couldn't.

Doug

[Guest]

If it were happening there would be a similar uptick in volcanic activity since it would be driven by the same process. No evidence for that.

Br Cornelius

[libstaK]

I have been thinking methane deposits in our oceans are going to be at the root of our worst climate change issues for some time now so not surprised by the article - only surprised it's finally making it into discussions.

[Guest]

One nice piece of recent news is that the japanese have worked out how to tap the deep ocean methyl-hydrates which may allow them to kick the Nuclear habit.

Br Corenlius