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Abstract

The oceans are warming. Over the period 1961 to 2003,
global ocean temperature has risen by 0.10°C from the
surface to a depth of 700 m. Consistent with the Third
Assessment Report (TAR), global ocean heat content (0–
3,000 m) has increased during the same period, equivalent
to absorbing energy at a rate of 0.21 ± 0.04 W m–2 globally
averaged over the Earth’s surface. Two-thirds of this energy
is absorbed between the surface and a depth of 700 m.
Global ocean heat content observations show considerable
interannual and inter-decadal variability superimposed on
the longer-term trend. Relative to 1961 to 2003, the period
1993 to 2003 has high rates of warming but since 2003
there has been some cooling.

Item Type:	Book Section
Authors/Creators:	Bindoff, NL and Willebrand, J and Artale, V and Cazenave, A and Gregory, JM and Gulev, S and Hanawa, K and Le Quéré, C and Levitus, S and Nojiri, Y and Shum, CK and Talley, LD and Unnikrishnan, AS
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
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