Record high ocean heat content for 2022

The average heat content of the world's oceans was the warmest in the historical record for 2022, beating out the previous record high set in 2021, according to a new study.

Global ocean heat content has been accelerating upward, especially since the early 1990s. In addition, annual record highs are almost being set every new year.

Ocean heat content is a valuable measurement of how much our planet is warming and how much excess heat is being absorbed by the world's oceans.

Over 90 percent of the excess heat accumulated in the climate system in 2022 was absorbed by the world's oceans, according to the study, which was led by Lijing Cheng.

A total of four basins, the North Pacific Ocean, the North Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea and the Southern Ocean, all had their highest ocean heat content since records began back in the 1950s.

Ocean salinity

In addition to covering ocean heat content, the study took a look at the latest trends in ocean salinity.

As the world warms and the oceans heat up, there is an increase in evaporation on the surface of the ocean. This increase in evaporation leads to an increase in ocean salinity, which can have major impacts on ocean currents, ocean life and even climate patterns.

The study authors noted that normally salty areas of the world's oceans are getting saltier, while normally fresher areas are getting fresher (lowering the concentration of salt in the ocean).

The graphic below shows that the salinity of the North Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Southern Ocean and parts of the tropical Pacific Ocean was much higher in 2022 compared to the 1981-2010 average.

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