Ocean Heat Content Sets Another Record in 2025
2026/01/09 by Yuying Pan, L. Cheng, John Abraham +52 · 9 voices · 1 citation
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Environmental Science · #Oceanographic and Atmospheric Processes #Climate variability and models #Tropical and Extratropical Cyclones Research
paper · pdf · doi:10.1007/s00376-026-5876-0
Abstract
Abstract Global ocean warming continued unabated in 2025 in response to increased greenhouse gas concentrations and recent reductions in sulfate aerosols, reflecting the long-term accumulation of heat within the climate system, with conditions evolving toward La Niña during the year. In 2025, global upper 2000 m ocean heat content (OHC) increased by ∼23 ± 8 ZJ relative to 2024 according to IAP/CAS estimates. CIGAR-RT, and Copernicus Marine data confirm the continued ocean heat gain. Regionally, about 33% of the global ocean area ranked among its historical (1958–2025) top three warmest conditions, while about 57% fell within the top five, including the tropical and South Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, North Indian Ocean, and Southern Oceans, underscoring the broad ocean warming across basins. Multiple datasets consistently indicate ocean warming, as measured by 0–2000 m OHC, increased from 0.14 ± 0.03 W m −2 (10 yr) −1 during 1960–2025 to 0.32 ± 0.14 W m −2 (10 yr) −1 during 2005–2025 (IAP/CAS), the latter being consistent with EEI (Earth’s Energy Imbalance) estimates within uncertainties. In contrast, the global annual mean sea surface temperature (SST) in 2025 was 0.49°C above the 1981–2010 baseline and 0.12 ± 0.03°C lower than in 2024 (IAP/CAS; similar in CMA-SST, FY3 MWRI SST, ERSSTv5 and Copernicus Marine data), consistent with the development of La Niña conditions, but still ranking as the third-warmest year on record.
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- 2025 was the hottest year on record for ocean heat content. Unfortunately, we now say this every year. 🥹 "In addition to setting a new record in 2025, the global ocean continues to show sustained an [bsky, 553 points, 12 comments]
- 2025 was the hottest year on record for ocean heat content. Unfortunately, we now say this every year. 🥹 "In addition to setting a new record in 2025, the global ocean continues to show sustained and [mastodon, 152 points, 6 comments]
- Eine neue Studie zeigt: Die Ozeane erwärmen sich immer schneller. Dabei wird mehr als 90% der Erderwärmung von den Ozeanen aufgenommen. Die Abb. zeigt die Entwicklung des Wärmegehalts der Ozeane seit [bsky, 84 points, 0 comments]
- In 2025, 57% of the global ocean ranked among its five warmest years on record, even as La Niña developed. Our 2025 Ocean Heat Report confirms warming now overrides natural cooling cycles. Read the f [bsky, 31 points, 0 comments]
- Link to new paper: Ocean Heat Content Sets Another Record in 2025 doi.org/10.1007/s003... [bsky, 14 points, 0 comments]
- In 2025 ocean heat uptake reached a new all-time record of about 23 Zj - a 8 fold increase since 1958-1985... [bsky, 1 points, 1 comments]
- Ocean heat content hit a new record in 2025, adding ~23 Zetta Joules (a unit with 21 zeros) despite La Niña. The Mediterranean and North Atlantic also saw record highs. This stored heat drives sea-lev [bsky, 1 points, 0 comments]
- Pan, Y., Cheng, L., Abraham, J. et al. Ocean Heat Content Sets Another Record in 2025. Adv. Atmos. Sci. (2026). doi.org/10.1007/s003... Open access. link.springer.com/content/pdf/... [bsky, 0 points, 0 comments]
- #ocean #OceanHeating #GlobalGeating Original open access article Pan et al. Adv. Atmos. Sci. 09.01.2026 Ocean Heat Content Sets Another Record in 2025 doi.org/10.1007/s003... #climate #ClimateSci [bsky, 0 points, 0 comments]
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