Another year of record heat for the oceans

These cycles have been profoundly altered due to the emission of greenhouse gasses and other anthropogenic substances by human activities, driving pervasive changes in Earth's climate system. In 2022, the world's oceans, as given by OHC, were again the hottest in the historical record and exceeded the previous 2021 record maximum.

According to IAP/CAS data, the 0-2000 m OHC in 2022 exceeded that of 2021 by 10.9 +/- 8.3 ZJ (1 Zetta Joules = 10(21) Joules); and according to NCEI/NOAA data, by 9.1 +/- 8.7 ZJ. Among seven regions, four basins (the North Pacific, North Atlantic, the Mediterranean Sea, and southern oceans) recorded their highest OHC since the 1950s. The salinity-contrast index, a quantification of the "salty gets saltier-fresh gets fresher" pattern, also reached its highest level on record in 2022, implying continued amplification of the global hydrological cycle.