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Ocean Heat Hits Record High Amidst Weak La Nina
9 Jan
Summary
- Global ocean heat content reached a record high for the ninth consecutive year.
- Ocean's upper 2,000 meters absorb 93 percent of Earth's extra heat.
- 2025 saw record ocean warming despite developing La Nina conditions.
Global ocean warming persisted through 2025, setting a new record for heat content in the upper 2,000 meters for the ninth consecutive year. Despite the development of La Nina conditions, which typically bring cooler Pacific temperatures, the oceans absorbed an additional 23 zettajoules of heat. This significant accumulation underscores the long-term impact of increased greenhouse gas concentrations.
The ocean's upper 2,000 meters are critical for tracking global warming, as they absorb approximately 93 percent of the excess heat generated by human activities. The report, a collaboration involving 55 scientists from 31 research institutes across China, the United States, France, and Italy, utilized multiple datasets to confirm a sustained trend of ocean warming.
While 2025's global mean surface temperature was slightly cooler than the previous year, it still ranked as the third-warmest on record. This indicates that even with natural climate variations like La Nina, the underlying trend of a warming planet, driven by greenhouse gas emissions, remains undeniable.
