Global Warming

Heat Equivalent

Global warming has added the energy equivalent to 25 billion nuclear bombs to the Earth system in 50 years, scientists have found. Almost all of this heat – 89% – is stored in the ocean, compared to around 6% on land and 1% in the atmosphere, their research shows.

Much of the 'excess heat' stored in the North Atlantic is in the deep ocean, at depths of below 2,300 feet, research showed last year. The study found that in the sub-tropical North Atlantic, 62% of the warming from 1850 to 2018 is held in the deep ocean.

But reversing ocean warming may be difficult and time-consuming, the study warns. Reversing global warming entirely may not be feasible. Just to stop temperatures going any higher means correcting the imbalance and bringing CO2 levels down towards the pre-industrial level of 280 parts per million.

The energy dense fuels which made industrial civilisation possible come with an enormous sting in the tail. Burn now, pay later. Now the bill has become apparent.