Authors: Abraham, J. P.; Baringer, M.; Bindoff, N. L.; Boyer, T.; Cheng, L. J.; Church, J. A.; Conroy, J. L.; Domingues, C. M.; Fasullo, J. T.; Gilson, J.; Goni, G.; Good, S. A.; Gorman, J. M.; Gouretski, V.; Ishii, M.; Johnson, G. C.; Kizu, S.; Lyman, J. M.; MacDonald, A. M.; Minkowycz, W. J.; Moffitt, S. E.; Palmer, M. D.; Piola, Alberto Ricardo; Reseghetti, F.; Schuckmann, K.; Trenberth, K. E.; Velicogna, I.; Willis, J. K.
Publication Date: 2013.
Language: English.
Abstract:
The evolution of ocean temperature measurement systems is presented with a focus on the development and accuracy of two critical devices in use today (expendable bathythermographs and conductivity-temperature-depth instruments used on Argo floats). A detailed discussion of the accuracy of these devices and a projection of the future of ocean temperature measurements are provided. The accuracy of ocean temperature measurements is discussed in detail in the context of ocean heat content, Earth's energy imbalance, and thermosteric sea level rise. Up-to-date estimates are provided for these three important quantities. The total energy imbalance at the top of atmosphere is best assessed by taking an inventory of changes in energy storage. The main storage is in the ocean, the latest values of which are presented. Furthermore, despite differences in measurement methods and analysis techniques, multiple studies show that there has been a multidecadal increase in the heat content of both the upper and deep ocean regions, which reflects the impact of anthropogenic warming. With respect to sea level rise, mutually reinforcing information from tide gauges and radar altimetry shows that presently, sea level is rising at approximately 3 mm yr−1 with contributions from both thermal expansion and mass accumulation from ice melt. The latest data for thermal expansion sea level rise are included here and analyzed.
Author affiliation: Abraham, J. P.. University of St. Thomas. School of Engineering; Estados Unidos
Author affiliation: Baringer, M.. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; Estados Unidos
Author affiliation: Bindoff, N. L.. University of Tasmania; Australia. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation. Marine and Atmospheric Research; Australia
Author affiliation: Boyer, T.. National Oceanographic Data Center; Estados Unidos
Author affiliation: Cheng, L. J.. Chinese Academy of Sciences; República de China
Author affiliation: Church, J. A.. Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research. Marine and Atmospheric Research; Australia
Author affiliation: Conroy, J. L.. Georgia Institute of Techology; Estados Unidos
Author affiliation: Domingues, C. M.. University of Tasmania; Australia
Author affiliation: Fasullo, J. T.. National Center for Atmospheric Research; Estados Unidos
Author affiliation: Gilson, J.. University of California at San Diego. Scripps Institution of Oceanography; Estados Unidos
Author affiliation: Goni, G.. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; Estados Unidos
Author affiliation: Good, S. A.. Met Office Hadley Centre; Reino Unido
Author affiliation: Gorman, J. M.. University of St. Thomas; Estados Unidos
Author affiliation: Gouretski, V.. Universitat Hamburg; Alemania
Author affiliation: Ishii, M.. Meteorological Research Institute. Climate Research Department; Japón
Author affiliation: Johnson, G. C.. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory; Estados Unidos
Author affiliation: Kizu, S.. Tohoku University. Department of Geophysics; Japón
Author affiliation: Lyman, J. M.. University of Hawaii at Manoa; Estados Unidos. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory; Estados Unidos
Author affiliation: MacDonald, A. M.. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution; Estados Unidos
Author affiliation: Minkowycz, W. J.. University of Illinois; Estados Unidos
Author affiliation: Moffitt, S. E.. Bodega Marine Laboratory; Estados Unidos. University of California at Davis; Estados Unidos
Author affiliation: Palmer, M. D.. Met Office Hadley Centre; Estados Unidos
Author affiliation: Piola, Alberto Ricardo. Ministerio de Defensa. Armada Argentina. Servicio de Hidrografía Naval. Departamento Oceanografía; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ciencias de la Atmósfera y los Océanos; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina
Author affiliation: Reseghetti, F.. Italian National Agency for New Technologies; Italia
Author affiliation: Schuckmann, K.. Institut Français Recherche Exploitation Mer; Francia
Author affiliation: Trenberth, K. E.. National Center for Atmospheric Research; Estados Unidos
Author affiliation: Velicogna, I.. University of California at Irvine; Estados Unidos. California Institute of Technology; Estados Unidos
Author affiliation: Willis, J. K.. California Institute of Technology; Estados Unidos
Repository: CONICET Digital (CONICET). Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas