Orji Ruth
Claim– The world’s oceans are absorbing about 90% of excess heat from global warming.
A few months ago @Wion made an assertion that the world’s oceans are absorbing about 90% of excess heat from global warming.
This post has since gathered 8300 views;107 likes; 37 comments; 19 shares
https://youtu.be/Kc9vq3vQReo?si=946iEDS-lJoKZZl8
@Wion Pulse, a news channel stated that the World’s Oceans have become relatively warmer, if not hotter at 20.9 degrees far above the previous years leading to the death of many aquatic lives.
NatureNews, Africa’s foremost news publications on climate change, which is dedicated to providing accurate insights to stop the spread of fake news particularly among users of social media, subjected the claim to fact checking.
Findings: Using the Google search tool in conducting this research, NatureFact, the fact checking unit of NatureNews, accessed a few papers and studies.
A thorough fact-checking investigation has revealed that this assertion is quite spot on.
@Mint gave an analogy of how the world’s oceans are absorbing heat. She gave a documented review of rising ocean temperatures.
https://youtu.be/hDX7BgxfhRY?si=1aKDPigyUCbIsPJp
@NewswithNavya is in tandem with this claim.
https://youtube.com/shorts/Azfc70hto44?si=oGpDgVU5IxHPKhdA
Other researchers such as @LetsGoBio, @Channel4News, @King5Seattle and @CBCNews agrees to this
https://youtube.com/shorts/yuomdzxSfvk?si=-7QGtqjVJ0DFtNLB
https://youtu.be/-2uv7L_SSBI?si=uWKTyQff11OCfTEM
https://youtu.be/1HGu5duHUTk?si=KVnGSDciP-UOvCTT
https://youtu.be/IsLo1osoGbk?si=4F4dIfkqfOvUpsUO
Here are the average global ocean temperatures from 2010 to 2024, based on data from NOAA and NASA:
– 2010: 17.4°C (63.3°F)
– 2011: 17.5°C (63.5°F)
– 2012: 17.6°C (63.7°F)
– 2013: 17.7°C (63.9°F)
– 2014: 17.8°C (64.0°F)
– 2015: 18.1°C (64.6°F)
– 2016: 18.3°C (64.9°F) due to El Niño
– 2017: 18.2°C (64.6°F)
– 2018: 18.3°C (64.9°F)
– 2019: 18.5°C (65.3°F)
– 2020: 18.6°C (65.5°F)
– 2021: 18.7°C (65.7°F)
– 2022: 18.8°C (65.8°F)
– 2023: 18.9°C (66.0°F)
– 2024: 19.0°C (66.2°F) (projected, based on current trends)
It is pertinent to note that these values are averages and may vary slightly depending on the source and methodology used. Additionally, ocean temperatures can fluctuate naturally due to climate patterns like El Niño and La Niña.
https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-sea-surface-temperature
Moreover, oceans, especially it’s depths are usually extremely cold and can even lead to hypothermia when ventured without proper gear. It’s coldness is as a result of flow of water and ice from Arctic/ regions to Oceans.
The Earth’s temperature is being regulated and cooled by the polar regions as well as the oceans; so, it is logical that they absorb heat and green house emissions causing them to heat up. It is no longer news that the polar region is absorbing so much heat from global warming causing it to melt twice as fast in record speed. This analysis buttresses the aforementioned claim.
Verdict– True. The world’s oceans are indeed absorbing about 90% of excess heat from global warming.