Ocean Heat Content Sets Another Record in 2025
Chinese Academy of Sciences · Institute of Atmospheric Physics · +34 more institutions
Abstract
Abstract Global ocean warming continued unabated in 2025 in response to increased greenhouse gas concentrations and recent reductions in sulfate aerosols, reflecting the long-term accumulation of heat within the climate system, with conditions evolving toward La Niña during the year. In 2025, global upper 2000 m ocean heat content (OHC) increased by ∼23 ± 8 ZJ relative to 2024 according to IAP/CAS estimates. CIGAR-RT, and Copernicus Marine data confirm the continued ocean heat gain. Regionally, about 33% of the global ocean area ranked among its historical (1958–2025) top three warmest conditions, while about 57% fell within the top five, including the tropical and South Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea,…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 106.38
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 102
Authors
55- YPYuying Pan
Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Atmospheric Physics
- LCL. ChengCorresponding
Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Atmospheric Physics
- JAJohn Abraham
University of St. Thomas - Minnesota
- KEKevin E. Trenberth
NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research, University of Auckland
- JRJames Reagan
NOAA Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science
Topics & keywords
- Ocean heat content
- Effects of global warming on oceans
- Global warming
- Mediterranean climate
- Greenhouse gas
- Climate change
- Sea surface temperature
- Life below water
Funding
- NSNational Science FoundationAwards: DE-AC05-76RL01830, DE-AC02-05CH11231, 76RL01830, DE-AC52-07NA27344
- UDU.S. Department of EnergyAwards: -AC02-05CH11231, 76RL01830, AC05-76RL01830, 05CH11231, 1852977, DE-AC05-76RL01830, AC02-05CH11231, DE-AC02, DE-AC02-05CH11231, DE-AC05, AC52-07NA27344, DE-AC02-
- NANational Aeronautics and Space AdministrationAwards: 1852977, DE-AC02-05CH11231, DE-AC52-07NA27344, 80NSSC21K1191, 80NSSC22K0046, 80NSSC17K0565
- ESEuropean Space Agency
- NNNational Natural Science Foundation of ChinaAwards: NORC2022-303, 1852977, NORC2022-10, DE-AC52-07NA27344, DE-AC02-05CH11231, DE-AC05-76RL01830, 42149910, 42206208
- CAChinese Academy of SciencesAward: NORC2022-303
- NSNuclear Safety and Security Commission
- CNCentro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares
- INIstituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia
- NONational Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationAwards: NA19NES4320002, NA24NESX432C0001
- OROak Ridge Institute for Science and EducationAwards: DE-AC05-76RL01830, DE-AC02-05CH11231
- NONutrition Obesity Research Center, University of North Carolina
- EUEarthLab, University of Washington
- LLLawrence Livermore National LaboratoryAwards: 1852977, DE-AC05-76RL01830, DE-AC52-07NA27344, DE-AC02-05CH11231, AC52-07NA27344
- LBLawrence Berkeley National LaboratoryAwards: DE-AC02-05CH11231, DE-AC05-76RL01830, 05CH11231, AC02-05CH11231, DE-AC52-07NA27344
- PNPacific Northwest National LaboratoryAwards: DE-AC05-76RL01830, 76RL01830, DE-AC02-05CH11231, DE-AC52-07NA27344