Southern Ocean is warming rapidly below the surface, raising concerns about Antarctic ice melt.
Scientists from the CNRS, CNES, IRD, Sorbonne Université, l’Université Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier and their Australian colleagues*, with the support of the IPEV, have provided a comprehensive analysis on the evolution of Southern Ocean temperatures over the last 25 years. The research team has concluded that the slight cooling observed at the surface hides a rapid and marked warming of the waters, to a depth of up to 800 meters (2,600 feet).
The study points to major changes around the polar ice cap where temperatures are increasing by 0.04°C (0.07°F) per decade, which could have serious consequences for Antarctic ice. Warm water is also rising rapidly to the surface, at a rate of 39 meters (128 feet) per decade, i.e. between three and ten times more than previously estimated.
Published in Nature Communications on January 21, 2021, these results were obtained thanks to unique data acquired over the past 25 years on board the French Antarctic resupply vessel L’Astrolabe. This is the longest series of temperature records in the Southern Ocean covering north to south.
* The laboratories and institutions involved in this study are the Laboratoire d’océanographie et du climat : expérimentations et approches numériques (CNRS/IRD/MNHN/ Sorbonne Université), part of the l’Institut Pierre Simon Laplace; le Laboratoire d’études en géophysique et océanographie spatiales (CNRS/CNES/IRD/Université Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier) and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO; Australia). The SURVOSTRAL observation programme was funded by IPEV and the CNRS.
Reference: “Southern Ocean in-situ temperature trends over 25 years emerge from interannual variability” by Matthis Auger, Rosemary Morrow, Elodie Kestenare, Jean-Baptiste Sallée and Rebecca Cowley, 21 January 2021, Nature Communications.
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20781-1
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3 Comments
“The research team has concluded that the slight cooling observed at the surface hides a rapid and marked warming of the waters, to a depth of up to 800 meters.”
OK, where is the heat coming from that isn’t heating the surface? It is only the surface that receives sunlight and can conduct heat from a presumably warming atmosphere. The linked article suggests that the cooling surface is the result of cold Winter water, which implies that that Winters may be getting colder.
And other articles confirm sea ice expansion and further overall cooling?! Again, cant seem to agree with yourselves, let alone anybody else! Wth?
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