Space/Science — HabitableZone

Space/Science » in reply to Part 1: Global Warming and Sea Level Change READ TO THE END before responding

Thermocline and temperature structure of the ocean
nick hoffman — (archived)

As well as any time delays due to the HUGE thermal capacity of the oceans, the other thing to realise is that the temperature structure of the oceans is not simple.

Shallow surface waters have a temperature driven by local climate. In the tropics, sea water can be up to 30 degrees C in temperature, year-round. However, this warm zone only extends down to the thermocline at 100-200m depth. Above the thermocline, waves mix the water and the temperature is near-constant. below it, the temperature drops exponentially to meet the deep bottom-water temperature at the density minimum for water at 4 degrees C. Mixing is slow and inefficient below the wavebase.

Even if all permanent ice is removed from the Arctic, seasonal freezing and thawing will maintain the supply of (some) deep bottom water at the density minimum.

As a consequence, any thermal effect in the ocean is happening at the surface only, and fades away to zero at depth.\

Mathematically, the thermal expansion will be almost exactly half what you calculate, and don't forget hystereisis. How long does it take to boil a kettle of water? How long will sunshine take to warm up the entire oceans?

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