New research published Sept. 19 in Geophysical Research Letters shows that using data collected by deep ocean robots, called Deep Argo floats, combined with historical data from research vessels has increased confidence that parts of the global deep ocean are warming at a rate of .0036 to .0072°F (.002 to .004°C) each year.

"Ocean warming is the dominant element of global warming and a major driver of climate change," said Greg Johnson, an oceanographer at NOAA's Pacific Marine Environmental Lab and lead author of the study.

"This study confirms the previously reported deep ocean warming, and reduces the uncertainties about the global ocean heat uptake in waters below 1.2 miles (2,000 meters), a key area of the ocean for predicting sea level rise and extreme weather."

The new research also provides more detailed information about the geographic patterns of the deep ocean warming, which can help scientists better understand changes in the global ocean conveyor belt called the global meridional overturning circulation, also key to predicting weather and climate changes.

The research shows that the deepest ocean waters off Antarctica are a hot spot for warming. These bottom waters carry the warming north, traveling along the ocean conveyor belt. Another hot spot of warming is in the deep ocean waters off Greenland, which no longer receive large amounts of sinking cold waters from the ocean surface due to increased atmospheric warming and freshening of those surface waters from ice melt.

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