A recent study, titled "Heat Stored in the Earth System 1960-2020: Where Does the Energy Go?" published in the journal Earth System Science Data, reveals that global warming has resulted in the accumulation of an immense amount of energy in Earth's atmosphere over the past 50 years, equivalent to approximately 25 billion atomic bombs.
Live Science reported that the international research team estimated that between 1971 and 2020. Around 380 zettajoules of energy, or equivalent to 380,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 joules, has been trapped due to global warming. The magnitude of this number makes it challenging to comprehend, even when compared to the energy released by nuclear weapons.
Goldilocks Zone Explained
In an article published in the Conversation, climate scientists Andrew King and Steven Sherwood made a striking comparison to illustrate the magnitude of the trapped energy.
They wrote that Mercury, being the closest planet to the Sun, is extremely hot with an average temperature of 167℃. However, it lacks an atmosphere. Venus, the second planet, is even hotter at an average of 464℃ due to its thick atmosphere rich in carbon dioxide, which caused a runaway greenhouse effect.
Earth, on the other hand, is in the "Goldilocks zone," orbiting at just the right distance from the Sun to maintain a moderate temperature necessary for life. The greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere absorb and retain some of the Sun's heat, making it habitable.
Human civilization has flourished during a relatively stable and mild climate period of about 10,000 years since the last ice age. However, the burning of fossil fuels has now put us at risk of destabilizing these favorable conditions.
Satellites, robotic floats in the oceans, and tide levels allow scientists to measure and monitor Earth's heat radiation, providing evidence of the changing climate and its impact on sea levels.
In their study, they calculated that the 380 zettajoules of energy accumulated due to global warming is approximately 25 billion times the energy released by the atomic bomb "Little Boy" that was dropped on Hiroshima in 1945.
Additionally, King and Sherwood pointed out that the energy absorbed by the Earth during this period likely represents only about 60% of total greenhouse gas emissions, suggesting that the actual value could be even higher.
Extra Heat Trapped in the Ocean
The study reveals that the oceans have absorbed the largest share of the extra heat, accounting for approximately 89% or 338.2 zettajoules, as Live Science reported. The land has absorbed 6% (22.8 zettajoules), while 4% (15.2 zettajoules) has caused the melting of various parts of the cryosphere. Only 1% (3.8 zettajoules) of the extra heat has remained in the atmosphere.
The upper 0.6 miles (1 kilometer) of the oceans have stored a significant portion of the absorbed heat, providing some respite from the full impact of climate change. However, this has resulted in alarming consequences such as increased sea surface temperatures, accelerated melting of polar regions, damage to marine ecosystems, heightened severity of tropical storms, and disruption of ocean currents.
Although the oceans have acted as a buffer, the authors caution that this protection will not last indefinitely. To secure a livable climate for future generations and preserve nature, urgent actions are required to rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition to a decarbonized global economy. The race against time is crucial, with high stakes involved in ensuring a sustainable future.
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