Source: Brian McNoldy; University of Miami Upper Ocean Dynamics LabSee the Ocean Heat Fueling Hurricane Milton, in One ChartThe energy that supercharged Hurricane Milton into a Category 5 storm on Monday came from the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, which have been abnormally warm not just at the surface, but at depth, too.
The seas absorb most of the extra heat that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses trap near Earth’s surface.
So the same human-caused forces that have been bringing abnormal heat to towns, cities and landscapes are helping to warm the oceans.
Ocean heat content is a metric that captures the amount of thermal energy stored from the sea surface down through the ocean depths.
“It’s felt like an entire hurricane season has taken place over the past few weeks,” Dr. Wood said.
Persons:
Jan, Brian McNoldy, Milton, Helene, Kim Wood, “ It’s, ”, Wood
Organizations:
University of Miami Upper Ocean Dynamics, Hurricane Milton, National Centers for Environmental, University of Arizona
Locations:
Gulf of Mexico, Gulf, Mexico, Milton, Asheville, N.C