>The National Oceanographic Data Center calculated and maintains an OCEAN HEAT CONTENT (OHC) dataset. This is the dataset based on the Levitus et al (2009) paper “Global ocean heat content(1955-2008) in light of recent instrumentation problems”, Geophysical Research Letters. Refer to Manuscript.
The NODC OHC data is available through the KMNI Climate Explorer, which is the source of the data presented in the following posts.
THE IMPACTS OF NATURAL VARIABLES
A. ENSO Dominates NODC Ocean Heat Content (0-700 Meters) Data
B. North Pacific Ocean Heat Content Shift In The Late 1980s
C. North Atlantic Ocean Heat Content (0-700 Meters) Is Governed By Natural Variables
QUARTERLY UPDATES OF NODC (LEVITUS ET AL 2009) OHC DATA SINCE JANUARY 2010
June 19, 2011 – January to March 2011 NODC Ocean Heat Content (0-700Meters) Update and Comments
March 17, 2011 – October to December 2010 NODC Ocean Heat Content (0-700Meters) Update and Comments
October 18, 2010 – Update And Changes To NODC Ocean Heat Content Data
June 27, 2010– January To March 2010 NODC Ocean Heat Content (0-700m) Update And Comments
February 5, 2010 – OHC Linear Trends and Recent Update of NODC OHC (0-700 Meters) Data
January 31, 2010 – NODC Ocean Heat Content (0-700 Meters) – 2007, 2008 & 2009 Corrections
ARGO-ERA POST
ARGO-Era NODC Ocean Heat Content Data (0-700 Meters) Through December 2010
Bob Tisdale - Climate Observations 
>Hi Bob,are there any good reasons, why one should trust any data that claim to present the “ocean heat content”. I know of the value that ship SST data have had for the daily weather analysis during the last 150 years, but I have the greatest difficulties to see that there is nowadays the slightest possibility to say anything about the “ocean heat content”. This is not a matter whether it would be “the best means to diagnose global warming, a proposed e.g. by Prof. Roger Pielke Sr. (FN. 1), but a question whether that is in anyway possible today, which seem to lack a critical assessment. Meanwhile satellite measurements and the Argo network is a superb improvement from the days of data collection by merchant shipping, that can nevertheless in no way be regarded as sufficient to get any reasonable information about the ocean heat content. There are about 3000 units operating, restricted to a depths of 700 metres, where one would presumably need a million devices, and at least partially over the full ocean depths range. The data would be needed for thousands of specific sea areas, and presumably in tenth, or even hundredth degree. With regard to the size, structure, movement, and distribution of the ocean water masses, it seems not only absolute meaningless to provide any figure on ‘ocean heat content’, but also irresponsible, as this will never be possible, and if, it would not make any sense. What would we understand better if we would know that the average temperature of the ocean of about 4°C has increased by a decimal figure? No doubt, the value of the ARGO network (e.g. with the recent discovery of “Mysterious currents in our oceans” , FN 2) is immeasurable. However, with regard to the “ocean heat content” there is –IMO- nothing available today, neither in the nearer future, which is capable to provide (directly or by data modelling) any reasonable figures that could rectify to refer to the subject in the way as done e.g. by NOAA, or Prof Pielke Sr. Thanks for your kind attention, and invaluable contribution on ocean matters, best wishes for a fine, and successful Year 2011,Arnd Bernaertshttp://www.oceanclimate.de/ FN. 1: http://pielkeclimatesci.wordpress.com/2010/09/06/misinformation-on-the-website-skeptical-science-getting-skeptical-about-global-warming-skepticism/; Excerpt: “However, the ocean heat content provides the most appropriate metric to diagnosis global warming in recent (since ~2004 when the Argo network became sufficiently dense) and upcoming years, as recommended, of example, in Pielke Sr., R.A., 2008: A broader view of the role of humans in the climate system. Physics Today, 61, Vol. 11, 54-55. “FN 2: April 2008: UNI Hawaii, http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/ under NEWS: “Mysterious currents in our oceans: ” http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/soest_web/images/Maximenko_Uga_eqrec_1000px.jpg
>Hi Bob,are there any good reasons, why one should trust any data that claim to present the “ocean heat content”. I know of the value that ship SST data have had for the daily weather analysis during the last 150 years, but I have the greatest difficulties to see that there is nowadays the slightest possibility to say anything about the “ocean heat content”. This is not a matter whether it would be “the best means to diagnose global warming, a proposed e.g. by Prof. Roger Pielke Sr. (FN. 1), but a question whether that is in anyway possible today, which seem to lack a critical assessment. Meanwhile satellite measurements and the Argo network is a superb improvement from the days of data collection by merchant shipping, that can nevertheless in no way be regarded as sufficient to get any reasonable information about the ocean heat content. There are about 3000 units operating, restricted to a depths of 700 metres, where one would presumably need a million devices, and at least partially over the full ocean depths range. The data would be needed for thousands of specific sea areas, and presumably in tenth, or even hundredth degree. With regard to the size, structure, movement, and distribution of the ocean water masses, it seems not only absolute meaningless to provide any figure on ‘ocean heat content’, but also irresponsible, as this will never be possible, and if, it would not make any sense. What would we understand better if we would know that the average temperature of the ocean of about 4°C has increased by a decimal figure? ___FN. 1: http://pielkeclimatesci.wordpress.com/2010/09/06/misinformation-on-the-website-skeptical-science-getting-skeptical-about-global-warming-skepticism/; Excerpt: “However, the ocean heat content provides the most appropriate metric to diagnosis global warming in recent (since ~2004 when the Argo network became sufficiently dense) and upcoming years, as recommended, of example, in Pielke Sr., R.A., 2008: A broader view of the role of humans in the climate system. Physics Today, 61, Vol. 11, 54-55. “CONTINUES (next email)
>CONT from pervious email No doubt, the value of the ARGO network (e.g. with the recent discovery of “Mysterious currents in our oceans” , FN 2) is immeasurable. However, with regard to the “ocean heat content” there is –IMO- nothing available today, neither in the nearer future, which is capable to provide (directly or by data modelling) any reasonable figures that could rectify to refer to the subject in the way as done e.g. by NOAA, or Prof Pielke Sr. Thanks for your kind attention, and invaluable contribution on ocean matters, best wishes for a fine, and successful Year 2011,Arnd Bernaertshttp://www.oceanclimate.de/ FN 2: April 2008: UNI Hawaii, http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/ under NEWS: “Mysterious currents in our oceans: ” http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/soest_web/images/Maximenko_Uga_eqrec_1000px.jpg
>aber: Sorry. Your comments got stuck in a filter due to the links and I didn't check until today. Your question: "are there any good reasons, why one should trust any data that claim to present the 'ocean heat content'." Like all datasets, one has to understand the basis for the data and deficiencies in the data. One can use the NODC OHC data for rough comparisons but as you're aware it's a dataset based on very little source data and the source data has its problems.
>Thanks a lot, Here is a image published by SKEPTICALSCIENCE yesterday(04Jan) http://www.skepticalscience.com/graphics/Total_Heat_Content_500.jpg with the caption: Figure 1: Build-up in total Earth Heat Content since 1950. The data comes from Figure 6b in Murphy 2009. The ocean data was taken from Domingues et al. 2008.ABOUT global cooling predictions: http://www.skepticalscience.com/not-so-cool-predictions.html
>aber: The vast majority of the rise in OHC can be explained as responses to natural variables, as shown in the posts linked to this one.
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You refer to the release of heat through evaporation. My memory doesn’t serve me well, but I thought that evaporation uses heat to change the phase from liquid to gas.
I am a relative novice to this subject, but where am I going wrong.
If I can get pass this obstacle I may be able to navigate the subject matter.
Thanks
Jim, my recall is that evaporation can occur at any temperature but that the rate of evaporation increases with temperature and decreases with pressure. Yup, my memory was correct, if we can accept what’s written in the very basic chemistry webpage…
http://www.chem4kids.com/files/matter_evap.html