Archive · 22 Sep 2026
Scientists Alarmed by Earth’s Increasing Energy Absorption Rate
Earth is taking in more energy, and scientists are worried about the rate.
Much of this energy is connected to heat in the ocean.
Scientists see patterns in how the heat is absorbed and where ocean temperatures change.
They do not yet know what creates these patterns.
The patterns might be caused by natural changes that happened by chance.
They might also show that computer models are missing something important.
Dr. Rugenstein thinks the models may be wrong about how the ocean takes in heat.
If so, the models could also produce incorrect patterns for ocean surface temperatures.
Scientists are concerned about the rate at which Earth is absorbing energy.
Researchers say it remains unclear what causes the observed patterns.
One possibility is natural variability, with recent patterns occurring by chance.
Another possibility is that climate models fail to capture an important mechanism.
Dr. Rugenstein suspects the models may misrepresent how the ocean absorbs heat, affecting sea-surface temperature patterns.
- Who
- Scientists, including Dr. Stevens and Dr. Rugenstein, are studying Earth’s energy absorption and ocean heat uptake.
- What
- Earth is absorbing energy at a rate that concerns scientists, while the causes of related patterns remain uncertain.
- When
- The patterns discussed have occurred over the past few decades.
- Where
- The issue involves Earth’s oceans and sea-surface temperatures.
- Why
- Scientists are investigating whether the patterns result from natural variability or from climate models failing to capture how the ocean absorbs heat.
Natural Variability
Model Limitations
Cause of the patterns
Natural Variability
The patterns may result from natural variability, with their arrangement over the past few decades largely occurring by chance.
Model Limitations
The patterns may be caused by a mechanism that current models do not yet capture.
Ocean heat uptake
Natural Variability
The passage leaves open the possibility that the models’ ocean heat uptake is not the central problem.
Model Limitations
Dr. Rugenstein’s intuition is that the models’ ocean heat uptake is wrong, which could affect sea-surface temperature patterns.
- Main concern
- The rate at which Earth is absorbing energy is alarming scientists.
- Unresolved question
- Researchers do not know what causes the observed patterns.
- Possible explanation
- Natural variability may have produced the patterns by chance.
- Alternative explanation
- Climate models may not capture an important mechanism.
- Ocean modeling concern
- Dr. Rugenstein suspects that models’ ocean heat uptake may be wrong.
- Potential consequence
- Incorrect ocean heat uptake could lead to problems with modeled sea-surface temperature patterns.