The oceans’ climate challenge

The oceans are the superheroes of anthropogenic climate change. They cover 71% of the Earth’s surface but have absorbed 90% of the excess heat caused by human emissions of greenhouse gases. Additionally, the oceans have limited excess heat by sucking up a quarter of anthropogenic carbon dioxide. In a nutshell, without the oceans’ outsized effects, the Earth’s surface would be significantly warmer than it is today.

But this vital natural buffering role is not without its consequences.