An apparent moratorium on the greenhouse warming due to the deep ocean

Recent evidence has suggested that surface heat sequestered in the world's oceans may be slowing the rate of global warming. Records covering the period 1957 81 indicate that, at depths between 500 and 3000 m, seawater temperature rose 0.1 K, which is comparable to the incremental surface heat generated by the greenhouse effect. The possible surface warming that might have taken place is sketched had the oceans not played a major role, indicating that the greenhouse effect should have resulted in atmospheric temperatures 0.3 0.5 K higher than they are currently.