August M
A growing energy imbalance is raising fresh alarms about the long-term future of the planet. Experts say the Earth is now holding on to more heat than it releases, creating a build-up that may shape the climate for generations.
According to Dr News, citing a new report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), this imbalance has reached its most extreme level since modern measurements began.
Heat trapped
The issue centres on the planet’s energy balance, which compares incoming energy from the Sun with heat radiated back into space.
In a stable system, those levels are roughly equal. But greenhouse gases are preventing heat from escaping, leading to a steady accumulation of energy.
Researchers say more than 90 percent of that excess heat is being absorbed by the world’s oceans, effectively storing it beneath the surface.
Oceans warming
Scientists warn this vast heat storage comes with long-term consequences.
Professor Jens Hesselbjerg Christensen from the University of Copenhagen said: “There is a lot of heat stored in the oceans. And the oceans can release that heat again.”
He added: “So we won’t be able to turn it down again for centuries,” pointing to the slow pace at which the climate system responds.
Long-term impact
Because the oceans release heat gradually, the effects of today’s emissions are expected to persist far into the future.
This means that even if greenhouse gas emissions were halted immediately, global temperatures would take a long time to stabilise.
The WMO also reported that the period from 2015 to 2025 includes the warmest years ever recorded, underlining the scale of current warming.
A new measure
For the first time, the WMO report highlights energy balance as a key climate indicator.
Scientists say this approach provides a clearer picture than temperature alone, which can vary widely across regions and time periods.
Professor Katherine Richardson explained that while incoming energy remains constant, less heat is leaving the Earth, inevitably driving warming.
Global warning
The findings have prompted strong warnings from global leaders.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said: “Planet Earth is being pushed beyond its limits. Every single key climate indicator is flashing red.”
Experts say reducing greenhouse gas emissions remains the most effective way to restore balance, while efforts to remove CO2 from the atmosphere could also help over time.
Sources: Dr News, World Meteorological Organization, The Guardian
