CONFIRMING HEATING TRENDS OF NEAR-SURFACE OCEAN TEMPERATURES, 1988 TO 2022

Abstract

The issue of global warming captures the imagination of researchers and media people, as well as government leaders. It is in this light that a study was undertaken to discover the changes in ocean temperature off the coast of Hawaii for the years between 1988-1992 and 2018-2022. Data was collected of the top 100 m of the water column in what is known as the mixed layer, from a long-term study sponsored by the National Science Foundation, 100 km off the north coast of Oahu, Hawaii. The study is ongoing and is tasked to collect temperatures roughly once a month, through summer and winter. The scope is limited to this one location with the statistical belief that this comprehensive sample serves as a representative of the population comprising all oceans. If the oceans are warming, the continents should also scientifically be warming. The temperature data for every monthly reading along the entire column at every two meters is averaged for 1988-1992 and then for 2018-2022. The statistical difference between means is calculated and ascertained for 99.49% confidence. The result clearly shows that there is a statistically significant difference in ocean temperatures in the mixed layer over the past 30 years, thus proving beyond a reasonable doubt that ocean temperature increase is taking place.