An Australian scientist has proposed that quantum physics may provide the answer to the puzzlingly rapid increase in ocean temperatures, a phenomenon not fully explained by existing climate models.
Emeritus Professor Geoff Smith from the University of Technology Sydney has presented his theory in a recently published paper in the Journal of Physics Communications. Professor Smith introduces a new concept, the “quantum thermal physics paradigm”, to provide a more comprehensive understanding of how global warming affects the ocean, and consequently, the climate and weather patterns.
Professor Smith cites data collected over the past 70 years, showing a concerning acceleration in the rate at which ocean temperatures and the total energy stored in oceans are increasing. Earlier this year, a troubling record was set when the global average sea surface temperature reached 21.1°C.
According to Professor Smith, current scientific models, even when considering the continuous increase in atmospheric greenhouse gases, do not predict this rapid acceleration. He suggests that the energy stored in oceans is not only heat but also includes energy which conveys information about material properties.
When the sun and sky heat ocean water, energy is stored not just as heat, but also as pairs of photons linked to oscillating water molecules. These pairs represent quantum information, distinct from that being explored in the field of quantum computing. This additional energy store has always existed, contributing to the thermal stability of oceans prior to 1960.
However, Professor Smith notes that the balance has shifted. The average heat released overnight from each day’s heating is no longer stable due to the extra heat from Earth’s atmosphere raising both forms of stored energy.
The potential role of this non-thermal energy in the rapid increase of ocean temperatures now needs to be incorporated into climate models, according to Professor Smith. He also suggests that current models for the thermal responses of both built and natural outdoor systems may need refinement to enhance comfort, reduce energy consumption, and promote better health for humans, plants, and animals in a warming climate.
Despite these new insights, Professor Smith emphasizes the crucial need to halt the rise in atmospheric greenhouse gases as the only viable strategy to slow and eventually stop the alarming acceleration of temperature.
