8legs: Southern ocean, antarctica

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The ocean has been hoarding heat. Now it is building up a massive 'burp.'

New modeling suggests the Southern Ocean could abruptly release its stored heat, triggering a warming phase even after emissions decline.
In simulations where net negative emissions are achieved, the burp could resume warming at a rate similar to current human-caused warming.
The burp would persist for at least a century and would be driven by heat already stored in the ocean.
The Southern Ocean alone holds around 80 percent of the warmth taken up by all the oceans, making it a critical heat reservoir.
The study notes substantial uncertainty about how the Earth system will respond to net-negative emissions.
Researchers describe the process of deep convection and sea-ice formation as the mechanism behind the burp.
The article emphasizes reducing fossil fuel pollution quickly to limit future warming, even with potential burps.
The analysis frames the burp as a possible outcome rather than a certain prediction, reflecting model-based uncertainty.
Experts stress that the burp, even if it happens, does not negate the need to cut emissions rapidly.
The piece places the problem in a broader context of climate dynamics and policy implications for ocean-driven feedbacks.

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