Prof. John Abraham Discusses the Ongoing and Outrageous Rise in Ocean Heat Content

About this episode

Prof. John Abraham discusses the alarming rise in ocean heat content and its consequences for climate and marine life.

To begin my 14th year of podcasting, my 335th interview is with John Abraham, Professor of Thermal Science and Fluid Mechanics at the University of St. Thomas. Prof. Abraham joins me for a fifth time or for a fifth consecutive year to discuss ocean warming in 2025 and the increasingly frightening consequences thereof. Last Friday, Prof Abraham along with 54 research colleagues published in “Advances in Atmospheric Sciences” the article, “Ocean Heat Content Sets Another Record in 2025.” Their research found that in 2025 oceans absorbed 23 zetajoules ( n followed by 21 zeros) of heat (30% more than in ’2024), a finding consistent with the fact that nearly every year since the start of the millennium has sent a new ocean heat record. In turn, the authors note long-term ocean heat accumulation contributed to extreme climate-related events in 2025 that included increasingly intense tropical cyclones, hurricanes and typhoons, heavier downpours (e.g., in late October Central Vietnam received 5.5 feet of rain in 24 hours), greater flooding, landslides, wildfires, longer marine heatwaves, increasingly decimated sea life, ice sheet loss and sea level rise that in sum impacted billions…

People in this episode

Host: David Introcaso

Guest: John Abraham

Topics covered

• ocean heat content
• climate change
• marine life
• extreme weather
• thermal science
• fluid mechanics

Keywords

• ocean heat content
• climate change
• tropical cyclones
• hurricanes
• marine heatwaves
• sea level rise
• extreme weather events

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: University of St. Thomas, Advances in Atmospheric Sciences

More episodes of The Healthcare Policy Podcast ® Produced by David Introcaso

• Ms. Jessica Forden Discusses Dr. Teresa Ghilarducci's Recently-Published Book, "Work, Retire, Repeat, The Uncertainty of Retirement in the New Economy" · June 6, 2026 · 42 min
• Tufts Professor William Masters Discusses Food Affordability and Food Production Stability in the Age of Climate Denial · May 12, 2026 · 40 min
• Mr. Robert Andrews Discusses Self-Insured Employer Health Plan Efforts to Address Healthcare Affordability · May 7, 2026 · 36 min
• Mike Meno Discusses the Recently-Introduced Senate "Stop Climate Shakedowns Act" · April 30, 2026 · 34 min
• Dr. Adam Cunningham Discusses Medical Tourism · April 7, 2026 · 42 min
• Georgetown's Professor Katie Keith Unpacks HHS's Recent Proposed Affordable Care Act Rule · March 7, 2026 · 40 min