English: This bubble graph shows how the extra energy trapped by anthropogenic (i.e., human) greenhouse gases has been distributed on the Earth. This is referred to as "radiative imbalance", where less energy leaves Earth's atmosphere than enters it. Earth has been in radiative imbalance since at least the 1970s. Most of this extra energy has been absorbed by the oceans.

Data

The following data shows how the extra energy trapped mainly by anthropogenic greenhouse gases has been distributed on the Earth between 1971 and 2010:

• Oceans: 93%
• Ice: 3%
• Continents: 3%
• Atmosphere: 1%

The biggest uncertainty is found in the energy invertory of the deep ocean (more than 700 m) due to a scarcity of data points. The deep ocean accounts for 29% procent of the total extra energy trapped. Further information can be found in the source listed in the references section.

References

• Rhein, M., et al. (2013-06-07), “Box 3.1, in: Chapter 3: Observations: Ocean (final draft)”, in Qin, D. and T. Stocker, editor, Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis. Working Group I Contribution to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 5th Assessment Report^[1], IPCC, pp.11-12 (pp.14-15 of PDF chapter).