This very warm water is not limited to the top layer of the ocean; it extends about 100 yards deep. When that fuel is burned, the ships emit sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere, which reflects sunlight back into space. Unlike carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide lasts only a few weeks in the atmosphere. More than 15 miles high, the stratosphere is above where most regular weather processes would turn the water vapor into clouds and precipitation, so the water vapor gradually circulates around the earth. Because water vapor is a strong greenhouse gas, like carbon dioxide, that could be contributing to the warming.

Source: Daily Sun July 15, 2023 13:48 UTC