Abstract
Record ocean temperatures exceeding 1ºC above historical averages were reported in 2023. In the Atlantic, a warming ocean is of particular concern due to the potential for heightened hurricane activity, as projections show that the frequency and intensity of storms are likely to increase as ocean temperatures rise. Using climatology data obtained by RSMAES, we quantified and visualized anomalies in sea surface temperature (SST), ocean heat content (OHC), mixed layer depth (MLD), sea surface height (SSHA), and the depth of the 26ºC isotherm (D26) in the main development region where hurricane genesis occurs, in order to gain a fuller picture of the present state of the ocean. All variables were mapped on both a monthly and seasonal basis. Sea surface temperature and ocean heat content were elevated above levels observed in 2018-2022, with SST anomalies averaging 1.16ºC and surpassing 2ºC in certain areas. OHC anomalies averaged 18.39 kJ/cm2 , with isolated values reaching over 50 kJ/cm2 .Other variables did not display such marked anomalies. The anomalies we observed in both SST and OHC point to a future in which hurricane season is even more destructive and costly than at present. Further research should be seek to investigate related atmospheric variables, analyze anomalies using statistical techniques, and ascertain their cause.