A many-body quantum model is proposed as the mechanism responsible for accelerating rates of heat uptake by oceans as anthropogenic heat inputs rise

Abstract A recent many-body quantum approach to thermal radiation (Smith GB, et al 2022 J. Phys. Commun. 6 , 065004 ) reveals that the energy capacitance of heated water is about twice its heat capacitance, due to energy stored as local hybrid pairs of photons coupled resonantly to local matter excitations, with pair density weighted by mass density. Energy exchange between photons and localised dipole excitations inside water at steady temperature T, occurs at sites where a hybridisation potential within the Hamiltonian couples local oscillation modes to ‘free’ photon modes. Photon modes in both directions are phase retarded at exit sides of a hybrid site. Optically sharp variations with frequency in the index of refraction n(f) and photon density of states follow. Exit spectral intensities at equilibrium temperature T carry quantum information on the energy density of matter excitations coupled to photons, while occupied hybrid sites are the source of all ‘free’ photons and internal spectral intensities. The matter excitations coupled locally to photons are distinct from those that define specific heat, but in water both arise from molecular oscillations. The energy capacitance C EX (T) of hybrid pairs depends on mass density and is independent of the heat capacitance C HT (T), which sets temperature T. C EX (T) is sensitive to T and doubles as a capacitance of energy and of ‘quantum information’. Expressions for C EX (T) are derived from first principles and applied to water. The density of occupied hybrids is amplified near surfaces by photons reflected off the surface, which create new hybrid pairs, but not extra heat. Energy capacitance C EX (T)+C HT (T) sets dT(t)/dt prior to a new equilibrium state emerging, after input heating rate dQ/dt is switched. Rising atmospheric intensities then raise T, dQ/dt, C EX (T) and C HT (T). The times available to cool overnight are fixed, so that a rising capacitance, adds to energy stored at an accelerating rate.