even decades. Less obvious, but also powerful, is the effect hurricanes

have on the oceans.

In a new study, we show through real-time measurements that hurricanes

don’t just churn water at the surface. They can also push heat deep into

the ocean in ways that can lock it up for years and ultimately affect

regions far from the storm.

Heat is the key component of this story. It has long been known that

hurricanes gain their energy from warm sea surface temperatures. This

heat helps moist air near the ocean surface rise like a hot air balloon

and form clouds taller than Mount Everest. This is why hurricanes

generally form in tropical regions.

What we discovered is that hurricanes ultimately help warm the ocean,

too, by enhancing its ability to absorb and store heat. And that can

have far-reaching consequences.

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