Has Global Oceanic Warming Been Detected Through Sea Level Rise?

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The discussion highlights the ongoing global warming trends indicated by glacier retreats and changes in the Arctic and Greenland, yet questions the detectable impact on ocean temperatures and thermal expansion, which are crucial for understanding sea level rise. It references the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) as a historical precedent for intense global warming, noting that while there were some marine extinctions due to increased temperatures, significant extinctions primarily occurred during subsequent cooling periods. The implications of current warming on extinction rates remain uncertain, but past events suggest that catastrophic outcomes may not be inevitable. Additionally, the thermal expansion of oceans has been linked to 20th-century warming, contributing significantly to sea level rise, emphasizing the importance of ongoing monitoring and research in this area.
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Based upon the retreat of glaciers worldwide, and opening of the Arctic ocean, and Greenland's hastened dissolution, global atmospheric warming would seem to be with us. But has there been any global oceanic warming? None yet definitively detectable by thermal expansion of the oceans (i.e. proxy of sea surface rise). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_level_rise"

NATURE'S PAST EXPERIMENT

An experiment of nature on the effect of intense global warming has already occurred in the Eocene 38-55 million yrs. ago; the so-called Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM).(1) There were no massive extinctions comparative to that of Cretaceous-Tertiary (K-T) period defining Mezozoic/Cenazocic eras at 65Myrs. At the Paleocene-Eocene divide, paleo-stratigraphic results show that there was deep water benthic foraminifera mass extinction associated with the increased temperature and hence dysoxic (less oxygenated) waters.(1) But most marine and terrestrial extinctions occurred with cooling at the end of the Eocene, and into the Oligocene epoch.(1) The consequences of the present warming are unknown in regards to extinctions. However nature already has conducted one experiment in regards to intense global warming, with seemingly not overwhelming catastrophic results.

1. Hallam Tony, Catastrophes and Lesser Calamities Oxford Univ Press, 2004, and references therein.

Other sources consulted.

2. Raup David M., Extinction: Bad Genes or bad Luck?, W.W. Norton, 1991, and references therein.
3. Stanley Steven M., Extinction, Scientific American Books, 1987, and references therein.
 
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Thermal expansion of the oceans has been observed, and is a significant contributor to global sea level rise. The link that you providehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_level_rise

says this:

It is very likely that 20th century warming has contributed significantly to the observed sea-level rise, through thermal expansion of sea water and widespread loss of land ice
 

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