From a total energy gain/loss it doesn't change anything. Heat generated on planet diffuses into the ocean (the largest heat sink) and radiates into space at a (relatively[1]) fixed rate.
Given the mechanics, the overall ratio of heat in the atmosphere vs heat in the oceans is fixed by the Rtheta of the atmosphere/ocean boundary. If the atmosphere gets warmer, more heat is transferred. If the atmosphere is colder less heat is transferred.
The other question (which Jacques alluded too) is what about the local conditions. And here to the thermal mechanics give our underwater data center an advantage. Given the thermal conductivity of water, and seawater in particular, heat dumped into any spot rapidly diffuses to the rest of the ocean. That is not the case with air, which has a much lower thermal conductivity. Dumping lots of heat into unconstrained air locally can cause a localized "hot spot" which creates an interesting thermal plume and localized winds as cooler air around it comes rushing in.
To get a good understanding of just how effective the ocean is at diffusing heat, consider any of the hydrogen bomb tests in the Pacific. Prodigious amounts of heat dumped into the ocean creating a local hot spot (and a lot of steam!) and an undetectable change in overall ocean temperature. Kilauea volcano, same effect.
The ocean has a lot of thermal mass, without something like an asteroid from space, its hard to move the needle on its temperature overall.
[1] There are some pretty interesting thoughts around using harmonic resonators to convert ambient heat into IR radiation at a wavelength that can more easily pass through the atmosphere but those are just lab experiments at the moment AFAIK.
> The other question (which Jacques alluded too) is what about the local conditions. And here to the thermal mechanics give our underwater data center an advantage. Given the thermal conductivity of water, and seawater in particular, heat dumped into any spot rapidly diffuses to the rest of the ocean.
Thank you, it is precisely that which I was wondering about.
Given the mechanics, the overall ratio of heat in the atmosphere vs heat in the oceans is fixed by the Rtheta of the atmosphere/ocean boundary. If the atmosphere gets warmer, more heat is transferred. If the atmosphere is colder less heat is transferred.
The other question (which Jacques alluded too) is what about the local conditions. And here to the thermal mechanics give our underwater data center an advantage. Given the thermal conductivity of water, and seawater in particular, heat dumped into any spot rapidly diffuses to the rest of the ocean. That is not the case with air, which has a much lower thermal conductivity. Dumping lots of heat into unconstrained air locally can cause a localized "hot spot" which creates an interesting thermal plume and localized winds as cooler air around it comes rushing in.
To get a good understanding of just how effective the ocean is at diffusing heat, consider any of the hydrogen bomb tests in the Pacific. Prodigious amounts of heat dumped into the ocean creating a local hot spot (and a lot of steam!) and an undetectable change in overall ocean temperature. Kilauea volcano, same effect.
The ocean has a lot of thermal mass, without something like an asteroid from space, its hard to move the needle on its temperature overall.
[1] There are some pretty interesting thoughts around using harmonic resonators to convert ambient heat into IR radiation at a wavelength that can more easily pass through the atmosphere but those are just lab experiments at the moment AFAIK.