quote:

While your comment about total forcing may be correct, there are places where THF rises to around 350 mW per sq metre. Such high flow rates are along the western edge of the spreading margin of the Nazea Plate, the Eastern Pacific Rise off Chile.

To show that such heat flow had an impact on, say, the last 50 years of observed ocean warming, one would have to look at the increase, if any, of the heat flow over the last 50 years rather than the net heat flow. Even if the net heat flow were large, if it had not increased then warming could not be attributed to it.

I know nothing about variability of THF or the scientific level of understanding of its variability, so I can't otherwise comment as to whether it should have been included in more detail other than stating that the increase or variability in THF over the last 50 years must be smaller (and I'm guessing a lot smaller) than the current total, and the current total is small with respect to greenhouse forcing.