Ocean Heat Content [OHC] or the measurement of the change in heat stored in the ocean is controversial because in 2003 the ARGO flotation devices were introduced. ARGO was much more accurate then the hit and miss, literally a bucket over the side of a ship, system which prevailed before.

Since 2003 the OHC has been nearly flat, with an almost imperceptible rate of increase; the comparison between the rate of change post ARGO compared with the rate of change before ARGO is discussed here:

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2011/03/20/ocean-heat-content-adjustments-follow-up-and-more-missing-heat/

The difference ARGO made to the measurment of the OHC can be seen by this graph where the 'jump' in OHC at the point of the introduction of ARGO represents over 40% of the increase in OHC since 1955:

http://wattsupwiththat.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/loehle_ohc_fig1.png

So, what we have is an artifact of the change in measurment being responsible for over 40% of the increase in OHC and since the new, more accurate ARGO system came in, effectively NO increase in OHC.

Bonmot's other point is that water is a +ve feedback outweighing the "slight negative feedback" from clouds.

This is not right for 2 reasons; firstly clouds are an overwhelmingly -ve feedback:

http://www.agu.org/pubs/crossref/2012/2012JD017626.shtml

And many other papers also show this -ve feedback from clouds.

Secondly the amount of water in the atmosphere has been declining:

http://c3headlines.typepad.com/.a/6a010536b58035970c0168e7e7d179970c-pi

So, even if water vapor is a +ve feedback it has been decreasing.

Very similar to what we term 'Roy's Ravings', no wonder some amateurs are taken in by it.

Keep trying though, it gives us a laugh over a morning cuppa.

Dear cohenite,

With respect I did not ask you if you thought that CO2 is a warming gas rather whether you believed in the phenomena known as the 'green house effect'.

It may well be a given, and I'm not wanting to labour the point, but it is an important thing to get past if discussion on the other matters you have raised might ultimately bear fruit for either of us.

bonmot, you've got nothing; as usual; some scientist; I bet you're a bureaucrat.

csteele; define the 'Greenhouse' effect, including its climatic impact.

And unlike another here, I don't have ADHD either.

Dear cohenite,

I think we both know what the greenhouse effect is but okay.

The greenhouse effect is the mechanism that causes the difference between the Earth's effective radiating temperature of around -18C and the Earth's actual temperature of around 14C. That mechanism involves the radiating properties of gases and water vapour.

Do you agree that such a mechanism exists and has a role in warming our planet?