Ocean heat content relative to a reference temperature is an integral through the water column. For a uniform column of depth , per horizontal area. Melting ice already at its fusion temperature requires its latent heat; warming cold ice first requires additional sensible heat. A surface temperature alone does not determine the column integral.
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Ocean heat content (OHC) refers to the amount of heat stored in the ocean. It is a measure of the thermal energy contained in the water column and is primarily influenced by changes in temperature. OHC is a critical factor in understanding climate change and its effects on the Earth's system, as the oceans absorb a significant amount of excess heat generated by greenhouse gas emissions.