New study finds variations in global warming trend are caused by oceans

Variations are associated with heat transfer due to temperature differences between the surface ocean and the overlying air, and heat transfer associated with evaporation. The heat fluxes are also called the turbulent heat fluxes. “The relation holds in all models and is independent of the time-scale of the variation in temperature. When the atmosphere gets extra warm it receives more heat from the ocean, when it is extra cool it receives less heat from the ocean, making it clear that the ocean is the driving force behind these variations.”
New Study

The relation between global mean temperature variations and total heat uptake appears to be more complex due to changes in absorbed solar radiation which are out of phase with the turbulent fluxes and the temperature response.  Before the ocean releases extra amounts of heat to the atmosphere, it is warmed by increased absorption of solar radiation.