Table of Contents
Why is ocean important?
The air we breathe: The ocean produces over half of the world’s oxygen and absorbs 50 times more carbon dioxide than our atmosphere. Climate regulation: Covering 70 percent of the Earth’s surface, the ocean transports heat from the equator to the poles, regulating our climate and weather patterns.
Why are the oceans important to the water cycle quizlet?
Oceans are important to the water cycle because most of Earth’s surface is ocean water, and the oceans provide most of the water vapor. The water cycle is the process which water leaves the Earth’s surface, enters the atmosphere, and is returned to the surface. They both are part of the water cycle.
Why are sun and oceans important to our water cycle?
The sun, which drives the water cycle, heats water in the oceans. Some of it evaporates as vapor into the air. Ice and snow can sublimate directly into water vapor.
What is the most important function of the ocean?
> The oceans cover around 70 per cent of the Earth’s surface. They thus play an important role in the Earth’s climate and in global warming. One important function of the oceans is to transport heat from the tropics to higher latitudes. They respond very slowly to changes in the atmosphere.
What is the movement of water in the ocean called?
Ocean currents are the continuous, predictable, directional movement of seawater driven by gravity, wind (Coriolis Effect), and water density. Ocean water moves in two directions: horizontally and vertically. Horizontal movements are referred to as currents, while vertical changes are called upwellings or downwellings.
How does water transfer when it evaporates from the ocean quizlet?
Ocean water evaporates to form gaseous water and moves into the atmosphere, where it condenses into liquid water and falls out of the atmosphere to land as rain.
Why don t the oceans simply reabsorb the water that evaporates?
because the oceans already have a ton of water in them so they don’t really need to absorb the water again that evaporates…
How does ocean water circulate?
What makes ocean currents flow? Tides contribute to coastal currents that travel short distances. Major surface ocean currents in the open ocean, however, are set in motion by the wind, which drags on the surface of the water as it blows. The water starts flowing in the same direction as the wind.
What are oceans used for?
The ocean is one of Earth’s most valuable natural resources. It provides food in the form of fish and shellfish—about 200 billion pounds are caught each year. It’s used for transportation—both travel and shipping. It provides a treasured source of recreation for humans.