Ocean and climateThe ocean and its massive flow of water or currents are essential to the way thermal energy moves between bodies of water, landforms and the atmosphere of the Earth. The ocean is a crucial factor in the storage and transfer of thermal energy across the Earth. The movement of heat through ocean currents affects the regulation of weather and temperature extremes. The global climate is directly impacted by ocean currents. “The ocean covers more than 71 percent of the Earth's surface and contains 97 percent of its water” (National Geographic). Ocean currents occur on the surface of the ocean and in the depths of the water. Currents can move horizontally and vertically. The ocean has an interconnected system of currents or circulation, powered by wind, tides, the Earth's rotation, and the sun. The ocean absorbs heat when the air is warm and releases it when the air is cool. The role of the ocean is essential in determining climate because it absorbs, stores and transports heat from the sun. The ocean can warm or cool the air in different ways. When the air is at a lower temperature than sea water, the ocean transfers heat. towards the lower atmosphere, forming a low pressure air mass over this part of the ocean. Fresh or cold water causes the formation of a high-pressure air mass. This affects jet streams, bands of fast-moving air currents at high altitudes. These waterways provide energy to storms that develop at low altitudes. The ocean changes the direction of storms and some storms even reverse their direction due to changes in air pressure influenced by the ocean. The current in the ocean distributes the effects of weather patterns around the world. Some currents carry warm water from tropical and subtropical regions toward the poles, while...... middle of paper ...... many factors contribute to weather and climate, but it is the ocean with the sun. which is responsible for creating such drastic climate changes. The hydrological cycle is the endless circulation that carries water from the ocean to the atmosphere and returns it to the ocean. The ocean is responsible for rain, snow, hail or sleet by creating clouds from evaporation caused by the heat of the sun. Works Cited Herring, David. “Ocean and Climate Fact Sheet.” Earth Observatory. NASA. http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/OceanClimate/.php. How it works. “How the ocean affects climate.” Discovery Society. Web.http://www.howstuffworks.com/how-the-ocean-affects-climate-info.htm.Stewart, Robert. “Ocean and climate”. Chair Kincaid. Web.http://oceanmotion.org/html/background/climate.htm.