Oceans & Climate
Science · Ocean Life · conceptual
Understand the connection between the ocean and climate: the ocean absorbs heat and carbon dioxide, drives weather patterns through evaporation, and ocean currents distribute warmth around the planet — making the ocean Earth's climate engine
What mastery looks like
- Explain that the ocean absorbs a large amount of the Sun's heat and atmospheric carbon dioxide
- Describe the ocean's role in the water cycle through evaporation
- Explain how ocean currents distribute warmth and affect weather patterns in distant places
Check your understanding
Can Oceans & Climate explain why the ocean is sometimes called Earth's climate engine — that it absorbs heat, drives rain through evaporation, and moves warmth around the world through currents?
Prerequisites
Required first
Helpful