Why and how does the water temperature in the World Ocean change?

I think I can give an answer enough, because at school I prepared a report on this topic. Then there was no Internet, which means that the preparation took more time, and maybe that's why so many things were remembered. About, why does the temperature of the oceans change?, and most importantly, how it happens, I will try to tell you.

World ocean temperature

In fact, the ocean receives many more heat than land, and the point is not even its huge area, but the fact that water has excellent heat capacity. In other words, water is much better. retains the received heat energy than, for example, rocks and ordinary soil. The sun's rays heat only the upper layers, and this causes such a phenomenon as circulation of water flows, however, this process does not affect the lowest layers and a relatively stable temperature is observed there - 0-2 ° С.

What determines the temperature of the World Ocean

Science highlights several global factors that have a significant impact. So this:

  • geographic latitude- in fact, the main determining factor;
  • climate- its features in the surrounding areas significantly affect the water temperature;
  • currents- due to this phenomenon, a smooth distribution of heat occurs.

With distance from the equator, a decrease in temperature is observed, in view of the fact that at equatorial regions much more heat energy is consumed. The average indicator in the equatorial region varies within + 30 ° С, and with distance to the poles gradually decreases... At the same time, in the Southern Hemisphere, a high rate of temperature decrease is observed, which is due to the proximity of Antarctica.

The temperature of the seas that are surrounded by deserts is extremely depends on the climate these territories, for example, the Red Sea, is characterized by temperatures up to 36 ° C. At the same time, depending on the time of day, the water temperature in temperate latitudes changes. As for the currents, they are characterized by transfer of cold masses from polar regions and moving warm to temperate latitudes.


In view of the fact that ocean waters absorb hugeThe amount of heat, its role in maintaining life can hardly be overestimated. All the heat that was "accumulated" over the summer gradually enters the atmosphere during winter where is distributed throughout the planet. According to calculations, if the ocean had such a wonderful property, the average temperature of the planet would be -23 ° C, and this is by no means the best condition for life!