Which explains how ocean currents affect global climates?(1 point)
Responses
Water absorbs a lot of thermal energy and releases it over time and distance.
Water absorbs a lot of thermal energy and releases it over time and distance.
Water absorbs little thermal energy and releases it all at once.
Water absorbs little thermal energy and releases it all at once.
Water absorbs a lot of thermal energy and releases it all at once.
Water absorbs a lot of thermal energy and releases it all at once.
Water absorbs little thermal energy and releases it over time and distance.
Water absorbs a lot of thermal energy and releases it over time and distance.
The correct explanation is:
Water absorbs a lot of thermal energy and releases it over time and distance.
Ocean currents play a crucial role in redistributing heat around the globe, thereby influencing global climates. This is because water has a high heat capacity, which means it can absorb a significant amount of thermal energy. As the sun heats the ocean surface, the water warms up and stores this energy. However, instead of releasing it all at once, the water slowly releases the stored heat over time and distance.
Ocean currents, driven by a combination of factors such as wind, temperature, salinity, and Earth's rotation, help to distribute this thermal energy. Warm ocean currents carry the heat from the tropics towards the poles, while cold ocean currents transport cooler water from high latitudes towards the equator. This redistribution of heat helps regulate global temperatures and influences weather patterns across different regions.
Thus, ocean currents act as a heat transport mechanism, playing a significant role in shaping global climates.
The correct explanation is:
Water absorbs a lot of thermal energy and releases it over time and distance.