Importance of Oceans
cK-12
7th Grade Informational Reading Texts
Oceans cover more than 70% of Earth's surface. Oceans hold 97% of the planet's surface water. It's no surprise that the oceans have a big influence on the planet. The oceans affect the atmosphere, climate, and living things.
Oceans are the major source of water vapor in the atmosphere. Sunlight heats water near the sea surface. As the water warms, some of it evaporates. The water vapor rises into the air, where it may form clouds and precipitation. precipitation provides the freshwater needed by plants and other living things.
Ocean water also absorbs gases from the atmosphere. The most important are oxygen and carbon dioxide. Oxygen is needed by living things in the oceans. Much of the carbon dioxide sinks to the bottom of the seas. Carbon dioxide is a major cause of global warming. By absorbing carbon dioxide, the oceans help control global warming. At least as long as the carbon dioxide stays in the seas.
Coastal areas have a milder climate than inland areas. They are warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. That's because land near an ocean is influenced by the temperature of the oceans. The temperature of ocean water is moderate and stable. Why? There are two major reasons:
1. Water is much slower to warm up and cool down than land. As a result, oceans never get as hot or as cold as land.
2. Water flows through all the world's oceans. Warm water from the Equator mixes with cold water from the poles. The mixing of warm and cold water makes the water temperature moderate.
Even inland temperatures are milder because of oceans. Without oceans, there would be much bigger temperature swings all over Earth. Temperatures might plunge hundreds of degrees below freezing in the winter. In the summer, lakes and seas might boil! Life as we know it could not exist on Earth without the oceans.
The oceans provide a home to many living things. In fact, a greater number of organisms live in the oceans than on land. Coral reefs have more diversity of life forms than almost anywhere else on Earth. Biological diversity is shortened to biodiversity. Oceans contain the majority of biomass on Earth.
Oceans are the major source of water vapor in the atmosphere. Sunlight heats water near the sea surface. As the water warms, some of it evaporates. The water vapor rises into the air, where it may form clouds and precipitation. precipitation provides the freshwater needed by plants and other living things.
Ocean water also absorbs gases from the atmosphere. The most important are oxygen and carbon dioxide. Oxygen is needed by living things in the oceans. Much of the carbon dioxide sinks to the bottom of the seas. Carbon dioxide is a major cause of global warming. By absorbing carbon dioxide, the oceans help control global warming. At least as long as the carbon dioxide stays in the seas.
Coastal areas have a milder climate than inland areas. They are warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. That's because land near an ocean is influenced by the temperature of the oceans. The temperature of ocean water is moderate and stable. Why? There are two major reasons:
1. Water is much slower to warm up and cool down than land. As a result, oceans never get as hot or as cold as land.
2. Water flows through all the world's oceans. Warm water from the Equator mixes with cold water from the poles. The mixing of warm and cold water makes the water temperature moderate.
Even inland temperatures are milder because of oceans. Without oceans, there would be much bigger temperature swings all over Earth. Temperatures might plunge hundreds of degrees below freezing in the winter. In the summer, lakes and seas might boil! Life as we know it could not exist on Earth without the oceans.
The oceans provide a home to many living things. In fact, a greater number of organisms live in the oceans than on land. Coral reefs have more diversity of life forms than almost anywhere else on Earth. Biological diversity is shortened to biodiversity. Oceans contain the majority of biomass on Earth.