2007-09-12 11:19:14 · 3 answers · asked by jim m 5 in Environment ➔ Global Warming
Absolutely, the oceans warm the atmosphere by radiative processes, convection and conduction. And one other very important process that is often overlooked, evaporation. When water molecules enter the atmosphere via evaporation they directly transfer heat from the ocean to the atmosphere, but also keep the flow of the most important greenhouse gas in the atmosphere supplied. That is why a powerfull El-Nino event like the one that occurred in 1997 can easily warm the earths atmosphere by 1 degree in just a few months.
2007-09-12 14:36:44 · answer #1 · answered by Tomcat 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, and the opposite is true also.
Keep in mind, due to the density of the energy stored in water, the ocean has more effect on the temperature of air than the effect of air on the temperature of water.
Since heat is a form of energy, the flow of that energy is ALWAYS from hot to cold.
If the water is warmer than the air, the heat will flow from the water to the air warming the air.
The opposite is true if the air is warmer than the water, but due to the energy density, the flow from air to water has a MUCH less noticeable effect on the water temperature and the temperature of the air will be reduced as the energy level in the air is reduced. As the heat energy flows to the water, the water temperature will be increased, but the air temperature will be reduced to an even greater extent.
Most of the heat energy absorbed by water comes from the sun.
I'm sure volcanic activity has an influence also.
2007-09-12 19:01:33 · answer #2 · answered by Philip H 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no! It is water...
think when you're feeling really hot and you swim in the ocean do you get warmer????
NO! Of course not!
2007-09-13 11:54:03 · answer #3 · answered by thethinker678 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋