Definition and Importance

Ocean temperature refers to the heat content or the thermal state of ocean waters, measured from the surface to its deepest layers. This temperature is a critical parameter influencing several oceanic and atmospheric processes.

The surface temperature varies significantly, from about -2°C in polar regions to over 30°C in equatorial regions.

Deeper parts of the ocean (abyssal zones) generally remain cold, with temperatures around 2°C to 4°C at depths of 1,000 meters or more.

Role of Ocean Temperature in Global Climate Regulation

1.Heat Storage and Distribution: Oceans act as the Earth’s largest heat reservoir, absorbing around 93% of excess heat generated by human activities over the past decades.

The warm ocean surface in tropical regions releases heat into the atmosphere, influencing global weather patterns such as the El Niño and La Niña phenomena.

Thermohaline Circulation: Differences in temperature and salinity drive this "global conveyor belt," regulating climate patterns by transporting warm water from the tropics to the poles and cold water from polar regions to the tropics.