Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
Marine energy, also known as ocean energy, ocean power, or marine and hydrokinetic energy, refers to energy harnessed from waves, tides, salinity gradients, and temperature differences in the ocean. The movement of water in the world's oceans stores vast amounts of kinetic energy , which can be converted into electricity to power homes ...
The ocean plays a key role in the water cycle as it is the source of 86% of global evaporation. [2] The water cycle involves the exchange of energy, which leads to temperature changes. When water evaporates, it takes up energy from its surroundings and cools the environment. When it condenses, it releases energy and warms the environment.
The ocean is a major driver of Earth's water cycle. Ocean water represents the largest body of water within the global water cycle (oceans contain 97% of Earth's water). Evaporation from the ocean moves water into the atmosphere to later rain back down onto land and the ocean. [69] Oceans have a significant effect on the biosphere.
Because the oceans that cover roughly 70.8% of the area of Earth reflect blue light, Earth appears blue from space, and is often referred to as the blue planet and the Pale Blue Dot. Liquid freshwater like lakes and rivers cover about 1% of Earth's surface [5] and altogether with Earth's ice cover, Earth's surface is 75% water by area. [6]
However, ocean currents also flow thousands of meters below the surface. These deep-ocean currents are driven by differences in the water's density, which is controlled by temperature (thermo) and salinity (haline). This process is known as thermohaline circulation. In the Earth's polar regions ocean water gets very cold, forming sea ice.
It notes that the volume of liquid water predicted beneath the surface is "more than the water volumes proposed to have filled hypothesized ancient Martian oceans". "On Earth, groundwater ...
The average salinity of Earth's oceans is about 35 grams of salt per kilogram of seawater (3.5% salt). [204] Most of this salt was released from volcanic activity or extracted from cool igneous rocks. [205] The oceans are also a reservoir of dissolved atmospheric gases, which are essential for the survival of many aquatic life forms. [206]
A new analysis of data collected by NASA’s InSight mission suggests there may be enough water beneath the surface of Mars to cover the planet.