The Global Water Cycle

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The Oceans Cover over 70% of Earth's surface

A look at the Earth from space reveals a mostly blue planet. The domination of earth’s surface by the oceans is quite clear. As Arthur C. Clark once said, "How inappropriate to call this planet Earth when clearly it is Ocean”.This deep blue mass of water has major implications for the climate of the Earth.  It means that most of the Sun’s energy is absorbed into the ocean. It also means that this fluid body, with its huge heat capacity (1100 times that of the atmosphere) is the main reservoir for heat on the planet.  And of course the ocean is the primary reservoir for water.  Most of the water we experience as rain has come from the ocean, which is the principal source of water for the atmosphere.


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Last updated September 11, 2007
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