Oceans & Climate

Question 1

On a bright summer morning, a research team measures that the sea surface near Coral Bay is about 4 °C warmer than the air and also finds that the water has taken up a lot of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Which statement best explains how the ocean can store the Sun’s heat and remove carbon dioxide at the same time?

Accepted Answer

Water can hold a lot of heat, so the warm surface stores solar energy; ocean mixing carries the absorbed CO₂ down into deeper water, letting the ocean act like a giant heat and carbon sponge.

Answer

The ocean’s surface cools quickly, letting it capture CO₂; the Sun’s heat is reflected back into space, so the ocean only removes carbon, not heat.

Answer

Because salt makes water denser, the ocean cannot take in heat; instead it only absorbs CO₂ through chemical reactions with marine plants.

Answer

The ocean’s waves scatter sunlight and the wind pushes CO₂ into the water, but the heat stays in the air.

Question 2

After a sunny day, scientists notice that the surface of the nearby ocean gets much warmer and that the water contains more dissolved carbon dioxide than the air above it. Which explanation correctly shows how these changes help keep Earth’s climate stable?

Accepted Answer

The ocean stores solar heat in its water and dissolves atmospheric carbon dioxide, removing both excess heat and greenhouse gases from the air, which together help prevent rapid climate changes.

Answer

The ocean mainly reflects sunlight back into space and does not take in carbon dioxide, so it has little effect on climate.

Answer

The ocean absorbs the Sun’s heat but releases all of the carbon dioxide it absorbs, so it only changes temperature, not greenhouse‑gas levels.

Answer

The ocean takes in carbon dioxide but does not store solar heat, so it only reduces greenhouse gases but does not affect temperature.

Question 3

After a hot day at the beach, you see clouds forming over the nearby town. Which statement best explains how the ocean helped create those clouds?

Accepted Answer

The sun warmed the ocean water, causing it to evaporate; the water vapor rose, cooled, and turned into clouds that can later produce rain.

Answer

The ocean absorbed carbon dioxide, which then directly changed into cloud droplets over the town.

Answer

The warm sand heated the air, and that hot air alone rose to make clouds without any help from the ocean.

Answer

Ocean currents moved warm water to the town, making the air hot enough for clouds to appear, but no water left the ocean.

Try three questions

After a sunny day, scientists notice that the surface of the nearby ocean gets much warmer and that the water contains more dissolved carbon dioxide than the air above it. Which explanation correctly shows how these changes help keep Earth’s climate stable?

After a hot day at the beach, you see clouds forming over the nearby town. Which statement best explains how the ocean helped create those clouds?

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