Absorber of energy

Water is the strongest absorber of solar heat on a surface of the Earth, and is natural that the basic role here belongs to World ocean. Its this ability is 2-3 times more than the ability of the surface of the Earth. Only 8 % of solar radiation is reflected from a surface of ocean. The ocean acts as the store of a solar energy on a planet because of the special thermal abilties of water. It is heated up basically in the equatorial zone. In higher latitudes of both hemispheres it gives back warmth, received in the zone of heating. Superficial currents of ocean are the basic carriers of solar heat, saved in it. Average temperature of a surface of ocean is equalled 17,80C, most "hot" surface - at Pacific ocean, +19,40C, and most cold - under ice of Arctic ocean, -0,75 0C. Temperature of a surface of World ocean on average approximately is 3,60C higher than temperature of air at a surface of the Earth. If the ocean could be mixed in regular intervals, its average temperature would be lower, only 5,70C, and the coldest one would be Pacific ocean (4,70C). But it is impossible to mix the ocean quickly, and it is one more reason of stability of temperature at a surface of the Earth. Winds and storms can mix only thin top layer of ocean up to depth of 100-200 m during one year. This layer has rather homogeneous characteristics of temperature and saultiness, and the other layers temperature decreases, therefore it is named as a layer of jump, or seasonal thermowedge.


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