The Ocean and Water Cycle: Weather

1. Keeps our planet warm
   1. radiation from the sun is absorbed by the ocean
   2. water molecules that receive heat evaporate: from a liquid state to vapor, a gas state
2. Ocean currents
   1. transports warm water from the equator to the poles, and cold water from the poles to the tropics
   2. without currents, regional temperatures would be more severe 
3. Click here for more information 

Water is always moving: 

• from the ocean/lake/river --> to the air as evaporation--> to condensation as clouds/fog--> to precipitation as rain--> to running off the surface --> and back into the ocean/lake/river 
• The water cycle: evaporation, condensation, precipitation, surface runoff (collection of water)
• Click here to view a short clip about the water cycle. *hint

• The water cycle allows for more clouds to form in the region, which decreases the temperature, as a result, we receive rainfall and snow in some regions. 
  • Too much rain can cause floods, which is why the water cycle is important: the water must run off or infiltrate to prevent floods.
  • Also, no rain can cause droughts, which is why it is important that the cycle remains consistent. We need evaporation, so that it leads to condensation, and we receive precipitation. 

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