Fundamental Concepts for

Essential Principle 3: The ocean is a major influence on weather and climate.

3a. The ocean controls weather and climate by dominating the Earth’s energy, water and carbon systems.

K-12 Scope and Sequence: Grade band K-2 mentions concepts; Grade bands 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12 address concepts in depth.

3b. The ocean absorbs much of the solar radiation reaching Earth. The ocean loses heat by evaporation. This heat loss drives atmospheric circulation when, after it is released into the atmosphere as water vapor, it condenses and forms rain. Condensation of water evaporated from warm seas provides the energy for hurricanes and cyclones.

K-12 Scope and Sequence: Grade bands K-2, 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12 address concepts in depth.

3c. The El Niño Southern Oscillation causes important changes in global weather patterns because it changes the way heat is released to the atmosphere in the Pacific.

K-12 Scope and Sequence: Grade bands 6-8 and 9-12 address concepts in depth.

3d. Most rain that falls on land originally evaporated from the tropical ocean.

K-12 Scope and Sequence: Grade bands K-2, 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12 mention concepts.

3e. The ocean dominates the Earth’s carbon cycle. Half the primary productivity on Earth takes place in the sunlit layers of the ocean and the ocean absorbs roughly half of all carbon dioxide added to the atmosphere.

K-12 Scope and Sequence: Grade bands 6-8 and 9-12 address concepts in depth.

3f. The ocean has had, and will continue to have, a significant influence on climate change by absorbing, storing, and moving heat, carbon and water.

K-12 Scope and Sequence: Grade bands 6-8 and 9-12 address concepts in depth.

3g. Changes in the ocean’s circulation have produced large, abrupt changes in climate during the last 50,000 years.

K-12 Scope and Sequence: Grade band 6-8 mentions concepts; Grade band 9-12 addresses concepts in depth.