Ocean Heat Storage and Sea Level

This chapter discusses how sea level is affected by things like surface temperature and ocean heat. The temperature of the ocean determines the phase of the water and control the radiative balance of the atmosphere, along with keeping the ecosystem stable for marine organisms. The surface temperature is affected by sunlight and ocean currents, and floats on the top due to differences in density that determine ocean stratification. The difference in heat capacity between the ocean and the atmosphere determine the climate stability. As the ocean warms, warm water expands, causing sea level rise, which is also determined by ocean circulation. Sea level rise is not the same everywhere, and for small coastal states, it is vitally important for the population. 

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