How does ocean transfer energy across the ocean and sun's energy affect the oceans atmosphere and life on Earth?
The energy in the ocean waves is a form of concentrated solar energy that is transferred through complex wind-wave interactions. The effects of earth's temperature variation due to solar heating, combined with a multitude of atmospheric phenomena, generate wind currents in global scale. Waves transmit energy, not water, across the ocean and if not obstructed by anything, they have the potential to travel across an entire ocean basin. Waves are most commonly caused by wind. Wind-driven waves, or surface waves, are created by the friction between wind and surface water. Wave energy, whereby converters capture the energy contained in ocean waves and use it to generate electricity. Converters include oscillating water columns that trap air pockets to drive a turbine; oscillating body converters that use wave motion; and overtopping converters that make use of height differences.Ocean waves get their energy mainly from the winds that blow across their surface. As the winds blow, friction builds up and causes the water to be pulled along, forming a crest. Infrared radiation from the Sun is responsible for heating the Earth's atmosphere and surface. Without energy from the Sun, Earth would freeze. There would be no winds, ocean currents, or clouds to transport water. The Sun can influence Earth's climate, but it isn't responsible for the warming trend we've seen over recent decades. The Sun is a giver of life; it helps keep the planet warm enough for us to survive. We know subtle changes in Earth's orbit around the Sun are responsible for the comings and goings of the ice ages. Ocean currents act much like a conveyor belt, transporting warm water and precipitation from the equator toward the poles and cold water from the poles back to the tropics. Thus, ocean currents regulate global climate, helping to counteract the uneven distribution of solar radiation reaching Earth's surface. Energy from the sun heats Earth's surface, warms the atmosphere, provides energy for photosynthesis, causes evaporation, drives the weather and water cycles, and powers the ocean currents. Energy is transferred in the atmosphere, ocean, and Earth's interior system by three processes: convection, conduction, and radiation. These processes can all occur at the same time on either a small or large scale. There is also a strong coupling found between the atmosphere and ocean. The ocean is the largest solar energy collector on Earth. Not only does water cover more than 70 percent of our planet's surface, it can also absorb large amounts of heat without a large increase in temperature.