Question

Between 1955 and 1995, the ocean temperature (Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian) increased by 0.06 C. The circumference of the Earth is 40 million meters. 71% of the Earth’s surface is covered with water. The average ocean depth is 3000 m. The heat capacity and density of sea water is 3850 J/kg-C and 1040 kg/m3, respectively. The average solar power on the Earth is 173 x 1015 W.

Estimate how much energy was absorbed by the ocean [EJ] and determine the percentage of the solar energy absorbed by oceans on Earth during these 40 years based on the above estimate.

Answer 1