The oceans are a crucial component in climate regulation due to their worldwide span, immense heat capacity, and vulnerability to change. We often think of the oceans as permanent, immutable, and static. However, we have recently learned that the oceans are changing, dynamic and quite fragile.

Changes in ocean heat energy will have dramatic effects all over the globe. Increased atmospheric temperatures will raise ocean temperatures as well as oceanic evaporation. Since tropical storms gather much of their energy from the ocean, the energy content of these storms will increase, leading to more intense storms, greater evaporation and precipitation, and extraordinary changes in ocean salinity. Regional variations in temperature and salinity will have worldwide effects on the Great Ocean Conveyor Belt, which is one of the main energy distribution patterns. Any changes to this process will alter climate both regionally and worldwide.

Another aspect of increased heat energy in the ocean will be sea level rise, due to the thermal expansion of sea water. This will have devastating effects on human life in multiple ways. Low-lying areas without proper dyke and levee protection are expected to experience major flooding, which will have far reaching effects on urban life, agricultural development, and wildlife sustainability.