Science Learning Hub logo
TopicsConceptsCitizen scienceTeacher PLDGlossary
Sign in
Image

The role of the oceans

Data from cruises around New Zealand map: CO2 in surface waters

The oceans play an important part in controlling climate. They also act as carbon sinks – holding more carbon from the atmosphere than they give up.

Related articles

  • The ocean in action – introduction

  • Argo project

  • Carbon dioxide in the ocean

  • The ocean and the carbon cycle

  • Ocean dissolved gases

  • The Southern Ocean’s ecological richness and significance for global climate

Related activities

  • Ocean acidification and eggshells

  • Temperature, salinity and water density

  • Investigating sea level rise

Related media

  • Carbon dioxide and the oceans

  • Southern Ocean carbon sink

  • Ocean acidification

  • The ocean, CO2 and climate change – timeline

Image: Kim Currie

Rights: Kim Currie
Published: 27 July 2018Size: 307.03 KB
Referencing Hub media

Explore related content

Appears inRelated resources

Interactive

Planning pathways using climate change resources

This interactive diagram provides a selection of pathways that allow for differing approaches and starting points using some of our ...

Read more
Climate change, melting ice and sea level rise

Article

Climate change, melting ice and sea level rise

One implication of climate change is sea level rise. Sea level is the average height of the ocean relative to ...

Read more
The ocean and the carbon cycle

Article

The ocean and the carbon cycle

The ocean plays an important role in the global carbon cycle. Carbon moves in and out of the ocean daily, ...

Read more
The Southern Ocean’s ecological richness and significance for global climate

Article

The Southern Ocean’s ecological richness and significance for global climate

In 2018, a map named after an oceanographer went viral.

Read more

See our newsletters here.

NewsEventsAboutContact usPrivacyCopyrightHelp
Curious Minds is a Government initiative jointly led by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, the Ministry of Education and the Office of the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor.

Science Learning Hub Pokapū Akoranga Pūtaiao © 2007-2025 The University of Waikato Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato