The atmosphere and the oceans are intimately related. They affect one another primarily through the transfer of heat and moisture. Heat energy moves from the oceans to the atmosphere through the processes of direct heat transfer and evaporation, and energy from the atmosphere flows to the oceans in the form of precipitation. Many ocean currents are driven by surface-level winds; they move warm water from the tropics to the poles and cold water from the poles toward the tropics. Warm water plays a substantial role in the development of tropical cyclones and extratropical cyclones, and warm and cold ocean currents ...(100 of 37038 words)