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Why are oceans important? - Summary
Oceans play a vital role in supporting life on Earth. In this KS2 explainer from The Regenerators, pupils discover how oceans help regulate the climate, drive the water cycle and provide habitats for millions of species. The video also explores some of the challenges facing our oceans and why protecting them matters.
In this video, students will learn:
- How oceans help keep the planet healthy.
- How ocean currents affect climate and weather.
- How the water cycle works.
- Why oceans are important habitats for living things.
- How pollution can affect ocean ecosystems.
Classroom video - Oceans
Why should we look after our oceans?
Our explainers are engaging, collage-style animations which explain many of the issues and themes around sustainability.
This video is a fun, concise answer to the question: Why are oceans important? It is the perfect springboard for classroom discussions.
Narrator: The five oceans on Earth play a huge part in keeping our planet healthy.
They produce half of the world's oxygen and absorb half of all man-made carbon dioxide. The waters are constantly moving around in patterns called currents, which cycle water from one place to another, over and over again.
This is important in regulating the Earths climate and weather. But water doesn't move around just in the oceans. It also moves around through the air. The sun heats up the water in the oceans, rivers, lakes and seas, turning it into tiny droplets called water vapour.
These tiny water vapour droplets rise into the air and gather together to from clouds. The rain that falls on land, washes into the lakes and rivers. Which eventually makes its way back to the sea. This happens over and over which is why it's called the water cycle.
The oceans are home to millions of species, with more being discovered every day. But our actions are putting the health of our oceans at risk. Air pollution and poisonous waste from things like pesticides, sewage, plastics and metals, end up in the oceans and coastal waters.
With the oceans doing so much for our planet and billions of people rely on them for food and jobs, we need to return the favour and do some thing for our oceans.
Quick facts about oceans
- Oceans produce about half of the world's oxygen.
- Oceans absorb around half of all human-produced carbon dioxide.
- Ocean currents move water around the planet and help regulate climate and weather.
- Pollution from plastics, sewage, pesticides and other waste can harm ocean ecosystems.
Let's discuss: Why do you think protecting oceans is important for both wildlife and people?
More resources for this video can be found in the Green Classroom: Why are our oceans important? lesson page.
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