Recall that the specific heat of water is 1 cal per gram per degree celsius, and the density of water is 1 gram per cubic centimeter.

 

For this problem, use these values for water, although ocean water is not exactly the same.

 

Assume also: The tropical Atlantic is 3000 km wide and 5000 km from north to south.

 

Finally, assume that the average ocean surface heating is down to a meter depth.

 

 

 

1. How much extra energy is stored in the tropical Atlantic with one degree celsius of temperature increase?

 

2. How does this value compare with the total annual energy usage in America if we assume that number is a wopping 25,200 quadrillion calories (2.52 x 1019 cal)?

 

 

 

How can I go about to finding the amount of energy from the information given to me.

First, find the volume of the oceans in question.

Yes, estimating the volume should be the first step. The volume is large. The net daily amount of received energy is not uniformly distributed in this volume.