Final answer:
The ocean's high heat capacity helps moderate Earth's climate by absorbing heat during warm periods and releasing it during cool periods, which buffers against extreme temperature fluctuations. Coastal regions experience milder climates as a result, and the absorption of heat and carbon dioxide by the ocean slows the rate of global warming.
Step-by-step explanation:
The high heat capacity of the ocean helps to buffer Earth's temperature by absorbing large amounts of energy with minimal increases in temperature. This significant trait means that the ocean can store heat during hot weather and release it during cold weather, moderating climate extremes. Due to the large volume of water and its high heat capacity, oceans act as a stabilizing force, taking a long time to heat up and an equally long time to cool down. Therefore, coastal climates are milder compared to inland areas. Furthermore, the ocean's heat capacity plays a critical role in slowing down the rate at which global warming occurs. This is because the ocean absorbs not only heat but also carbon dioxide, which contributes to the greenhouse effect.
However, as a downside, this absorption is leading to increased acidity in the oceans, which threatens marine ecosystems. Climate change impacts on the ocean also include the melting of polar ice caps and subsequent increases in water vapor, another potent greenhouse gas.