Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Though both are fluid envelopes subject to gravity and rotation, the atmosphere and ocean differ fundamentally in physics, chemistry, and dynamics.
| Property | Atmosphere | Ocean |
|---|---|---|
| Composition | Gases (78% N₂, 21% O₂, 1% Ar, trace CO₂, H₂O) | Liquid water + dissolved salts (3.5% avg), gases |
| Density (surface) | ~1.2 kg/m³ | ~1,025 kg/m³ (~850× denser) |
| Viscosity | Low (1.8×10⁻⁵ Pa·s) | Higher (1.0×10⁻³ Pa·s) |
| Heat Capacity | Low (1,005 J/kg·K) | High (3,990 J/kg·K) |
| Thermal Inertia | Days–weeks | Decades–centuries |
| Compressibility | High (gas) | Low (liquid) |
| Sound Speed | ~340 m/s | ~1,500 m/s |
| Vertical Extent | ~100 km (99% mass < 30 km) | ~3.7 km avg (max 11 km) |
| Lower Boundary | Solid/liquid Earth surface | Seafloor (complex topography) |
| Upper Boundary | Gradual fade to space | Air–sea interface |
These differences make the atmosphere the rapid responder and the ocean the planetary flywheel—together driving Earth's climate system.