The ocean is a vast and complex ecosystem, and temperature measurement has an irreplaceable significance in marine research.
In the study of ocean circulation, temperature is a key tracking element. Warm and cold currents in the ocean have a profound impact on the global climate. For example, the Gulf Stream, which carries a large amount of heat, affects the climate in western Europe. By deploying high - precision temperature sensors in different sea areas and at different depths, a temperature distribution map can be drawn, and then the path and intensity of ocean circulation can be analyzed. Scientists use temperature measurement data to study phenomena such as El Niño and La Niña, which are closely related to abnormal temperature changes in the tropical Pacific Ocean. During El Niño, the sea temperature in the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean rises abnormally, leading to changes in the global climate pattern and triggering extreme climate events such as floods and droughts.
For the study of marine life, temperature measurement is also important. The distribution, reproduction, and growth of marine organisms are closely related to water temperature. Many marine organisms have specific temperature adaptation ranges. For example, coral reefs grow well in sea areas with a water temperature of 20 - 32℃. Excessively high water temperature can cause coral bleaching, which seriously affects the coral reef ecosystem. Through long - term temperature monitoring, the water temperature changes in the habitats of marine organisms can be understood, and the trend of changes in the number of organisms can be predicted, providing a basis for the protection of marine life.
In the development of marine resources, temperature measurement guides deep - sea exploration activities. For example, near hydrothermal vents on the seabed, the water temperature can be as high as several hundred degrees Celsius, accompanied by abundant mineral resources. Accurate temperature measurement helps to study the formation mechanism and resource distribution of hydrothermal vents, providing a scientific basis for the rational development and utilization of these unique resources.
