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The energy flux density, i.e. the amount of radiation per time and area, of solar radiation that reaches Earth is strongly dependent on latitude and season. The tropical realm receives much more energy because here the sun rises to a very high angle above the horizon.

Ocean currents play a major role in transporting the surplus heat from the tropical regions towards the polar regions as the weather systems try to reach an equilibrium of the energy (temperature) distribution on earth. The same is true for the big wind circulation systems.

As warm ocean water is transported into higher latitudes (e.g. via the Gulf Stream flowing from North America to Northern Europe) it helps warm up the atmosphere leading to more equable climates than what would be predicted without these currents.

Seawater is an especially efficient carrier of energy (warmth) as its specific heat capacity is large. This means that warming water up (in the tropics) takes quite a lot of energy and this large amount of energy is released again when the water cools down (in higher latitudes).

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