A large amount of heat is transferred to the atmosphere in the process of condensation, because of the latent heat of vaporization. Evaporation and precipitation also affect the patterns of water density on the surface of the ocean, which are inseparably tied to ocean circulation. Quite generally, the ocean surface is a source for heat in the atmosphere. The sea surface tends to stay at the same temperature for a long time, because of the high specific heat off water and the thickness of the mixed layer.