Do both ocean conditions and ocean tempuratures remain fairly constant?

Question

Do both ocean conditions and ocean tempuratures remain fairly constant?

Answer 1

The answer depends on the length of time over which one looks at the data.  In the short term, the ocean is more stable than the land.

  However, in geological time, the ocean has shown many changes in its chemistry such as wide variations in the levels of oxygen.  Even within the current oceans, there is a biologically significant difference in oxygen levels in different locations.

Answer 2

To a certain extent during the same season the ocean's conditions remain fairly constant (unless there is a storm or something.) This is because of water's high specific heat, (4.184 joules/gram) which means that it takes 4.184 joules to heat up one gram of water by a Celsius degree, and it has to lose that much energy to cool off by a degree. This means that water (as there is in the ocean) takes longer to change in temperature than air or land, which both have lower specific heats. This is also why a swimming pool is sometimes cold in the morning when the air is already warm.