Earth: The Power of the Planet 4. Oceans (1 of 27)

Earth: The Power of the Planet

"Earth: The Power of the Planet" highlights the major events which have shaped the Earth's history and allowed life to flourish. Presented by Dr Iain Stewart, each episode will reveal a different force critical to the development of Earth including volcanoes, the ocean, the atmosphere and ice.

Part 4: Oceans
Earth’s oceans help make our planet different from every other planet in the solar system. As far as we know, no other place is the right temp for liquid water, the most essential ingredient for life to exist. The oceans are Earth’s primary stabilizing force, and their immense power helps to shape the appearance and behavior of the entire planet and everything living on it. And they are also the planet's great unknown - their deepest points have been visited less than the surface of the moon.

This is our planet, the Earth.
It 's a remarkable, ever-changing world full of natural wonders.
But there's more to Earth than this...
..because our planet is unique in the solar system, perhaps even in the universe.
My name's Iain Stewart and I want to show you how our planet works.
In this series, I'm exploring the four powerful forces that have worked together to create our world.
Wow! Volcanoes.
The atmosphere.
Ice.
But this week, I want to show you the power of the oceans.
I am in the middle of the Atlantic ocean.
It 's only when you get out here that you fully appreciate the sheer vastness of the sea.
But the oceans are far more than just huge reservoirs of water.