Final answer:
The ocean is connected to the water cycle through evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ocean is connected to the water cycle through evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff. When the sun's energy heats the ocean, it causes water to evaporate, turning liquid water into water vapor. This water vapor rises into the atmosphere, where it cools and condenses to form clouds. Eventually, the water droplets in the clouds become heavy enough to fall back to the Earth as precipitation, which can include rain, snow, or hail. This precipitation can either directly enter the ocean or flow back into it through runoff in streams and rivers.