Final answer:
The statement is true; ocean waves are surface waves that transmit energy primarily across the water's surface, while body waves travel through the Earth's interior. Surface waves are the energy movement, seen in oceans, without the significant horizontal displacement of water particles.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that ocean waves are not considered body waves because they transmit energy through the upper part of the ocean near the interface between the atmosphere and the ocean is true. Body waves are waves that travel through the interior of the Earth and are typically discussed in the context of seismic activity. Ocean waves, on the other hand, are surface waves. They move energy horizontally across the water's surface, while the water particles themselves move mostly vertically, up and down, and remain in essentially the same horizontal area. The energy progresses through the water, but the water itself largely does not move with the wave. Moreover, waves are able to superimpose even if their frequencies are different, and the amplitude of a wave is affected by the amplitude of another wave only when they coincide in space, creating constructive or destructive interference.