What role do oceans play in climate regulation?

Oceans play a crucial role in climate regulation primarily by absorbing and storing carbon dioxide. This capability is vital because carbon dioxide is a significant greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming when present in the atmosphere in high concentrations. The oceans act as a carbon sink, absorbing a considerable portion of the atmospheric CO2, thus helping to mitigate the greenhouse effect and regulate the planet's climate. In addition to carbon uptake, oceans also influence climate by distributing heat around the Earth through ocean currents, which can affect weather patterns but is secondary to their role in carbon storage.

The other options do not accurately capture the importance of oceans in climate regulation. The notion that they have no impact on climate neglects their significant interaction with the atmospheric systems. While the oceans do influence weather patterns, this effect is part of a broader climate-related role they play, rather than the sole factor. Finally, while oceans can contribute to temperature fluctuations due to heat distribution, this is not their primary function in climate regulation compared to their role in carbon dioxide absorption and storage.