How much ocean water evaporates in one minute?
See the scale of water moving invisibly from the ocean into the air, expressed as one minute.
Long-term estimate · 365-day year
One-minute equivalent
about 0.8 km³
Average replay · not live data0.0 s / 60s
An evenly paced average replay, not a live observation or tracking feed.
Source and calculation
Estimated 420,500 km³ per year ÷ year seconds × 60
We divide the USGS annual central estimate of 420,500 km³ by the seconds in a 365-day year. One km³ is a cube one kilometre on each side.
How to read this number
The source range is broad: 350,000–510,000 km³ a year. Evaporation is not evenly spread across seasons or places.
Scope and caveat
The source range is 350,000–510,000 km³ per year. Actual evaporation varies by season and year.