Answer:
The correct option is: A. Troposphere
Explanation:
The <u>temperature gradient is negative for the ocean</u>. Thus, the <u>temperature of the ocean gradually decreases from the surface</u> up to a certain depth, this region is called thermocline, and then becomes constant.
Similarly, in the troposphere, the lowest layer of the atmosphere, the <u>temperature gradient is negative</u>. Thus, the <u>temperature</u> <u>gradually decreases with height</u> till the tropopause and then becomes constant on reaching the stratosphere.
<u>Therefore, the temperature profile or the vertical gradient of temperature of the oceans is similar to that of the troposphere layer of the atmosphere. </u>