One method of computing the seasonal heat budget of the atmosphere involves the seasonal heat storage in the oceans. On the basis of bathythermograph data and ocean surface temperatures, the heat added to, or released by the ocean was computed month by month. The heat stored in the ocean was then compared withGabites' estimate of the heat added by radiation and by means of the latent heat of water vapor. From this comparison, the heating of the atmosphere was approximated. In middle latitudes, the net heating of the atmosphere is close to zero during most of the year, so that even the sign of the atmospheric heating is in doubt there. During most of the year, the atmosphere undergoes net heating in low latitudes, and net cooling in high latitudes. The excess is removed by motions of the atmosphere and the ocean.