Please choose the correct answer to the question: The ocean water near the equator absorbs more heat throughout the year than ocean water near the North Pole. Which of the following best explains this difference?

Answer1: The equator is closer to the Sun. Answer2: The equator has higher sea levels. Answer3: The equator receives more direct sunlight. Answer4: The equator rotates more quickly on Earth's axis.

Answer format: answer1/answer2/answer3/answer4