Abstract: According to the China Ocean Reanalysis（CORA）of daily average temperature in the South China Sea（SCS）from 2000 to 2013,this paper analyzes the geographical distribution of thermal energy in the SCS different seasons and years and its change by calculating temperature difference between the sea surface（5 m）and deep sea（1000 m）,Carnot efficiency,effective head,volume o warm water and available exploitation amount of thermal energy.The results show that:1)The temperature difference in the deep sea of more than 1000 m is adequate to generate efficient net power,which is available through out the year.Its distribution varies from season to season,it is highest in summer,followed by autumn and spring and winter.From the Spratly Islands to the western part of Luzon Island,it is usually hot all year round.2)South of the Zhongsha Islands has the highest Carnot with the lowest fluctuation.The highes efficient month is from May to August.3)The annual average effective head is 774 m-945 m in the SCS.It is highest in the Middle East and south of the SCS,and it is more than 850 m from the southwest to the northeast.It increases by 2.0 m-3.0 m year on year in the central and southern SCS and the Western Luzon Island.4)The monthly change of warm water volume in the SCS is in a"V-shaped"distribution.The warm water volume in winter is high,above 8.50×10¹³ m~3.The average volume is 7.31×10¹³ m~3 per year,with an increase of 0.165×10¹³m~3/a.5)In 14 years.The average amount of thermal energy that can be exploited in the SCS is 238.86 GW,with an increase of 5.61 GW/a.Therefore,there is great prospect in exploiting the thermal energy in the SCS.