However, just recently...
... in 2000, the International Hydrographic Organization combined the southern Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans, creating a fifth addition to the list - the Southern Ocean. And this is not a volitional decision: this region has a special structure of currents, its own rules of weather formation, etc. The arguments in favor of such a decision are as follows: in the southern part of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans, the boundaries between them are very arbitrary, while at the same time the waters adjacent to Antarctica, have their own specifics, and are also united by the Antarctic Circumpolar Current.
The largest of the oceans is the Pacific. Its area is 178.7 million km2. .
The Atlantic Ocean extends over 91.6 million km 2.
The area of the Indian Ocean is 76.2 million km2.
The area of the Antarctic (Southern) Ocean is 20.327 million km 2.
The Arctic Ocean covers an area of approximately 14.75 million km2.
Pacific Ocean, the largest on Earth. It was named so by the famous navigator Magellan. This traveler was the first European to successfully cross the ocean. But Magellan was just very lucky. There are very often terrible storms here.
The Pacific Ocean is twice the size of the Atlantic. It occupies 165 million square meters. km, which is almost half the area of the entire World Ocean. It contains more than half of all the water on our planet. In one place, this ocean extends 17 thousand km in width, stretching almost half globe. Despite its name, this huge ocean is not only blue, beautiful and serene. Strong storms or underwater earthquakes make him furious. In fact, the Pacific Ocean is home to large zones of seismic activity.
Photographs of the Earth from space show the true size of the Pacific Ocean. This is the largest ocean in the world, covering one third of the planet's surface. Its waters stretch from East Asia and Africa to the Americas. At its shallowest points, the depth of the Pacific Ocean averages 120 meters. These waters wash the so-called continental shelves, which are submerged parts of continental platforms, starting from the coastline and gradually going under water. Overall, the depth of the Pacific Ocean averages 4,000 meters. The depressions in the west connect into the deepest and darkest place in the world - the Mariana Trench - 11,022 m. It was previously believed that there was no life at such depths. But scientists found living organisms there too!
On the Pacific Plate, a huge area earth's crust, there are ridges of high seamounts. In the Pacific Ocean there are many islands of volcanic origin, for example Hawaii, the largest island of the Hawaiian Islands archipelago. Hawaii is home to the highest peak in the world, Mauna Kea. It is an extinct volcano 10,000 meters high from its base on the seabed. In contrast to volcanic islands, there are low-lying islands formed by coral deposits that have been deposited over thousands of years on the tops of underwater volcanoes. This vast ocean is home to a wide variety of underwater world- from the world's largest fish (the whale shark) to flying fish, squid and sea lions. The warm, shallow waters of coral reefs are home to thousands of species of brightly colored fish and algae. All kinds of fish, marine mammals, mollusks, crustaceans and other creatures swim in the cool, deep waters.
Pacific Ocean - people and history
Sea voyages across the Pacific Ocean have been undertaken since ancient times. About 40,000 years ago, Aboriginal people crossed by canoe from New Guinea to Australia. Centuries later between the 16th century BC. e. and X century AD e. Polynesian tribes settled the Pacific islands, venturing across vast distances of water. This is considered one of the greatest achievements in the history of navigation. Using special canoes with a double bottom and sails woven from leaves, Polynesian sailors ultimately covered almost 20 million square meters. km of ocean space. In the western Pacific, around the 12th century, the Chinese made great advances in the art of sea navigation. They were the first to use large ships with several masts located on the underwater part of the ship, steering, as well as compasses.
Europeans began exploring the Pacific Ocean in the 17th century, when the Dutch captain Abel Janszoon Tasman sailed around Australia and New Zealand. Captain James Cook is considered one of the most famous explorers of the Pacific Ocean. Between 1768 and 1779 he mapped New Zealand, the east coast of Australia and many of the Pacific islands. In 1947, the Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl sailed on his raft “Kon-Tiki” from the coast of Peru to the Tuamotu archipelago, part of French Polynesia. His expedition provided evidence that the ancient indigenous inhabitants of South America could cross vast sea distances on rafts.
In the twentieth century, exploration of the Pacific Ocean continued. The depth of the Mariana Trench was established, and unknown species of marine animals and plants were discovered. Development of the tourism industry, pollution environment and beach development threaten the natural balance of the Pacific Ocean. Governments of individual countries and groups of environmentalists are trying to minimize the harm caused by our civilization to the aquatic environment.
Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean is the third largest on Earth and covers 73 million square meters. km. This is the warmest ocean, the waters of which are rich in various flora and fauna. The deepest place in the Indian Ocean is a trench located south of the island of Java. Its depth is 7450 m. Interestingly, currents in the Indian Ocean change their direction to the opposite direction twice a year. IN winter time When the monsoons prevail, the current goes to the shores of Africa, and in the summer - to the shores of India.
The Indian Ocean stretches from the coast of East Africa to Indonesia and Australia and from the coast of India to Antarctica. This ocean includes the Arabian and Red Seas, as well as the Bays of Bengal and the Persian Gulf. The Suez Canal connects the northern part of the Red Sea with the Mediterranean.
At the bottom of the Indian Ocean there are huge sections of the earth's crust - the African Plate, the Antarctic Plate and the Indo-Australian Plate. Shifts in the earth's crust cause underwater earthquakes, which cause giant waves called tsunamis. As a result of earthquakes, new mountain ranges appear on the ocean floor. In some places, seamounts protrude above the surface of the water, forming most of the islands scattered in the Indian Ocean. There are deep depressions between the mountain ranges. For example, the depth of the Sunda Trench is approximately 7450 meters. The waters of the Indian Ocean are home to a variety of wildlife, including corals, sharks, whales, turtles and jellyfish. Powerful currents are huge streams of water moving through the warm blue expanses of the Indian Ocean. The Western Australian Current carries cold Antarctic waters north to the tropics.
The equatorial current, located below the equator, circulates warm waters counterclock-wise. Northern currents depend on the monsoon winds that cause heavy rainfall, which change their direction depending on the time of year.
Indian Ocean - people and history
Sailors and traders plied the waters of the Indian Ocean many centuries ago. By main trade routes ships of the ancient Egyptians, Phoenicians, Persians and Indians passed by. In the early Middle Ages, settlers from India and Sri Lanka crossed into Southeast Asia. Since ancient times, wooden ships called dhows sailed in the Arabian Sea, transporting exotic spices, African ivory and fabrics.
In the 15th century, the great Chinese navigator Zhen Ho led a large expedition across the Indian Ocean to the shores of India, Sri Lanka, Persia, the Arabian Peninsula and Africa. In 1497, the Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama became the first European whose ship sailed around the southern tip of Africa and reached the shores of India. English, French and Dutch traders followed, and the era of colonial conquest began. Over the centuries, new settlers, traders and pirates have landed on the islands in the Indian Ocean. Many species of island animals that lived nowhere else in the world became extinct. For example, the dodo, a goose-sized flightless pigeon native to Mauritius, was exterminated by the end of the 17th century. Giant turtles on Rodrigues Island have disappeared 19th century. Exploration of the Indian Ocean continued in the 19th and 20th centuries. Scientists have done a great job mapping the topography of the seabed. Currently, Earth satellites launched into orbit take pictures of the ocean, measure its depth and transmit information messages.
Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean is the second largest and covers an area of 82 million square meters. km. It is almost half the size of the Pacific Ocean, but its size is constantly increasing. From the island of Iceland to the south in the middle of the ocean a powerful underwater ridge stretches. Its peaks are the Azores and Ascension Island. Mid-Atlantic Ridge - large Mountain chain on the ocean floor - it becomes wider every year by about 2.5 cm. The deepest place in the Atlantic Ocean is a depression located north of the island of Puerto Rico. Its depth is 9218 meters. If 150 million years ago there was no Atlantic Ocean, then over the next 150 million years, scientists suggest, it will begin to occupy more than half of the globe. The Atlantic Ocean greatly influences the climate and weather in Europe.
The Atlantic Ocean began to form 150 million years ago, when shifts in the Earth's crust separated North and South America from Europe and Africa. This youngest of the oceans is named after the god Atlas, who was worshiped by the ancient Greeks.
Ancient peoples, such as the Phoenicians, began exploring the Atlantic Ocean around the 8th century BC. e. However, only in the 9th century AD. e. The Vikings managed to reach from the shores of Europe to Greenland and North America. The “golden age” of Atlantic exploration began with Christopher Columbus, an Italian navigator who served the Spanish monarchs. In 1492, his small squadron of three ships entered the Caribbean Gulf after a long storm. Columbus believed that he was sailing to the East Indies, but in fact he discovered the so-called New World - America. He was soon followed by other sailors from Portugal, Spain, France and England. The study of the Atlantic Ocean continues to this day. Currently, scientists use echolocation (sound waves) to map the topography of the seabed. Many countries fish in the Atlantic Ocean. People have fished these waters for thousands of years, but modern fishing by trawlers has led to a significant reduction in fishing schools. The seas surrounding the oceans are polluted with waste. The Atlantic Ocean continues to play a huge role in international trade. Many important trade sea routes pass through it.
Arctic Ocean
Arctic Ocean, which is located between Canada and Siberia, is the smallest and shallowest compared to the others. But it is also the most mysterious, since it is almost completely hidden under a huge layer of ice. The Arctic Ocean is divided into two basins by the Nansen Threshold. The Arctic basin is larger in area and contains the greatest ocean depth. It is equal to 5000 m and is located north of Franz Josef Land. In addition, here, off the Russian coast, there is an extensive continental shelf. For this reason, our Arctic seas, namely: Kara, Barents, Laptev, Chukotka, East Siberian, are shallow.
World Ocean- the main part of the hydrosphere, a continuous but not continuous water shell of the Earth, surrounding continents and islands and characterized by a common salt composition. The world's oceans are a heat regulator. The world's oceans have the richest food, mineral and energy resources. Although the World Ocean is a single whole, for the convenience of research, its individual parts are given different names: Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic and Southern oceans.
Ocean and atmosphere. The world's oceans, whose average depth is approx. 4 km, contains 1350 million km3 of water. The atmosphere, which envelops the entire Earth in a layer several hundred kilometers thick, with a much larger base than the World Ocean, can be considered as a “shell”. Both the ocean and the atmosphere are fluid environments in which life exists; their properties determine the habitat of organisms. The ocean determines the basic properties of the atmosphere and is a source of energy for many processes occurring in the atmosphere. The circulation of water in the ocean is influenced by winds, the Earth's rotation, and land barriers.
Ocean and climate. It is well known that temperature regime and other climatic characteristics of the area at any latitude can change significantly in the direction from the ocean coast to the interior of the continent. Compared to land, the ocean warms more slowly in summer and cools more slowly in winter, smoothing out temperature fluctuations on the adjacent land.
Composition of sea water. The water in the ocean is salty. The salty taste is given by the 3.5% dissolved minerals it contains - mainly sodium and chlorine compounds - the main ingredients of table salt. The next most abundant is magnesium, followed by sulfur; All the usual metals are also present. Of the non-metallic components, calcium and silicon are especially important, since they are involved in the structure of the skeletons and shells of many marine animals. Due to the fact that the water in the ocean is constantly mixed by waves and currents, its composition is almost the same in all oceans.
Properties of sea water. The density of sea water (at a temperature of 20 ° C and a salinity of about 3.5%) is approximately 1.03, i.e., slightly higher than the density of fresh water (1.0). The density of water in the ocean varies with depth due to the pressure of the overlying layers, as well as depending on temperature and salinity. In the deepest parts of the ocean, waters tend to be saltier and colder. The densest masses of water in the ocean can remain at depth and retain reduced temperature more than 1000 years.
Seawater is much less transparent to visible light than air, but more transparent than most other substances. The penetration of solar rays into the ocean to a depth of 700 m has been recorded. Radio waves penetrate into the water column only to a small depth, but sound waves can travel thousands of kilometers under water. Speed of sound propagation in sea water fluctuates, averaging 1500 m per second.
The ocean is the largest object and is part of the ocean that covers about 71% of the surface of our planet. Oceans wash the shores of continents, have a water circulation system and have other specific features. The oceans of the world are in constant interaction with everyone.
Map of the oceans and continents of the world
Some sources indicate that the World Ocean is divided into 4 oceans, but in 2000 the International Hydrographic Organization identified a fifth one - the Southern Ocean. This article provides a list of all 5 oceans of planet Earth in order - from largest in area to smallest, with name, location on the map and main characteristics.
Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean on the Earth map/Wikipedia
Because of big size The Pacific Ocean has a unique and varied topography. It also plays an important role in shaping global weather patterns and modern economies.
The ocean floor is constantly changing through the movement and subduction of tectonic plates. Currently, the oldest known area of the Pacific Ocean is approximately 180 million years old.
In geological terms, the area surrounding the Pacific Ocean is sometimes called. The region has this name because it is the world's largest area of volcanism and earthquakes. The Pacific region is subject to intense geological activity because much of its floor lies in subduction zones, where the boundaries of some tectonic plates are pushed under others after collision. There are also some hotspot areas where magma from the Earth's mantle is forced through the Earth's crust, creating undersea volcanoes that can eventually form islands and seamounts.
The Pacific Ocean has a varied bottom topography, consisting of oceanic ridges and ridges, which formed in hot spots below the surface. The ocean's topography differs significantly from large continents and islands. The deepest point of the Pacific Ocean is called the Challenger Deep; it is located in the Mariana Trench, at a depth of almost 11 thousand km. The largest is New Guinea.
The climate of the ocean varies greatly depending on latitude, the presence of land and the types of air masses moving over its waters. Ocean surface temperature also plays a role in climate because it affects the availability of moisture in different regions. The surrounding climate is humid and warm during most of the year. The far northern part of the Pacific Ocean and the far southern part are more temperate and have large seasonal differences in weather conditions. In addition, in some regions seasonal trade winds prevail, which influence the climate. Tropical cyclones and typhoons also form in the Pacific Ocean.
The Pacific Ocean is almost the same as the other oceans of the Earth, with the exception of local temperatures and salinity of the water. The pelagic zone of the ocean is home to marine animals such as fish, marine and. Organisms and scavengers live at the bottom. Habitats can be found in sunny, shallow ocean areas near the shore. The Pacific Ocean is the environment that supports the greatest diversity of living organisms on the planet.
Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean on the Earth map/Wikipedia
The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest ocean on Earth with a total area (including adjacent seas) of 106.46 million km². It occupies about 22% of the planet's surface area. The ocean has an elongated S-shape and extends between North and South America in the west, and also, and - in the east. It connects to the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, the Indian Ocean to the southeast, and the Southern Ocean to the south. The average depth of the Atlantic Ocean is 3,926 m, and the deepest point is located in the ocean trench of Puerto Rico, at a depth of 8,605 m. The Atlantic Ocean has the highest salinity of all the oceans in the world.
Its climate is characterized by warm or cool water that circulates in different currents. Water depth and winds also have a significant impact on weather conditions at the surface of the ocean. Severe Atlantic hurricanes are known to develop off the coast of Cape Verde in Africa, heading towards the Caribbean Sea from August to November.
The time when the supercontinent Pangea broke up, about 130 million years ago, marked the beginning of the formation of the Atlantic Ocean. Geologists have determined that it is the second youngest of the world's five oceans. This ocean played a very important role in connecting the Old World with the newly explored Americas from the late 15th century.
A major feature of the Atlantic Ocean floor is an underwater mountain range called the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which extends from Iceland in the north to approximately 58°S. w. and has a maximum width of about 1600 km. The water depth above the ridge is less than 2,700 meters in most places, and a few mountain peaks ridges rise above the water to form islands.
The Atlantic Ocean flows into the Pacific Ocean, however they are not always the same due to water temperature, ocean currents, sunlight, nutrients, salinity, etc. The Atlantic Ocean has coastal and open ocean habitats. Its coastal ones are located along coastlines and extend to the continental shelves. Marine flora is usually concentrated in upper layers ocean waters, and closer to the shores there are coral reefs, kelp forests and sea grasses.
The Atlantic Ocean is important modern meaning. The construction of the Panama Canal, located in Central America, allowed large ships to pass through waterways from Asia through the Pacific Ocean to the east coast of North and South America through the Atlantic Ocean. This led to increased trade between Europe, Asia, South America and North America. In addition, at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean there are deposits of gas, oil and precious stones.
Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean on the Earth map/Wikipedia
The Indian Ocean is the third largest ocean on the planet and has an area of 70.56 million km². It is located between Africa, Asia, Australia and the Southern Ocean. The Indian Ocean has an average depth of 3,963 m, and the Sunda Trench is the deepest trench, with a maximum depth of 7,258 m. The Indian Ocean occupies about 20% of the area of the world's oceans.
The formation of this ocean is a consequence of the breakup of the supercontinent Gondwana, which began about 180 million years ago. 36 million years ago the Indian Ocean assumed its current configuration. Although it first opened about 140 million years ago, almost all Indian Ocean basins are less than 80 million years old.
It is landlocked and does not extend to Arctic waters. Him fewer islands and narrower continental shelves compared to the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Below the surface, especially in the north, the ocean water is extremely low in oxygen.
The climate of the Indian Ocean varies significantly from north to south. For example, the monsoons dominate in the northern part, above the equator. From October to April there are strong north-easterly winds, while from May to October - southerly and westerly winds. The Indian Ocean also has the warmest weather of all five oceans in the world.
The ocean depths contain about 40% of the world's offshore oil reserves, and seven countries currently produce from this ocean.
Seychelles is an archipelago in the Indian Ocean consisting of 115 islands, and most of them are granite islands and coral islands. On granite islands, most of the species are endemic, while coral islands have a coral reef ecosystem where biological diversity marine life is greatest. The Indian Ocean has an island fauna that includes sea turtles, seabirds and many other exotic animals. Much of the marine life in the Indian Ocean is endemic.
The entire Indian Ocean marine ecosystem is facing declines in species numbers as water temperatures continue to rise, resulting in a 20% decline in phytoplankton, on which the marine food chain is heavily dependent.
South ocean
Southern Ocean on the Earth map/Wikipedia
In 2000, the International Hydrographic Organization identified the world's fifth and youngest ocean - the Southern Ocean - from the southern regions of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans. The New Southern Ocean completely surrounds and extends from its coast north to 60°S. w. The Southern Ocean is currently the fourth largest of the world's five oceans, exceeding in area only the Arctic Ocean.
IN last years a large number of oceanographic research was concerned with ocean currents, first due to El Niño and then due to broader interest in global warming. One study determined that currents near Antarctica isolate the Southern Ocean as a separate ocean, so it was identified as a separate, fifth ocean.
The area of the Southern Ocean is approximately 20.3 million km². The deepest point is 7,235 meters deep and is located in the South Sandwich Trench.
Water temperatures in the Southern Ocean range from -2°C to +10°C. It is also home to the largest and most powerful cold surface current on Earth, the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, which moves east and is 100 times the flow of all the world's rivers.
Despite the identification of this new ocean, it is likely that the debate about the number of oceans will continue into the future. In the end, there is only one "World Ocean", since all 5 (or 4) oceans on our planet are interconnected with each other.
Arctic Ocean
Arctic Ocean on the Earth map/Wikipedia
The Arctic Ocean is the smallest of the world's five oceans and has an area of 14.06 million km². Its average depth is 1205 m, and the deepest point is in the underwater Nansen Basin, at a depth of 4665 m. The Arctic Ocean is located between Europe, Asia and North America. In addition, most of its waters are north of the Arctic Circle. is located in the center of the Arctic Ocean.
While located on a continent, the North Pole is covered in water. During most of the year, the Arctic Ocean is almost completely covered by drifting polar ice, which is about three meters thick. This glacier usually melts during the summer months, but only partially.
Due to its small size, many oceanographers do not consider it an ocean. Instead, some scientists suggest that it is a sea that is largely enclosed by continents. Others believe it is a partially enclosed coastal body of water in the Atlantic Ocean. These theories are not widely accepted, and the International Hydrographic Organization considers the Arctic Ocean to be one of the world's five oceans.
The Arctic Ocean has the lowest water salinity of all the Earth's oceans due to low evaporation rates and fresh water, coming from streams and rivers that feed the ocean, diluting the concentration of salts in the water.
A polar climate dominates this ocean. Consequently, winters exhibit relatively stable weather with low temperatures. Most known characteristics This climate has polar nights and polar days.
It is believed that the Arctic Ocean may contain about 25% of the total reserves natural gas and oil on our planet. Geologists have also determined that there are significant deposits of gold and other minerals here. The abundance of several species of fish and seals also make the region attractive to the fishing industry.
The Arctic Ocean contains several habitats for animals, including endangered mammals and fish. The region's fragile ecosystem is one of the factors that makes the fauna so sensitive to climate change. Some of these species are endemic and irreplaceable. The summer months bring an abundance of phytoplankton, which in turn feed the underlying phytoplankton, which eventually ends in large terrestrial and marine mammals.
Recent developments in technology are allowing scientists to explore the depths of the world's oceans in new ways. These studies are needed to help scientists study and possibly prevent the catastrophic effects of climate change in these areas, as well as discover new species of living organisms.
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There are 4 oceans on our planet Earth
What are the oceans on our planet called?
1 – Pacific Ocean (the largest and deepest);
2 – Atlantic Ocean (second in volume and depth after the Pacific Ocean);
3 – Indian Ocean (third in volume and depth after the Pacific and Atlantic);
4 – Arctic Ocean (fourth and smallest in volume and depth among all oceans)
What is the ocean like? – This is a huge body of water located among the continents, which is constantly in interaction with the earth’s crust and the earth’s atmosphere. The area of the world's oceans, together with the seas included in it, is about 360 million square kilometers of the Earth's surface (71% of the total area of our planet).
IN different years The world's oceans were divided into 4 parts, while others divided it into 5 parts. For a long time, there were actually 4 oceans: Indian, Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic (except for the Southern Ocean). The Southern Ocean is not part of the oceans due to its very arbitrary boundaries. However, at the beginning of the 21st century, the International Hydrographic Organization adopted a division into 5 parts, including territorial waters called the “Southern Ocean” in the list, but at the moment this document still does not have official legal force, and it is believed that the Southern Ocean is only conditionally listed by its name as the fifth on Earth. The Southern Ocean is also called the southern sea, which does not have its own clear independent boundaries, and it is believed that its waters are mixed, that is, the water currents of the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic oceans entering it.
Brief information about each ocean on the planet
- Pacific Ocean- is the largest in area (179.7 million km 2) and the deepest. It occupies about 50 percent of the entire surface of the Earth, the volume of water is 724 million km 3, the maximum depth is 11,022 meters (the Mariana Trench is the deepest known on the planet).
- Atlantic Ocean- second in volume after Tikhoy. The name was given in honor of the famous titan Atlanta. The area is 91.6 million km 2, the volume of water is 29.5 million km 3, the maximum depth is 8742 meters (the oceanic trench, which is located on the border Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean).
- Indian Ocean covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface. Its area is just over 76 million km2, its volume is 282.5 million km3, and its greatest depth is 7209 meters (the Sunda Trench extends for several thousand kilometers along the southern part of the Sunda island arc).
- Arctic Ocean considered the smallest among all. Thus, its area is “only” 14.75 million km 2, its volume is 18 million km 3, and its greatest depth is 5527 meters (located in the Greenland Sea).
Our Earth appears to be a blue planet from space. This is because ¾ of the surface of the globe is occupied by the World Ocean. He is united, although greatly divided.
The surface area of the entire World Ocean is 361 million square meters. km.
Oceans of our planet
The ocean is the water shell of the earth, the most important component of the hydrosphere. Continents divide the World Ocean into parts.
Currently, it is customary to distinguish five oceans:
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- the largest and oldest on our planet. Its surface area is 178.6 million square meters. km. It occupies 1/3 of the Earth and makes up almost half of the World Ocean. To imagine this magnitude, it is enough to say that the Pacific Ocean can easily accommodate all the continents and islands combined. This is probably why it is often called the Great Ocean.
The Pacific Ocean owes its name to F. Magellan, who crossed the ocean under favorable conditions during his trip around the world.
The ocean has an oval shape, its widest part is located near the equator.
The southern part of the ocean is an area of calm, light winds and a stable atmosphere. To the west of the Tuamotu Islands, the picture changes dramatically - here is an area of storms and squalls that turn into fierce hurricanes.
In the tropical region, the waters of the Pacific Ocean are clean, transparent and have a deep blue color. A favorable climate developed near the equator. The air temperature here is +25ºC and practically does not change throughout the year. Winds are moderate and often calm.
The northern part of the ocean is similar to the southern one, as if in mirror image: in the west there is unstable weather with frequent storms and typhoons, in the east there is peace and quiet.
The Pacific Ocean is the richest in the number of animal and plant species. Its waters are home to over 100 thousand species of animals. Almost half of the world's fish catch is caught here. The most important sea routes are laid through this ocean, connecting 4 continents at once.
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occupies an area of 92 million square meters. km. This ocean, like a huge strait, connects the two poles of our planet. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge, famous for the instability of the earth's crust, runs through the center of the ocean. Individual peaks of this ridge rise above the water and form islands, the largest of which is Iceland.
The southern part of the ocean is influenced by trade winds. There are no cyclones here, so the water here is calm, clean and clear. Closer to the equator, the Atlantic changes completely. The waters here are muddy, especially along the coast. This is explained by the fact that large rivers flow into the ocean in this part.
The northern tropical zone of the Atlantic is famous for its hurricanes. Two major currents meet here - the warm Gulf Stream and the cold Labrador Stream.
The northern latitudes of the Atlantic are the most picturesque area with huge icebergs and powerful ice tongues protruding from the waters. This area of the ocean is dangerous for shipping.
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(76 million sq. km) is an area of ancient civilizations. Navigation began to develop here much earlier than in other oceans. The average depth of the ocean is 3700 meters. The coastline is slightly indented, with the exception of the northern part, where most of the seas and bays are located.
The waters of the Indian Ocean are saltier than others because there are far fewer rivers flowing into it. But thanks to this, they are famous for their amazing transparency and rich azure and blue color.
The northern part of the ocean is a monsoon region; typhoons often form in autumn and spring. Closer to the south, the water temperature is lower, due to the influence of Antarctica.
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(15 million sq. km) is located in the Arctic and occupies vast areas around the North Pole. Maximum depth— 5527m.
The central part of the bottom is a continuous intersection of mountain ranges, between which there is a huge basin. The coastline is heavily dissected by seas and bays, and in terms of the number of islands and archipelagos, the Arctic Ocean ranks second after such a giant as the Pacific Ocean.
The most characteristic part of this ocean is the presence of ice. The Arctic Ocean remains the most poorly studied to date, since research is hampered by the fact that most of the ocean is hidden under ice cover.
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. The waters washing Antarctica combine signs. Allowing them to be separated into a separate ocean. But there is still debate about what should be considered boundaries. If the borders from the south are marked by the mainland, then the northern borders are most often drawn at 40-50º south latitude. Within these limits, the ocean area is 86 million square meters. km.
The bottom topography is indented by underwater canyons, ridges and basins. The fauna of the Southern Ocean is rich, with the largest number of endemic animals and plants.
Characteristics of the oceans
The world's oceans are several billion years old. Its prototype is the ancient ocean Panthalassa, which existed when all the continents were still a single whole. Until recently, it was assumed that the ocean floors were level. But it turned out that the bottom, like the land, has a complex topography, with its own mountains and plains.
Properties of the world's oceans
Russian scientist A. Voyekov called the World Ocean “a huge heating battery"of our planet. The fact is that the average water temperature in the oceans is +17ºC, and the average air temperature is +14ºC. Water takes much longer to heat up, but it also consumes heat more slowly than air, while having high heat capacity.
But not all water in the oceans has the same temperature. They only get warm under the sun surface water, and with depth the temperature drops. It is known that at the bottom of the oceans the average temperature is only +3ºC. And she remains like this because high density water.
It should be remembered that the water in the oceans is salty, which is why it freezes not at 0ºC, but at -2ºC.
The degree of salinity of waters varies depending on latitude: in temperate latitudes the waters are less salty than, for example, in the tropics. In the north, the waters are also less saline due to the melting of glaciers, which greatly desalinize the water.
Ocean waters also vary in transparency. At the equator the water is clearer. As you move away from the equator, water becomes more quickly saturated with oxygen, which means more microorganisms appear. But near the poles, due to low temperatures, the waters become clearer again. Thus, the waters of the Weddell Sea near Antarctica are considered the most transparent. Second place belongs to the waters of the Sargasso Sea.
The difference between the ocean and the sea
The main difference between the sea and the ocean is its size. Oceans are much larger, and seas are often only part of the oceans. Seas also differ from the ocean to which they belong by a unique hydrological regime (water temperature, salinity, transparency, distinctive composition of flora and fauna).
Ocean climate
Pacific climate Infinitely diverse, the ocean is located in almost all climatic zones: from equatorial to subarctic in the north and Antarctic in the south. There are 5 warm currents and 4 cold currents circulating in the Pacific Ocean.
The greatest amount of precipitation falls in the equatorial belt. The amount of precipitation exceeds the share of water evaporation, so the water in the Pacific Ocean is less salty than in others.
Atlantic Ocean Climate determined by its large extent from north to south. The equator zone is the narrowest part of the ocean, so the water temperature here is lower than in the Pacific or Indian.
The Atlantic is conventionally divided into northern and southern, drawing the border along the equator, with the southern part being much colder due to its proximity to Antarctica. Many areas of this ocean are characterized by dense fogs and powerful cyclones. They are strongest near the southern tip of North America and in the Caribbean Sea.
For formation Indian Ocean climate provides a huge impact the proximity of two continents - Eurasia and Antarctica. Eurasia actively participates in the annual change of seasons, bringing dry air in winter and filling the atmosphere with excess moisture in summer.
The proximity of Antarctica causes a decrease in water temperature in the southern part of the ocean. Frequent hurricanes and storms occur north and south of the equator.
Formation climate of the Arctic Ocean is determined by it geographical location. Arctic air masses dominate here. Average air temperature: from -20 ºC to -40 ºC, even in summer the temperature rarely rises above 0ºC. But the ocean waters are warmer due to constant contact with the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Therefore, the Arctic Ocean warms a significant part of the land.
Strong winds are rare, but fog is common in summer. Precipitation falls mainly in the form of snow.
It is influenced by the proximity of Antarctica, the presence of ice and the absence of warm currents. The Antarctic climate prevails here with low temperatures, cloudy weather and gentle winds. Snow falls throughout the year. Distinctive feature climate of the Southern Ocean - high cyclone activity.
The influence of the ocean on the Earth's climate
The ocean has a tremendous influence on climate formation. It accumulates huge reserves of heat. Thanks to the oceans, the climate on our planet becomes softer and warmer, since the temperature of the waters in the oceans does not change as sharply and quickly as the air temperature over land.
The oceans promote better circulation of air masses. And such an important natural phenomenon as the water cycle provides the land with a sufficient amount of moisture.
