The Earth's Oceans and Seas
  
 

 
 
 

The Oceans

Pacific Ocean | Atlantic Ocean | Indian Ocean | Southern Ocean | Arctic Ocean

From the beginning of mankind, the world's oceans have been an inspiration to many. There tranquility and beauty to their fierce majesty have inspired artists, dancers and the like. They have drawn many a sea explorer into their vastness who delight at the mystery and the unknown secrets of the deep waters and above. The more that is discovered about the oceans and their inhabitants, the more there possible is to discover.

The five oceans combined cover seventy-one percent of the Earth's surface. The water they contain is ninety-seven percent of the total water on earth. Each of the oceans makes a contribution to the entire global system. Some of these contributions can be wholly unique, based upon the currents, and the position on the globe.

The massive, deep oceans that cover most of our planet's surface serve many functions. They effect our weather and temperatures as well as being abundant with many forms of sea life, many used as food forms. They moderate the Earth's temperature by absorbing incoming solar radiation (stored as heat energy). The continuously moving currents of the oceans distribute this heat energy around the globe. This heats up the land and air during winter and cools it during summertime.

Below is a map of the five major oceans on the planet:

Ocean Map

The major oceans divide up the earth's continents. There are five major oceans on our planet, the largest being the Pacific Ocean. Both the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean are broken into Northern and Southern hemispheres:

North Atlantic divides: North America, Europe (including the UK) and North Africa.

South Atlantic divides: South America, South Africa and Antartica

The Indian Ocean falls on the shores of East South Africa, South Asia (India) and West Australia.

The North Pacific divides North America, the Arctic and North Asia.

The South Pacific divides East Australia and South West America.

The Southern Ocean falls on the shores of Antarctica.

The Arctic Ocean falls on the shores of the Arctic.

In between all of these divisions falls the seas which lay between specific countries.

Below you can click on a particular ocean to find out more about them:

Pacific Ocean

Atlantic Ocean

Indian Ocean

Southern Ocean

Arctic Ocean

 

Ocean Area (square miles) Average Depth (feet) Deepest depth (feet)
Pacific Ocean 64,186,000 15,215 Mariana Trench, 36,200 feet deep
Atlantic Ocean 31,800,000 12,881 Puerto Rico Trench, 28,232 feet deep
Indian Ocean 28,400,000 12,760 Diamantina Deep, 26,401feet deep
Southern Ocean 7,848,000 sq. miles (20.327 000 sq km ) 13,100 - 16,400 ft deep (4,000 to 5,000 metres) the southern end of the South Sandwich Trench, 23,736 feet (7,235 m) deep
Arctic Ocean 5,440,000 3,407 Eurasia Basin, 17,881 feet deep

 

 

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