Characteristics and names of the oceans. Ocean map. From the largest ocean on earth to the smallest

The surface of our planet is 71% covered by oceans, which make up 97% of the Earth's water. According to experts, only 5% of the ocean depths at the moment researched. World Ocean - main component hydrosphere of the planet, influencing weather and climatic conditions. It is home to about 2 million species of animals, the vast majority of which have not yet been studied.

All bodies of water that are part of the World have a significant impact on the climatic features, flora and fauna of our planet. Let's consider how many oceans there are on Earth, their characteristics and features.

Until recently, it was generally accepted that there were only 4 oceans in the world.

Pay attention! In 2000, representatives of scientific organizations identified a new ocean, which was called the Southern Ocean.

The list looks like this:

• Quiet;
• Atlantic;
• Indian;
• Southern (Antarctic);
• Arctic (Arctic).

Thus, it turns out that there are 5 oceans on Earth. Using modern developments and scientific and technological achievements, scientists can explore expanses of water our planet in new and unique ways.

This allows not only to study the depths of these reservoirs, but also to prevent possible catastrophic consequences that could occur as a result climate change in these areas.

New species of living organisms are also regularly discovered, many of which are amazing. But still most of them remain unknown.

World ocean planet

The World Ocean is a planetary layer of salty water that includes all known water resources. There is free exchange between parts of a given continuous body of water, which is important for oceanography.

To determine the most important oceanic territories, several criteria are used, for example, archipelagos, continents.

Quiet

The largest (179 million km², it accounts for a third of the surface of the entire planet and half of the World) and the oldest among all the others. It is often called the “Great” because it is capable of containing every continent and island of the Earth.

The reservoir received its official name after trip around the world F. Magellan, during which good calm weather reigned.

The shape is oval, widened at the equator. Bounded on the west by the North and South America, in the east - the mainland of Australia and Eurasia.

The southern Pacific Ocean is characterized by light, gentle winds and stable weather conditions, but to the west the situation changes: hurricanes are often observed here - southern Australian squalls that gain strength in December.

Tropical waters are transparent, clean, dark blue in color, and their salinity is average. The weather in the equatorial region is favorable: moderate winds, 25 degrees Celsius all year round, calm is often observed, clear sky. The Great Coral Reef stretches along the eastern Australian coast.

The average depth is 3980 meters, the greatest is in the Mariana Trench (11022 m). Volcanic eruptions and tremors are often observed on the coast, both in depth and on the surface of the Earth.

Quiet is home to many species of living creatures - a variety of fish, seals, crabs, octopuses, etc.

The Pacific Ocean plays an important role in the economy of a huge number of states. 50% of the world's catch comes from this body of water. The most important sea routes pass through it. Shipping is active along the coasts of the continents.

Unfortunately, human activities have caused water pollution, and several species of animals have been destroyed. Particularly dangerous for a reservoir is the entry of industrial waste and oil into the water.

Atlantic

This is the second largest ocean on our planet, which is the most developed and explored. The length is 13,000 km, the maximum width is 6,700 km, and the area is 92 km². Its coastline is significantly indented, which forms huge amount bays and seas, especially in the northern regions.

It is limited to the west by South and North America, and to the east by Africa and Europe.

It was first described in the 5th century BC by Herodotus, a historian of Ancient Greece.

This reservoir cannot boast of a variety of fauna, but only an abundance of biomass. Since ancient times, the Atlantic has been the main place for hunting mammals and marine fish.

It has a strong influence on the climate of the entire planet. Thanks to the Gulf Stream, European countries are warmed by warm waters.

The intensive economic activity of mankind has greatly deteriorated the environment in the reservoir itself and on the nearby coasts. Today, scientific recommendations are being actively drawn up, and international agreements are being concluded aimed at the reasonable exploitation of ocean resources.

Indian

This reservoir is allocated a fifth of the area of ​​all the world’s waters and a seventh of the entire surface of the Earth. Its area is 76 million km². Its most saline part is the Red Sea (salinity level is 41%). The reservoir is limited by three continents - Australia, Asia and Africa.

Indian has a varied topography: at its bottom there are underwater ridges, basins, and trenches.

The vast majority are located in the Southern Hemisphere.

Indian is the warmest in terms of surface water temperatures. Monsoons are observed in its northern part.

Indian is distinguished by its developed flora and fauna. Natural gas and oil are extracted on the shelf. There are many shipping routes across the surface of the reservoir.

Compared to the other five oceans, the Indian Ocean is the most oil-polluted in the world.

One of the most dangerous natural disasters in human history happened in December 2004 - an earthquake, the epicenter of which was in this ocean, caused an underwater earthquake in this reservoir. Waves 15 meters high reached the shores of many countries - Thailand, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, etc., which caused a huge number of victims (about 300 thousand). Many bodies were washed out to sea, so exact quantity the dead could not be identified.

Southern (Antarctic)

It ranks fourth in size. It surrounds Antarctica and covers an area of ​​86 million km². The greatest depth is about 8428 m, the average is 3500 m.

The southern one has a harsh climate and rich wildlife. Krill is being harvested, but whaling is prohibited. The total number of whales is 500,000. The following representatives of mammals are found: seals, southern elephant seals, leopard seals. 44 people live on the coast various types birds, whose number is 200 million.

The climatic conditions consist of several distinctive features: a unique geographical location, the influence of the Antarctic continent (ice-covered, high-altitude and cold), and continuous sea ice. Warm currents are not observed. Katabatic winds are formed, the speed of which can sometimes reach 15 m/s.

One of characteristic features The southern water resource lies in the year-round presence of ice. From September to October, the period of greatest development, ice covers an area of ​​about 18 million km².

Icebergs also form due to the fact that, under the influence of tsunamis and waves, coastal parts of ice and continental glaciers break off. Every year, over 200 thousand icebergs are observed in the waters of this reservoir. They rise 50 m above the sea surface, and their length is approximately 500 m. In 4-5 years, the vast majority of the mass of icebergs thaws.

Northern Arctic (Arctic)

Located between North America and Eurasia.

Pay attention! This is the smallest ocean on our entire planet.

It covers an area of ​​15 million km², which forms only a few percent of the World's waters as a whole.

The depth of the reservoir is 1225 m (the maximum is 5527 m in the Greenland Sea). As a result, the Arctic Ocean is the shallowest. The Arctic ice is like a great white giant, containing 10 percent of the world's fresh water. It maintains the stability of the Earth's global climate.

The area of ​​the islands is 4 million km². The largest archipelagos and islands are Spitsbergen, New Earth, Franz Josef Land, the islands of Vaygach, Kolguev, Wrangel, etc. The island of Greenland is also located within the oceanic waters of the Arctic.

The climate of this reservoir belongs to the Arctic. The vast majority of winter months year is covered with drifting ice. In the summer months, the water temperature rises to +5 degrees.

On floating ice you can meet polar bears. They use the ice as a platform and for hunting. When the ice disappears, these animals will also disappear, as they will begin to starve. However, polar bears live only in the Arctic.

The indigenous population is engaged in fishing for seals and walruses. Fishing is also developed. In the Arctic there are fish that live only in these territories.

When the ice of a reservoir melts, it releases various organisms and nutrients into the water, causing algae to grow. Representatives of the underwater world feed on zooplankton.

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Let's sum it up

How many oceans are there in our world, on the planet at the moment? There are 5 of them on Earth, and the fifth, Southern (Antarctic), officially “appeared” only a few years ago. All the oceans of the world play a vital role in the life of our planet.

One of my favorite cartoons is Finding Nemo. How I worried about these little fish who went on a journey. Then I asked my mother: “Do such fish live in our village, in the pond?” Mommy then replied that they live in the oceans. And then a new barrage of questions hit her about how many oceans there are on the planet and who lives in them. The conversation lasted several hours, and I would like to retell part of it here.

How many oceans are there on Earth?

There are four oceans on our planet:

All of them, combined together, are called the World Ocean.

The most beautiful place in the ocean

The same thing amazing place from the cartoon where clown fish live and many no less amazing creatures- This is the Great Barrier Reef.

It is located off the coast of Australia and is the largest coral reef in the world.

The fish depicted in the cartoon actually live there. Nemo and Marvin are clown fish.

Dory is a fish with the slightly scary name “blue tang”.

Nemo's mentor in the aquarium is a horned enclave.

You can see the underwater world of the Great Barrier Reef with your own eyes - excursions are sent to some of its areas. The divers actually go down into the ocean, just like in the cartoon. But they are strictly forbidden to touch the reef and its inhabitants.

Deep ocean dwellers

Remember the scene where Dory was attracted to the light that was growing from some big scary fish?

Such a fish actually exists. It's called an angler fish. Female anglerfish have a special “fishing rod” with a small glow at the end.

At great depths, where this miracle of nature lives, it is very dark. Curious fish swim to the light to find out what's there. And they instantly fall into the predatory toothy mouth.

Another strange animal of the ocean depths is the blob fish. Very reminiscent of the faces of students before the session. “Why do I need all this?” this strange fish seems to be telling us. She really has a reason to be sad, because in Asian countries she is considered a delicacy.

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I've always had some confusion with the number of oceans. In the children's encyclopedia given by my parents, it was written in black and white that there were four of them. However, when I opened the English textbook, where the article about the oceans was given, the number five appeared.

As a result, when in a school geography test I came across the question: “How many oceans are there on our planet?”, I thought for a long time which answer was the correct one. Let's figure it out together.

Oceans - how many are there?

Currently, the official number of oceans is four. We list them in ascending order (the area in brackets is indicated in millions of square kilometers):

Where has another ocean gone?

He never disappeared. It’s just that at a certain moment another ocean was actually singled out - the Southern Ocean, which “bite off” part of the area of ​​​​the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans. The reason for the division was that warm waters these three oceans were separated from the cold ones thanks to the current Western winds. These cold waters were considered, until a certain time, to be the Southern Ocean. At that time physical map the world looked simplified like this.

But over time, scientists decided that there were still four oceans. This is how they continue to count at the moment.

Now I would like to talk about one of the most frequently asked questions about the oceans, which haunted me as a child.

Why is there salty water in the oceans and seas?

The first assumption in this regard is this: the cause of everything is the rivers. They do not contain large number salts that the river carries into the seas and oceans. And since these substances do not evaporate, they gradually accumulate, making ocean waters increasingly salty.

The second assumption is related to the fact that there are a huge number of volcanoes in the oceans. In ancient times, a huge number of eruptions occurred, during which the air was enriched with acids.

These acids returned to the oceans and entered into a chemical reaction, from which salts were obtained.

Which of the two theories is correct has not yet been established. I am inclined to believe that both reasons influenced the salinity of the oceans.

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It is believed that there are only four oceans in the world:

1) Great (quiet) - the largest in scale 178.7 million km2, and depth 11034 m, in the whole world. 2) Atlantic - ranks second in size 91.6 million km2, named after the mythical island of Atlantis .3) Indian - has a scale of 76.2 million km2, occupies 20% of the water part of the earth; 4) Arctic - the smallest, its volume is 20.327 million km2, and its depth is 5527 m. But there is one more interesting fact- in 2000, scientists in the field of hydrography decided to identify another ocean, which is located between the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian and called it the Southern Ocean (or Antarctic), its area is about 14.75 million km2.

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For me, the ocean, in addition to its splendor, is a place that hides many secrets. Indeed, despite all the technical achievements of mankind, the ocean remains less than 10% explored.

Number of oceans on the planet

In addition to the four oceans known to mankind for a long time (Pacific, Arctic, Indian, Atlantic), more recently another one was put on the world map - the Southern. However, on different stages Histories of opinion about the division of the World Ocean have varied greatly. Some adhered to the established opinion about four oceans, while others, having drawn conditional boundaries, decided to “complete” the fifth. However, at the beginning of this century, the International Geographical Organization adopted a document dividing the water surface into five parts. However, this document does not have legal force and therefore the correct answer is four oceans.

Mysterious Atlantic

• Sable Island;
• Bermuda Triangle;
• Atlantic Cemetery.

Sable Island. This place has long been notorious among sailors and is known as the “Wandering Island”, in the vicinity of which there are hundreds of shipwrecks. The shallows that surround the island are constantly moving as a result of the collision of two powerful currents (the warm Gulf Stream and the cold Labrador Stream). Since the end of the 16th century alone, according to available records, 495 shipwrecks have been recorded. The theory that the island, which moves an average of 175 meters per year, is nothing more than a living organism based on silicon is completely crazy.

Bermuda Triangle. There are many speculations trying to explain its mystery. Some believe that "little green men", black holes and temporary anomalies are the culprits, but there are other, more reasonable assumptions. The most realistic hypothesis is that gas bubbles, rising from the bottom of the ocean, cause a decrease in the density of water and air, as a result of which ships and planes “fall” to the bottom.

Cemetery of the Atlantic. The place is located south of Sable Island, in a place where all the same currents collide: the warm Gulf Stream and the cold Labrador Stream, which causes multiple whirlpools and sedimentation of shoals. This place is a kind of trap that over the course of several centuries has become the “homeland” of more than 1,500 shipwrecks.

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As paradoxical as it may sound, most of our planet called Earth is occupied by rivers and reservoirs. I turned to scientific calculations and found out that this is about 70% of the entire earth's surface. And most of this area is occupied by the World Ocean.

Parts of the World Ocean

Most researchers distinguish four oceans:

• Quiet.
• Indian.
• Atlantic.
• Arctic.

Also, some scientists focus on Southern Ocean. Scientists distinguish the area of ​​the southern parts of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans.

The importance of the oceans in human life

Even in ancient times, the largest cities were built at the intersection of sea routes. Thanks to the oceans, people made the first trips around the world, discovered uncharted islands and even continents. IN certain time, more precisely in the 15th century, sea travel was an integral part of the life of human civilization. This time is called the golden age of navigation.

Sea trade

Have you ever wondered which type of transport created by man is the most in demand? I will answer this question - these are sea vessels. Due to the fact that all the oceans are connected to each other, it is possible the shortest routes travel from continent to continent. Huge sea tankers carrying multi-ton cargo, oddly enough, are the cheapest type of cargo transportation.

State of the oceans today

Unfortunately, humanity has not learned to appreciate what it has. Forests are being cut down, rare species are being exterminated, and the oceans are being polluted.

Plastic items are easy to manufacture and easy to use, but what happens to them after use? A considerable part plastic waste falls into the ocean. They are distributed unevenly. Currents and wind carry them throughout the ocean and gradually they surround entire continents.

It seems to me that it is our duty to help nature, if only for the sake of our own comfort. It's not that hard to think about the fate of a discarded item. Separate waste collection significantly reduces the burden on nature. We have learned to keep our body and home clean, and the next step should be to keep the planet clean.

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I think everyone knows that the surface area of ​​water on Earth is several times greater than the area of ​​dry surface. Most of the water surface is occupied by four oceans. Which ones you can read further. Oceans of the planet. There are several oceans：

• Quiet
• Arctic
• Indian
• Atlantic

But scientists have put forward the existence of a fifth ocean - the Southern Ocean, since special currents and other conditions arise there that are not typical for other oceans.

The Pacific Ocean is the largest

Undoubtedly, it is the largest ocean, whose area is 170 million square kilometers. The huge size is not the only advantage: its depth reaches about 11 million kilometers. At different depth levels live a variety of interesting animals that have adapted to the local conditions, which is why the Pacific Ocean is home to a wide variety of creatures. One such amazing creature is the frilled shark, also called the frilled shark. It looks like an eel or a large snake.

Ocean covered with ice

It has its own characteristics that are distinctive from others. The ocean water is so cold that the fauna and flora of the ocean are poor. Only here lives the northern polar bear, an animal whose silver-white fur is beautiful and valuable. Despite the small number of animal inhabitants, the ocean is a food source for numerous birds: penguins, seagulls and many others.

Third largest ocean

The Indian Ocean is characterized by high salinity of water, so the flora is sparse. But the ocean is home to a wide variety of whales. One of which is blue whale, whose size is impressive and terrifying at the same time.

Although the blue whale is a protected animal, it is endangered: today there are about 10 thousand individuals in the world. The reason for such a small number of whales is humans. People exterminated this mammal because useful qualities: subcutaneous fat, mustaches (fashionable corsets for girls were made from them) and others. Man pollutes the water of the ocean - the home of the whale.

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What does the ocean mean to me? The fact that these are boundless expanses of water that amaze with their volumes and living world. Of course, they can be dangerous and insidious, but at the same time, they carry great benefit the earth's atmosphere (after all, the hydrosphere and atmosphere are closely related). So, I would like to talk about the number of oceans in the world and their characteristics.

The largest of the largest water giants

Of course, first of all, we are talking about the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. It cannot be said that they are similar to each other; each is amazing and unique in its own way. Quiet, as everyone knows from school, is the largest of all (178 million km²). And besides this, its main feature is the Mariana Trench (or trench). In my opinion, this is the most unexplored object on Earth. If you just think about the facts about its depth of 11 kilometers, then your eyes will glaze over. Next is the Atlantic Ocean, which is famous for its extremely cold currents. Its area is far from Quiet, only 91 million square kilometers, although the greatest depth is very impressive - more than eight and a half kilometers.

The rest of the earth's oceans and their number

I will continue with the Indian Ocean, for which we can highlight the main aspects:

• an area of ​​just over 76 million square kilometers;
• the depth indicator is slightly behind the Atlantic (7.7 km);
• The volume of water is 282 million km³.

He is special in his own way environmental problems, which follows from economic activity humanity.

The smallest of all of the above and with the smallest depth is Northern Arctic Ocean. More than 14.5 million km² is the area, and the deepest point is 5.5 kilometers under water. It’s not for nothing that you can see the word “Northern” in the name; in addition to its location, it also characterizes the climate in which the ocean is located. It is very harsh and cold, and breaking through the icy deserts can be extremely difficult even for the most modern technology. Summarizing all the information, it is not difficult to calculate that there are only four oceans on our planet. Sometimes a fifth is identified - Southern, but this is not yet recognized by all scientists.

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The ocean fascinates me. I even dream of one day taking a transatlantic cruise and sailing... to Antarctica. Yes, I'm a little (or even a lot, haha) dreamer.

But usually I only see the ocean in nature films. But even so he makes an impression. He... is alive! The movement of the waves is breathing, the sound of water is a song, and the depths are a mystery. He seems frightening, but at the same time strong, powerful, amazing, magnificent!

Earth and its oceans

How many oceans are there on Earth? First of all, on Earth there is a huge mass of water called world ocean. It is so huge that it takes 71% area of ​​our planet. That's why From space the Earth looks blue.

The World Ocean itself is one, but is conventionally divided into four others:

• Quiet;
• Atlantic;
• Indian;
• Arctic.

Sometimes a fifth is identified - Southern Ocean, which washes the shores of Antarctica.

But why was the World Ocean suddenly divided into parts?

The oceans were conditionally separated from each other for a reason. Each of them has its own characteristics:

• relief;
• physical properties water (for example, temperature);
• chemical properties water.

A different conditions in turn favor different living organisms.

The oceans are truly amazing. I would like to tell a lot more about them, but a whole series of very weighty books could be written about the oceans and their inhabitants.

Our Earth appears to be a blue planet from space. This is because ¾ of the surface globe occupies 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:

. - 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 deep blue. Formed near the equator favorable climate. 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 part, as if in a 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.

. 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 its instability, runs through the center of the ocean. earth's crust. 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.

. (76 million sq. km) - region 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 other oceans 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.

. (15 million sq. km) is located in the Arctic and occupies vast areas around 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.

. . 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 water salinity varies depending on geographical latitude: in temperate latitudes the waters are less saline 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 proportion 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 the Caribbean Sea.

For formation Indian Ocean climate The proximity of two continents - Eurasia and Antarctica - has a huge impact. 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 temperature air: 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 this is the most important natural phenomenon, like the water cycle, provides the land with a sufficient amount of moisture.

The most correct answer would be that there are exactly 5 oceans on Earth. This is the Pacific Ocean, which is located on the eastern coast of Eurasia, this is the Atlantic Ocean, located off the western coast of Eurasia. This is the Arctic Ocean (north of Russia), this is the Indian Ocean (south of India). And then there is the Southern Ocean, which was discovered relatively recently and is located near Antarctica.

I read on a website that has little to do with geography that this decision was never ratified - this is what Wikipedia writes.

How is that correct? What to tell children?

From school curriculum we know that there are 5 oceans on earth. These are the Pacific Ocean (the largest), the Atlantic and Indian, in second place in size, followed by the Arctic Ocean and the Southern (Antarctic) Ocean.

According to the normal logical definition, an ocean is a vast area of ​​water, connected by straits (or directly) to two or more oceans, having seas and bays, and separated from other oceans by continents and islands.

Only 4 water areas fall under this definition:

1) Pacific Ocean

2) Atlantic Ocean

3) Indian Ocean

4) Arctic Ocean

All the confusion began from the moment the IHO (International Hydrographic Association), without consulting geographers and based on the climatic differences of the oceans, decided to self-proclaim the Southern Ocean. Also, the allocation of the Southern Ocean has a political background - after all, the territory and water area south of 60 degrees south latitude cannot belong to any state. The decision to allocate the Southern Ocean has not yet been ratified - read Wikipedia.

So the normal logical definition of the 4 oceans is geography; The Southern Ocean is politics, human stupidity and greed.

All oceans on earth are connected to each other, so we can assume that there is one giant ocean of the world, consisting of four or five parts. And if we look at it geographically and count the body of water surrounding Antarctica, which is called the Antarctic Ocean, then in the end we get five of them. But these are the arguments of scientists, and the existence of four oceans on earth is officially recognized: the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean and the fourth - the Arctic Ocean.

Zmiter gave a complete answer to the question: there are currently 5 oceans on earth (let’s compare notes, it’s March 2012) - this is what geographers decided, although he forgot to include the World Ocean here - this is the entire volume sea ​​water on the ground. So, speaking geographically, there are not five, but six oceans on earth!

And I also want to remind you that there is an ocean Grz, as well as an ocean Sz, humanity cannot do without them...

And we also have Elzy’s Ocean on earth

Today there is five oceans, whereas before 2000 there were only four oceans, all this happened because the union of hydrographers decided to separate, or one might even say open a new Southern Ocean.

• How many oceans are there in the world?

  It’s an amazing thing, when I was in school (and I graduated only 9 years ago), we were told that there are only 4 oceans on planet Earth: Quiet, Atlantic, Indian And Northern Arctic. But it turns out that another ocean has appeared Southern, washing Antarctica.

  Live and learn!

There are five oceans in total on planet Earth:

1) The Pacific Ocean, which is the largest in area and occupies about fifty percent of all land

2) The Indian Ocean, which occupies about twenty percent of the Earth’s landmass

3) Atlantic Ocean, the second largest ocean

4) Southern Ocean, which has very arbitrary boundaries

5) The Arctic Ocean, as is known, is almost entirely covered with centuries-old ice.

A few years ago it came as a big surprise to me when a child told me that there are 5 oceans on earth. I was taught that there are only 4 of them. It turns out that geography does not stand still, and they decided to add a fifth ocean. They added Yuzhny. But they say that there will be another one, but after some time (50-100 million years), when the crack in Africa increases to the size of the ocean and fills with water.

How many oceans are there on Earth?

• Pacific Ocean (largest)
• Atlantic
• Indian Ocean
• Arctic Ocean
• Southern (Antarctic) Ocean



Yes. Valid 5. Everything as listed above. The Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic and Indian, then the Arctic Ocean and the Southern Ocean.

At the moment, scientists distinguish five oceans on planet earth.

The first is the Pacific Ocean, the second is the Atlantic Ocean, the third is the Indian Ocean, the fourth is the Arctic Ocean, the fifth is the Southern Ocean.

Interesting fact. Until 2000, scientists identified only four oceans, but later they decided to identify a new ocean - the Southern Ocean.

Also, scientists suggest that, in about 50-100 million years, the crack in Africa will increase to the size of an ocean and fill with water, and then a sixth ocean will appear.

Pacific, Atlantic, Arctic and Indian = 4

It is generally accepted that there are four oceans. These are the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean and the Arctic Ocean. But there is another one, which was previously called the Southern Arctic Ocean, but is now called the Southern Ocean, or it has another name - the Antarctic Ocean.

In 2000, the IHO (International Hydrographic Organization) decided that the World Ocean should be divided into five oceans. Here is their list (in alphabetical order):

Until 2000, the World Ocean was usually divided into 4 oceans without the Southern Ocean.



• How many oceans are there on Earth

  Officially, there are 5 oceans on Earth. List of oceans in descending order of area:

  • Pacific Ocean (155,557,000 sq. km);
  • Atlantic Ocean (76,762,000 sq. km);
  • Indian Ocean (68,556,000 sq. km);
  • Southern Ocean (20,327,000 sq. km);
  • Arctic Ocean (14,056,000 sq. km).

  The total area of ​​the Earth covered by water is (361,419,000 sq. km) 70.9%.

Our planet Earth is 70% water. Most of the water resources are 4 oceans. We will describe the existing oceans, their location, underwater inhabitants and interesting information.

1) Pacific Ocean

The Pacific Ocean is the most significant ocean in terms of area and depth. Its size is 169.2 million sq. km. Maximum depth – 11022 meters. Despite the name, he is considered the most violent, since... 80% of tsunamis originate here due to the many underwater volcanoes. The commercial importance of the ocean is significant - more than half of the world's fish catch is caught in the Pacific Ocean. In addition, 40% of oil and gas reserves are in the ocean. The Pacific Ocean contains over 950 varieties of algae, as well as over 120 thousand representatives of the animal world.

Interesting information:

• There are about 25 thousand in the Pacific Ocean. islands
• On one of the islands of the ocean they found very interesting objects of monetary settlement - stone rings more than two meters high and weighing 15 tons.
• This ocean has the highest waves, which is very popular among surfers
• Ocean water is capable of enveloping the entire surface of the Earth and the thickness of the water cover will exceed 2500 meters.
• The average speed of crushing waves during a tsunami is 750 km/h
• If all the water in the ocean suddenly evaporated, a layer of salt 65 meters thick would remain at the bottom.

2) Atlantic Ocean

The Atlantic Ocean is the next largest ocean on the planet. Its dimensions reach 91.6 million sq. km. The maximum depth reaches 8742 meters. All climate zones exist over the expanses of the Atlantic Ocean. The ocean provides two-fifths of the world's fish catch. It is enriched in mineral resources - there is oil, gas, iron ore, barite, limestone. The inhabitants of the ocean are very diverse - whales, fur seals, seals, sea urchins, parrot fish, sharks, surgeon fish, etc. There are many dolphins living in the ocean.

Interesting information:

• The warm Gulf Stream flows through the Atlantic Ocean, giving a warm climate to European countries with access to the ocean.
• Among the inhabitants, a special place is occupied by delicacies: oysters, mussels, squid, cuttlefish, etc.
• In the ocean there is a sea without shore boundaries - Sargasso.
• In the Atlantic there is a mystery of humanity - the Bermuda Triangle. This is the area in the Bermuda region where the large number airplanes and ships.
• The ocean also became famous for the sinking of the ship, the Titanic. Research at the bottom continues to this day.

3) Indian Ocean

The Indian Ocean is the 3rd largest ocean on the planet. Its dimensions reach 73.55 million sq. km. Maximum depth 7725 meters. It is considered the warmest and youngest ocean. Very numerous Tuna and various types of sharks are undoubtedly considered inhabitants of the ocean. IN smaller quantity Several different species of sea turtles, sea snakes, whales, sperm whales, and dolphins are present. The flora is represented mainly by brown and green algae. Mineral resources include natural gas, oil, rutile, titanite, zirconium, and phosphorite. Pearls and mother-of-pearl are mined from the ocean. Fishing reaches five percent of the world catch.

Interesting information:

1. In the Indian Ocean there are the most popular holiday islands such as Sri Lanka, Bali, Mauritius, and the Maldives.
2. The ocean contains the second most salinity sea on Earth - the Red Sea. The sea has completely clear water, since no rivers flow into it.
3. The largest sea corals are found at the bottom.
4. The most dangerous poisoner lives here - blue-ringed octopus . Its size is barely the size of a golf ball, and the poison kills in less than two hours.
5. One of the main mysteries of the ocean is the disappearance of people. Floating ships were repeatedly found without the slightest damage, but not a single person was present on it.

4) Arctic Ocean

The Arctic Ocean is the smallest ocean on Earth. Its dimensions are 14.75 million sq. km. Maximum depth 5527 meters. Ocean fauna is sparse due to the harsh climate. Among the fish, commercial fish such as herring, salmon, cod, and flounder predominate. Walruses and whales are found in large numbers.

Interesting facts:

1. The phenomenon of “dead water” - due to the occurrence of internal waves, the ship stops, despite the fact that all engines are functioning.
2. The iceberg that destroyed the Titanic sailed from the Arctic Ocean.
3. The largest species of seal lives in the Arctic, weighing approximately 200 kilograms.
4. The most polluted ocean. There are a considerable number of bottles and bags at the bottom and on the surface.
5. Based on the melting of ice throughout the year, the salinity of the ocean can vary.

In 2000 International hydrographic The organization decided to identify the 5th ocean washing Antarctica - the Southern Ocean. But already in 2010 it was decided to remove the 5th ocean and leave 4.