Oceans increasing in area. Traditional geography taught that there are four oceans in the world - Pacific, Atlantic, Arctic and Indian.

Pacific Ocean- the largest on Earth

The Pacific Ocean extends approximately 15.8 thousand km from north to south and 19.5 thousand km from east to west. Area with seas - 179.7 million km², average depth- 3984 m, water volume - 723.7 million km³. The greatest depth of the Pacific Ocean (and the entire World Ocean) is 10,994 m (in the Mariana Trench).

On November 28, 1520, Ferdinand Magellan entered the open ocean for the first time. He crossed the ocean from Tierra del Fuego to the Philippine Islands in 3 months and 20 days. All this time the weather was calm, and Magellan called the ocean Quiet.

The second largest ocean on Earth after the Pacific Ocean, occupying 25% of the surface of the World Ocean, total area 91.66 million km² and water volume - 329.66 million km³. The ocean is located between Greenland and Iceland in the north, Europe and Africa in the east, North and South America in the west, and Antarctica in the south. Greatest depth - 8742 m (deep-sea trench - Puerto Rico)

The name of the ocean first appears in the 5th century BC. e. in the works ancient Greek historian Herodotus, who wrote that “the sea with the pillars of Hercules is called Atlantis.” The name comes from the famous Ancient Greece the myth of Atlas, the Titan, holding the vault of heaven on his shoulders in the extreme western point Mediterranean. The Roman scientist Pliny the Elder in the 1st century used modern name Oceanus Atlanticus - « Atlantic Ocean».

The third largest ocean on Earth, covering about 20% of it water surface. Its area is 76.17 million km², volume - 282.65 million km³. The deepest point of the ocean is in the Sunda Trench (7729 m).

In the north Indian Ocean washes Asia, in the west - Africa, in the east - Australia; in the south it borders on Antarctica. The border with the Atlantic Ocean runs along the 20° meridian of eastern longitude; from Quiet - along 146°55’ meridian of eastern longitude. The most northern point The Indian Ocean is located at approximately 30° northern latitude in the Persian Gulf. The width of the Indian Ocean is approximately 10,000 km between southern points Australia and Africa.

Ancient Greeks known to them western part The ocean with adjacent seas and bays was called the Eritrean Sea (Red). Gradually, this name began to be attributed only to the nearest sea, and the ocean was named after India, the country most famous at that time for its wealth on the ocean shores. So Alexander the Great in the 4th century BC. e. calls it Indicon pelagos - “Indian Sea”. Since the 16th century, the name Oceanus Indicus - Indian Ocean, introduced by the Roman scientist Pliny the Elder back in the 1st century, has been established.

The smallest ocean on Earth, located entirely in the northern hemisphere, between Eurasia and North America.

The ocean area is 14.75 million km² (5.5% of the area of ​​the World Ocean), the volume of water is 18.07 million km³. Average depth - 1225 m, greatest depth- 5527 m in the Greenland Sea. Most of the bottom relief of the Arctic Ocean is occupied by the shelf (more than 45% of the ocean floor) and the underwater margins of continents (up to 70% of the bottom area). The ocean is usually divided into three vast water areas: the Arctic Basin, the North European Basin and the Canadian Basin. Due to the polar geographical position, the ice cover in the central part of the ocean remains throughout the year, although it is in a mobile state.

The ocean was identified as an independent ocean by the geographer Varenius in 1650 under the name Hyperborean Ocean - “Ocean in the extreme north.” IN foreign sources At that time, the following names were also used: Oceanus Septentrionalis - “Northern Ocean” (Latin Septentrio - north), Oceanus Scythicus - “Scythian Ocean” (Latin Scythae - Scythians), Oceanes Tartaricus - “Tartar Ocean”, Μare Glaciale - “Arctic Sea” "(Latin Glacies - ice). In Russian maps XVII- XVIII centuries the names are used: Sea Ocean, Sea Ocean Arctic, Arctic Sea, Northern Ocean, Northern or Arctic Sea, Arctic Ocean, Northern Polar Sea, and the Russian navigator Admiral F. P. Litke in the 20s years XIX centuries called it the Arctic Ocean. In other countries the English name is widely used. Arctic Ocean - "Arctic Ocean", which was given to the ocean by the London Geographical Society in 1845.

By resolution of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR dated June 27, 1935, the name Arctic Ocean was adopted, as corresponding to the form already used in Russia since early XIX century, and close to earlier Russian names.

The conventional name for the waters of the three oceans (Pacific, Atlantic and Indian) surrounding Antarctica and sometimes unofficially identified as the “fifth ocean”, which, however, does not have a clearly delineated northern border by islands and continents. The conditional area is 20.327 million km² (if we take the northern boundary of the ocean to be 60 degrees south latitude). Greatest depth (South Sandwich Trench) - 8428 m.

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 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 the fifth - 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 large size The Pacific Ocean has a unique and varied topography. He also plays important role in the formation of weather conditions around the world and the modern economy.

The ocean floor is constantly changing through the process of movement and subduction 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 turbulent geological activity, because most its bottom is located in subduction zones, where the boundaries of some tectonic plates are pushed under others after a 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.

Ocean climates vary greatly depending on latitude, presence of land, and types 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. Extremely northern part Pacific Ocean and far away southern part- more moderate, 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 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 Puerto Rico ocean trench, 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 trends. Water depth and winds also have a significant impact on weather conditions on 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.

The main feature of the Atlantic Ocean floor is the 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 the temperature of the water, ocean currents, sunlight, nutrients, salinity, etc. The Atlantic Ocean has coastal and open ocean habitats. Its coastal areas 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. Construction of the Panama Canal, located in Central America, allowed large ships to pass through waterways, from Asia across the Pacific to east coast Northern and South America across 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. He has 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 most warm weather from all five oceans of 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 sea ​​life 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.

Southern 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, as southern regions 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 recent years large number oceanographic research concerned ocean currents, first due to El Niño and then due to wider 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 greater than 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 located north of Arctic Circle. is located in the center of the Arctic Ocean.

While located on the continent, North Pole covered with 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 any of 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. The most famous characteristics of this climate are polar nights and polar days.

It is believed that in the North Arctic Ocean may contain about 25% of 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 vulnerable ecosystem is one of the factors that makes the fauna so sensitive to climate change. Some of these species are endemic and irreplaceable. Summer months bring an abundance of phytoplankton, which in turn feeds the foundation, 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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The Pacific Ocean is the largest body of water on Earth, its area is 178.62 million km2, and this figure is several million kilometers larger than the area of ​​the continents, and also 200% more than the space occupied by the Atlantic Ocean. The largest ocean in the world occupies almost 50% of the surface of the World Ocean and holds just over half of its volume water resources. From west to east it extends over almost 20 thousand km, and from south to north – over 16 thousand km.

The area of ​​water with seas is 179.7 million km², with an average depth of almost 4 thousand m, the Pacific Ocean has a water volume of 724 million. cubic kilometers and reaches a maximum depth of 10,994 m (the so-called “Mariana Trench”). The date change line runs through the ocean surface near the 180th meridian.

The conquistador from Spain Nunez de Balboa at the beginning of the 16th century, of course, did not know what the largest ocean was. But, nevertheless, crossing the Isthmus of Panama, he saw the shore of an unknown ocean. Since his ship approached the waters of the bay from the southern side, the conquistador gave the name to what he saw “South Sea”. A few years later, Ferdinand Magellan entered the open waters. During the entire 3 months and 20 days crossing the expanse from the Philippine Islands to Tierra del Fuego, the navigator observed ideal and calm weather. So he called the found waters the Pacific Ocean.

The ocean washes North and South America from the east, Australia and Eurasia from the west, and reaches Antarctica from the southern borders.

Climate of the largest ocean in the world

Ironically, the Pacific Ocean is the stormiest and most turbulent of all the oceans on Earth. The trade wind blows in its central part, and the monsoon blows in the west. IN winter time a dry and cold monsoon penetrates from the land, affecting the climatic state of the ocean; As a result, some seas are covered with a crust of ice. Quite often, tropical hurricanes of devastating power - typhoons - fly over the surface of the ocean from the west. The most high wave, reaching 30 m in height, has been seen in the south and north of the Pacific Ocean. A hurricane wind raises real columns of water.

The Pacific Ocean spreads its waters in all climatic zones. The air above its area is too humid, so that at the equator precipitation falls up to 2 thousand mm per year. Due to the vast area of ​​the ocean, the water here fluctuates between temperatures from -1 to +29 °C. But still, precipitation over the water surface takes precedence over evaporation, so that the salinity of the water on the surface is lower than that of other oceans.

Another record holder

As mentioned above, the Pacific Ocean does not contain much salt surface waters, only 34.5%. But one of its neighbors - the Atlantic Ocean - is the saltiest in the world, although it flows into sufficient quantity fresh water from all over the land. This record holder has accumulated 35.4% of salt. Some points in the Red Sea near the bottom contain 270% - which is actually a saturated saline solution! All this happens due to insufficient precipitation and high evaporation of water.

Life in the Pacific

IN organic world The Pacific Ocean is home to a variety of life forms, its waters are rich in various types plants and animals. Just think, its depths are inhabited by half of the mass of diverse life forms of the World Ocean. And this is not surprising, given the enormous size of the Pacific Ocean, and thanks to the climate, this environment has different natural conditions. The most rich life in the tropics and equatorial latitudes, near coral reefs. The northern part of the ocean is inhabited by salmon fish. Off the coast of South America in the southeast, the waters are simply teeming with fish. The Pacific Ocean is home to horse mackerel, herring, butterfish, mackerel and many other fish.

They found their refuge in these waters fur seals, whales and sea beavers ( this type lives exclusively in the Pacific Ocean). Invertebrates also live here - sea ​​urchins, corals, and a variety of shellfish.

The sky over the Pacific Ocean is a huge air route between countries in the Pacific region. There are transit roads between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.

Interesting fact. The asteroid Oceana is named after the Pacific Ocean.

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? - It's huge water body, located among the continents, which is constantly in interaction with earth's crust and the atmosphere of the earth. 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 Indeed, 4 oceans were distinguished: Indian, Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic (except for the Southern Ocean). The Southern Ocean is not part of the oceans due to its very conditional boundaries. However, at the beginning of the 21st century, the International Hydrographic Organization adopted a division into 5 parts including in the list territorial waters called "Southern Ocean", but in present moment this document still does not have an official legal force, and it is believed that the southern ocean is considered only conditionally by its name as the fifth on Earth. Southern Ocean is also called south 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 included in it.

Brief information about each ocean on the planet

• Pacific Ocean- is the largest in area (179.7 million km 2) and the deepest. Occupies about 50 percent of the entire surface of the Earth, the volume of water is 724 million km 3, maximum depth- 11022 meters (Mariana Trench, 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. So, 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).

I've never swum in the waters open ocean. I would like to visit the paradise tropical islands and splash around in warm water ocean. But even a schoolchild knows that there are 4 oceans on Earth. They all differ in area. The largest in area is the Pacific Ocean, and the smallest is the Arctic Ocean.

The Pacific Ocean is the largest in area

Do you know that the Pacific Ocean is not so “quiet”? In fact, in this ocean it is very common hurricanes and earthquakes occur. This is what Magellan named the ocean. His expedition sailed from Tierra del Fuego to the Philippine Islands for almost 3 months and never saw even a hint of a storm. Next I want to characterize according to plan Pacific Ocean:

• ocean name and area:
  
• geographical location;
  
• islands and archipelagos;
• location in climatic zones;
• use on the farm.

Everyone knows that The Pacific Ocean is the largest in area (178.684 million km²). The only continent that it does not wash is Africa. The shores of all the other six continents are washed by the Pacific Ocean. This ocean contains the most deep trench on our planet - Mariana -11022m. It is interesting that the date line passes through its waters.

The Pacific Ocean is in seismic area , therefore, it contains many islands and archipelagos (Japanese, New Zealand, Polynesia, Micronesia, Melanesia). Look at the map and you will see that there are about a thousand such groups of islands in the ocean.

The ocean is located in all climatic zones except the Arctic. This is because it seems to be “elongated” from north to south . The ocean is important transport artery, in itThere is industrial fishing and it is a paradise for tourists.

Characteristics of the Arctic Ocean

This northern ocean is the smallest in area (14.75 million sq. km), the smallest in depth (average depth 1225 m) and the freshest among all the oceans (a lot of ice, which is fresh). It’s not for nothing that it consists of two words: “northern” and “arctic”. This is so because it is at the extreme north in Antarctic and subantarctic latitudes, where it is always very cold. washes Eurasia and North America .

The Arctic Ocean contains many islands (Baffin Island, Spitsbergen, New Siberian Islands) and the large Canadian Arctic archipelago.

The ocean is used for industrial fishing; oil and gas are extracted from its shelf; it is a very important transport artery.