Position of the Atlantic Ocean to the continents. Northern temperate zone

It ranks second in size in the world after the Pacific Ocean. Its area occupies about 20% of the entire surface of the Earth. The water of the Atlantic Ocean tastes the saltiest. In its shape, which was acquired after the split of the Pangea continent, the ocean resembles the letter S.

Features of the geographical location of the Atlantic Ocean

The Atlantic is the most developed ocean in the world. In the east it borders the coasts of South and North America. In the north, the Atlantic Ocean washes cold Greenland, and in the south it merges with the Southern Ocean. In the west, its borders are outlined by the African and European shores.

The total area of ​​the Atlantic is about 91.66 million square meters. km. The geographic location of the Atlantic Ocean also determines the wide range of its temperatures. In the south and north, the water temperature is 0°C, and at the equator - 26-28°C. The average depth of the Atlantic Ocean is 3,736 m, and the deepest trench is the Puerto Rico Trench at 8,742 m.

Among the currents, scientists conventionally designate two gyres. This is the Northern one, in which the currents move clockwise, and the Southern one, where they flow counterclockwise. These gyres are separated by the Equatorial inter-trade current. In high school, during geography lessons, the geographic location of the Atlantic Ocean is studied in detail (grade 7).

Many believe that the oceans are practically eternal and will exist until the end of history. But it is not so. For example, from the ancient Tethys Ocean, once located between the continents of Laurasia and Gondwana, now only the Mediterranean, Black, Caspian Sea and a small Persian Gulf remain. The same fate may befall the Atlantic Ocean. The geographical location of the continents plays an important role here.

The Tethys Ocean disappeared from the face of the earth when Africa and India began to rapidly approach the Eurasian continent. Researchers believe that the Atlantic Ocean is now rapidly aging. Scientists have discovered that intensive processes of subduction take place at its bottom - the immersion of some sections of the earth's crust under others.

Walking across the ocean

In 1988, Frenchman Remy Brika crossed the Atlantic Ocean on foot for the first time. The geographical position of the desperate traveler was tracked using special equipment. He tied five-meter pontoons made of fiberglass to his feet. Brik was pulled behind him by a raft, on which there was equipment for desalination of water and fishing rods. The traveler set off from the Canary Islands and planned to get to Guadeloupe. Brika became very thin and began to hallucinate, so he was picked up by a trawler near Trinidad. Despite this, the administration of the Guinness Book of Records credited the brave Frenchman with the record.

"Horse latitudes" of the Atlantic

The Sargasso Sea is one of the most amazing seas in the Atlantic Ocean. The geographical position of the sea is such that above it there is a zone of constantly increased atmospheric pressure. Therefore, calm reigns all the time in the Sargasso Sea. In the days of the sailing fleet, this place was disastrous for many ships. Sargassy is often called “horse latitudes”. This is due to the fact that previously domestic animals, most often horses, were often transported on ships from Europe to America. Horses often died, and the corpses were simply thrown overboard in the Sargasso Sea.

A sea without borders, terrifying

For ancient sailors, this sea inspired real fear. On its surface, which was covered with tenacious algae, many ships stopped. Travelers have called it differently: the Sea of ​​Spirits, the Sea that cannot be crossed, the Sea of ​​Debris. Scientists still continue to make amazing discoveries, revealing the secrets of the Sargasso Sea.

But it was first witnessed by Christopher Columbus. In 1492, he sailed on a ship, trying to find a shortcut to India. The crew waited impatiently for a strip of land to appear on the horizon. But it turned out that the sailors mistook a huge accumulation of algae on the surface of the terrible sea for the mainland. With great difficulty, Columbus managed to overcome the huge water meadow.

The scary Bermuda Triangle

The Bermuda Triangle is another area full of mystical mysteries that the Atlantic Ocean possesses. The geographical location of this zone is such that in its shape it is conventionally designated as a triangle. It is located between Bermuda, the coast of Florida and an island in Puerto Rico. Ships and planes have mysteriously died here throughout history. The term "Bermuda Triangle" appeared only after the publication of an article by Vincent Gaddis, which was called "The Bermuda Triangle - the Devil's Den."

The reason for the constant formation of whirlpools

On the western side, this mysterious place is almost completely flown around by the Gulf Stream. In these places the temperature usually does not exceed 10 degrees. Due to the clash of temperatures, fog often forms here, striking the imagination of overly impressionable sailors. In addition, the speed of the Gulf Stream reaches about 10 km/h. For comparison: the speed of modern ships ranges from 13 to 30 km/h. It is therefore not surprising that many small ships in the past were simply blown off course or sank in the ocean depths. In addition to the Gulf Stream, spontaneous currents arise in the Bermuda Triangle area, the direction of which is impossible to guess. As a result, terrible whirlpools are formed here.

The Bermuda Triangle is located in the trade wind zone. Stormy winds blow here almost all the time. According to statistics, there are an average of 80 storm days per year, which means that every fourth day in the Bermuda Triangle area the weather is disgusting.

Why did the ships die?

However, it was not only the powerful winds and currents of the Bermuda zone that caused the death of numerous ships. The ocean here is capable of generating infrasound signals that cause severe panic in any living organism, be it a person or aquatic animal. Due to psychological pressure, people were even able to throw themselves overboard.

In the process of generating these waves, storm winds hitting high waves play a significant role. When air strikes against wave crests, a low-frequency wave is formed and immediately rushes forward. She catches up with the sailing ship and finds herself in its cabins.

When an infrared signal enters the confined space of a ship's cabin, its effect on people is almost unpredictable. Many people begin to hallucinate and begin to see their worst nightmares. Unable to withstand the psychological pressure, the entire crew may be thrown into the ocean abyss, and the ship will be found empty.

Modern scientists believe that the cause of mystical phenomena is methane deposits at the bottom of the Bermuda Triangle. Not only the Atlantic Ocean is rich in them. The geographical location of many places in the World Ocean is such that other zones can be comparable in danger to the Bermuda Triangle.

The Atlantic Ocean and the modern world

The Atlantic has a huge diversity of biological species. The largest amount of fish is caught here every year, amounting to millions of tons. In addition, the Atlantic Ocean is one of the busiest shipping lanes. There are many resort areas on the shores of the Atlantic. Despite the geographic location of the Atlantic Ocean, it is constantly polluted by factory waste. Pesticides and fertilizers are dumped into its waters. Sometimes tanker accidents lead to huge oil pollution. Preserving the Atlantic is a global task for all humanity.

The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest and youngest ocean on Earth, distinguished by its unique topography and natural features.

The best resorts are located on its shores, and the richest resources are hidden in its depths.

History of the study

Long before our era, the Atlantic was an important trade, economic and military route. The ocean was named after the ancient Greek mythological hero - Atlas. It was first mentioned in the writings of Herodotus.

Christopher Columbus's voyages

Over the course of many centuries, new straits and islands were opened, and disputes were fought over maritime territory and ownership of the islands. But he still discovered the Atlantic, leading the expedition and discovering most of the geographical objects.

Antarctica, and at the same time the southern border of sea waters, was discovered by Russian researchers F.F. Bellingshausen and M.P. Lazarev.

Characteristics of the Atlantic Ocean

The ocean area is 91.6 million km². It, like the Pacific Ocean, washes 5 continents. The volume of water in it is slightly more than a quarter of the World Ocean. It has an interesting elongated shape.

The average depth is 3332 m, the maximum depth is in the Puerto Rico Trench area and is 8742 m.

The maximum water salinity reaches 39% (Mediterranean Sea), in some areas 37%. There are also the most fresh areas with an indicator of 18%.

Geographical position

The Atlantic Ocean washes the shores of Greenland in the north. From the west it touches the eastern coasts of North and South America. In the south there are established borders with the Indian and Pacific oceans.

The waters of the Atlantic and Indian oceans meet here

They are determined along the meridian of Cape Agulhas and Cape Horn, respectively, reaching all the way to the glaciers of Antarctica. In the east, the waters wash Eurasia and Africa.

Currents

The water temperature is strongly influenced by cold currents coming from the Arctic Ocean.

Warm currents are trade winds that influence waters near the equator. It is here that the warm Gulf Stream originates, passing through the Caribbean Sea, which makes the climate of the coastal countries of Europe much warmer.

The cold Labrador Current flows along the coast of North America.

Climate and climate zones

The Atlantic Ocean extends to all climate zones. The temperature regime is strongly influenced by westerly winds, trade winds and monsoons in the equator region.

In the tropical and subtropical zones, the average temperature is 20°C; in winter it drops to 10°C. In the tropics, heavy precipitation prevails throughout the year, while in the subtropics it falls to a much greater extent in the summer. Temperatures drop significantly in the Arctic and Antarctic regions.

Inhabitants of the Atlantic Ocean

Among the flora in the Atlantic Ocean, kelp, corals, red and brown algae are widespread.

There are also more than 240 species of phytoplankton and countless species of fish, the most prominent representatives of which are: tuna, sardines, cod, anchovies, herring, perch (sea bass), halibut, haddock.

Among mammals, you can find several species of whales, the most common being the blue whale. The ocean waters are also inhabited by octopuses, crustaceans, and squids.

The flora and fauna of the ocean is much poorer than that of the Pacific. This is due to their relatively young age and less favorable temperature conditions.

Islands and peninsulas

Some islands were formed as a result of the rise of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge above sea level, such as the Azores and the Tristan da Cunha archipelago.

Tristan da Cunha Island

The most famous and mysterious are Bermuda.

Bermuda

On the territory of the Atlantic Ocean there are: Caribbean, Antilles, Iceland, Malta (state on the island), o. St. Helena - there are 78 of them in total. The Canary Islands, Bahamas, Sicily, Cyprus, Crete and Barbados have become favorite places for tourists to visit.

Straits and seas

The waters of the Atlantic include 16 seas, among which the most famous and largest are: Mediterranean, Caribbean, Sargasso.

Caribbean Sea meets Atlantic Ocean

The Strait of Gibraltar connects the ocean waters with the Mediterranean Sea.

The Strait of Magellan (which runs along Tierra del Fuego and is distinguished by a large number of sharp rocks) and the Drake Passage open into the Pacific Ocean.

Features of nature

The Atlantic Ocean is the youngest on Earth.

A significant part of the waters extends in the tropics and temperate zones, so the animal world is represented in all its diversity, both among mammals and among fish and other sea creatures.

The diversity of plankton species is not great, but only here its biomass per 1 m³ can be so great.

Bottom relief

The main feature of the relief is the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, whose length is more than 18,000 km. For a large extent from both sides of the ridge, the bottom is covered with basins that have a flat bottom.

There are also small underwater volcanoes, some of which are active. The bottom is cut by deep gorges, the origin of which is still not precisely known. However, due to age, the relief formations that predominate in other oceans are much less developed here.

Coastline

In some parts the coastline is slightly indented, but the coast there is quite rocky. There are several large water areas, for example, the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf of Guinea.

Gulf of Mexico

In the area of ​​North America and the eastern coasts of Europe there are many natural bays, straits, archipelagos and peninsulas.

Minerals

Oil and gas production is carried out in the Atlantic Ocean, which accounts for a decent share of global mineral production.

Also on the shelves of some seas, sulfur, ore, precious stones and metals important for global industry are mined.

Ecological problems

In the 19th century, whale hunting was widespread among sailors in these places for their oil and bristles. As a result, their number was sharply reduced to critical levels, and there is now a ban on whaling.

The waters are heavily polluted due to the use and release of:

• a huge amount of oil into the Gulf in 2010;
• industrial waste;
• city ​​garbage;
• radioactive substances from stations, poisons.

This not only pollutes the water, deteriorates the biosphere and kills all life in the water, but has exactly the same effect on environmental pollution in cities and the consumption of products containing all these substances.

Types of economic activities

The Atlantic Ocean accounts for 4/10 of the fishing volume. It is through it that a huge number of shipping routes pass (the main ones are directed from Europe to North America).

The routes passing through the Atlantic Ocean and the seas located in it lead to the largest ports of great importance in import and export trade. Oil, ore, coal, wood, products and raw materials of the metallurgical industry, and food products are transported through them.

On the shores of the Atlantic Ocean there are many world tourist cities that attract large numbers of people every year.

Interesting facts about the Atlantic Ocean

The most interesting of them:

Conclusion

The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest, but by no means less significant. It is an important source of minerals, the fishing industry, and the most important transport routes pass through it. To briefly summarize, it is worth paying attention to the enormous damage to the ecological and organic component of ocean life caused by humanity.

Human economic activity has led to severe pollution of some areas of the Pacific Ocean. This was especially evident off the coast of Japan and North America. The stocks of whales, a number of valuable species of fish and other animals have been depleted. Some of them have lost their former commercial significance.

§ 8. Atlantic Ocean

Geographical position. The Atlantic Ocean stretches from north to south for 16 thousand km from subarctic to Antarctic latitudes. The ocean is wide in the northern and southern parts, narrowing in equatorial latitudes to 2900 km. In the north it communicates with the Arctic Ocean, and in the south it is widely connected with the Pacific and Indian Oceans. It is limited by the shores of North and South America in the west, Europe and Africa in the east, and Antarctica in the south.

The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest among the planet's oceans. The ocean coastline in the northern hemisphere is heavily dissected by numerous peninsulas and bays. There are many islands, internal and marginal seas near the continents. The Atlantic includes 13 seas, which occupy 11% of its area.

Bottom relief. Through the entire ocean (approximately at an equal distance from the coasts of the continents) passes Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The relative height of the ridge is about 2 km. Transverse faults divide it into separate segments. In the axial part of the ridge there is a giant rift valley ranging from 6 to 30 km wide and up to 2 km deep. Both underwater active volcanoes and the volcanoes of Iceland and the Azores are confined to the rift and faults of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. On both sides of the ridge there are basins with a relatively flat bottom, separated by elevated rises. The shelf area in the Atlantic Ocean is larger than in the Pacific Ocean.

Mineral resources. Oil and gas reserves have been discovered on the North Sea shelf, in the Gulf of Mexico, Guinea and Biscay. Phosphorite deposits were discovered in the area of ​​rising deep waters off the coast of North Africa in tropical latitudes. Placer deposits of tin off the coast of Great Britain and Florida, as well as diamond deposits off the coast of South-West Africa, have been identified on the shelf in sediments of ancient and modern rivers. Ferromanganese nodules were found in bottom basins off the coasts of Florida and Newfoundland.

Climate. The Atlantic Ocean is located in all climate zones of the Earth. The main part of the ocean is between 40° N latitude. and 42° S - is located in subtropical, tropical, subequatorial and equatorial climatic zones. There are high positive air temperatures here all year round. The most severe climate is found in sub-Antarctic and Antarctic latitudes, and to a lesser extent in subpolar and northern latitudes.

Currents. In the Atlantic, as in the Pacific, two rings of surface currents are formed. In the northern hemisphere, the Northern Trade Wind Current, Gulf Stream, North Atlantic and Canary Currents form a clockwise movement of water. In the southern hemisphere, the South Trade Wind, the Brazilian Current, the West Wind Current and the Benguela Current form the movement of water counterclockwise. Due to the considerable extent of the Atlantic Ocean from north to south, meridional water flows are more developed in it than latitudinal ones.

Properties of water. The zoning of water masses in the ocean is complicated by the influence of land and sea currents. This is manifested primarily in the temperature distribution of surface waters. In many areas of the ocean, isotherms off the coast deviate sharply from the latitudinal direction.

The northern half of the ocean is warmer than the southern half, the temperature difference reaches 6°C. The average surface water temperature (16.5°C) is slightly lower than in the Pacific Ocean. The cooling effect is exerted by the waters and ice of the Arctic and Antarctic. The salinity of surface waters in the Atlantic Ocean is high. One of the reasons for increased salinity is that a significant part of the moisture evaporating from the water area does not return to the ocean, but is transferred to neighboring continents (due to the relative narrowness of the ocean).

Many large rivers flow into the Atlantic Ocean and its seas: the Amazon, Congo, Mississippi, Nile, Danube, La Plata, etc. They carry huge masses of fresh water, suspended material and pollutants into the ocean. Ice forms in the desalinated bays and seas of subpolar and temperate latitudes in winter off the western shores of the ocean. Numerous icebergs and floating sea ice are disrupting shipping in the North Atlantic Ocean.

Organic world . The Atlantic Ocean is poorer in flora and fauna species than the Pacific Ocean. One of the reasons for this is its relative geological youth and noticeable cooling in the Quaternary period during the glaciation of the northern hemisphere. However, in quantitative terms, the ocean is rich in organisms - it is the most productive per unit area. This is primarily due to the widespread development of shelves and shallow banks, which are home to many bottom and bottom fish (cod, flounder, perch, etc.). The biological resources of the Atlantic Ocean are depleted in many areas. The ocean's share of global fisheries has declined significantly in recent years.

Natural complexes. In the Atlantic Ocean, all zonal complexes are distinguished - natural zones, except for the North Polar. Water northern subpolar belt rich in life. It is especially developed on the shelves off the coasts of Iceland, Greenland and the Labrador Peninsula. Temperate zone characterized by intense interaction of cold and warm waters, its waters are the most productive areas of the Atlantic. Vast expanses of warm waters of two subtropical, two tropical and equatorial zones less productive than the waters of the northern temperate zone.

In the northern subtropical zone it stands out special natural aquatic complex of the Sargasso Sea. It is characterized by high water salinity (up to 37.5 ppm) and low bioproductivity. In clear water, pure blue color grow brown algae - sargassum, which gave the name to the water area.

In the temperate zone of the southern hemisphere, as in the north, natural complexes are rich in life in areas where waters with different temperatures and water densities mix. In the subantarctic and antarctic belts Characterized by the manifestation of seasonal and permanent ice phenomena, which affect the composition of the fauna (krill, cetaceans, notothenia fish).

Economic use. The Atlantic Ocean represents all types of human economic activity in marine areas. Among them, maritime transport is of greatest importance, followed by underwater oil and gas production, and only then by fishing and use of biological resources.

On the shores of the Atlantic there are more than 70 coastal countries with a population of over 1.3 billion people. Many transoceanic routes with large volumes of freight and passenger traffic pass through the ocean. The most significant ports in the world in terms of cargo turnover are located on the coasts of the ocean and its seas.

The already explored mineral resources of the ocean are significant (examples are given above). However, oil and gas fields are currently being intensively developed on the shelf of the North and Caribbean Seas, in the Bay of Biscay. Many countries that previously did not have significant reserves of these types of mineral raw materials are now experiencing economic growth due to their production (England, Norway, the Netherlands, Mexico, etc.).

Biological resources oceans have been used intensively for a long time. However, due to overfishing of a number of valuable commercial fish species, in recent years the Atlantic is inferior to the Pacific Ocean in the production of fish and seafood.

Intensive human economic activity in the Atlantic Ocean and its seas causes a noticeable deterioration of the natural environment - both in the ocean (water and air pollution, reduction in stocks of commercial fish species) and on the coasts. In particular, recreational conditions on the ocean shores are deteriorating. In order to prevent further and reduce existing pollution of the natural environment of the Atlantic Ocean, scientific recommendations are being developed and international agreements are being concluded on the rational use of ocean resources.

§ 9. Indian Ocean

Geographical position. The Indian Ocean is located entirely in the eastern hemisphere between Africa - in the west, Eurasia - in the north, the Sunda Islands and Australia - in the east, Antarctica - in the south. The Indian Ocean in the southwest is widely connected with the Atlantic Ocean, and in the southeast with the Pacific. The coastline is poorly dissected. There are eight seas in the ocean and there are large bays. There are relatively few islands. The largest of them are concentrated near the coasts of continents.

Bottom relief. As in other oceans, the bottom topography in the Indian Ocean is complex and varied. Among the uplifts on the ocean floor stands out mid-ocean ridge system diverging to the northwest and southeast. The ridges are characterized by rifts and transverse faults, seismicity and submarine volcanism. Between the ridges lie numerous deep-sea basins. The shelf generally has a small width. But it is significant off the coast of Asia.

Mineral resources. There are significant oil and gas deposits in the Persian Gulf, off the coast of Western India and off the coast of Australia. Large reserves of ferromanganese nodules have been discovered at the bottom of many basins. Sedimentary deposits on the shelf contain tin ores, phosphorites, and gold.

Climate. The main part of the Indian Ocean lies in the equatorial, subequatorial and tropical zones, only the southern part covers high latitudes, up to the subantarctic. The main feature of the ocean climate is the seasonal monsoon winds in its northern part., which is significantly influenced by land. Therefore, in the northern part of the ocean there are two seasons of the year - a warm, quiet, sunny winter and a hot, cloudy, rainy, stormy summer. South of 10° S The southeast trade wind prevails. To the south, in temperate latitudes, a strong and stable westerly wind blows. The amount of precipitation is significant in the equatorial belt - up to 3000 mm per year. There is very little rainfall off the coast of Arabia, the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf.

Currents. In the northern part of the ocean, the formation of currents is influenced by the change of monsoons, which rearranges the system of currents according to the seasons of the year: the summer monsoon - in the direction from west to east, the winter - from east to west. In the southern part of the ocean, the most significant are the Southern Trade Wind Current and the Western Wind Current.

Properties of water. The average surface water temperature is +17°C. The slightly lower average temperature is explained by the strong cooling effect of Antarctic waters. The northern part of the ocean warms up well, is deprived of the influx of cold water and is therefore the warmest. In summer, the water temperature in the Persian Gulf rises to +34°C. In the southern hemisphere, water temperatures gradually decrease with increasing latitude. The salinity of surface waters in many areas is higher than average, and in the Red Sea it is especially high (up to 42 ppm).

Organic world. Has much in common with the Pacific Ocean. The species composition of fish is rich and diverse. The northern part of the Indian Ocean is inhabited by sardinella, anchovy, mackerel, tuna, coryphaena, sharks, and flying fish. In southern waters - nototheniids and white-blooded fish; Cetaceans and pinnipeds are found. The organic world of the shelf and coral reefs is especially rich. Thickets of algae line the shores of Australia, South Africa, and islands. There are large commercial aggregations of crustaceans (lobsters, shrimp, krill, etc.). In general, the biological resources of the Indian Ocean are still poorly understood and underutilized.

Natural complexes. The northern part of the ocean lies in tropical zone. Under the influence of the surrounding land and monsoon circulation, several aquatic complexes are formed in this belt, differing in the properties of water masses. Particularly sharp differences are noted in the salinity of the waters.

In the equatorial zone The temperature of surface waters remains almost unchanged over the seasons. Above the numerous rises of the bottom and near the coral islands in this belt, a lot of plankton develops, and bioproductivity increases. Tuna live in such waters.

Zonal complexes of the southern hemisphere in general terms they are similar in natural conditions to similar belts of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

Economic use. The biological resources of the Indian Ocean have been used by coastal residents since time immemorial. And to this day, artisanal fisheries and other seafood continue to play an important role in the economies of many countries. However, the ocean's natural resources are less exploited than in other oceans. Ocean biological productivity is generally low, it increases only on the shelf and continental slope.

Chemical resources Ocean waters are still poorly used. Desalination of salt water is being carried out on a large scale in the countries of the Middle East, where there is an acute shortage of fresh water.

Among mineral resources oil and gas deposits are identified. In terms of their reserves and production, the Indian Ocean ranks first in the World Ocean. Coastal marine placers contain heavy minerals and metals.

Important transport routes pass through the Indian Ocean. In the development of shipping, this ocean is inferior to the Atlantic and Pacific, but in terms of oil transportation volumes it surpasses them. The Persian Gulf is the main oil export region of the world, and a large cargo flow of oil and petroleum products begins from here. Therefore, systematic observations of the state of the aquatic environment and its protection from oil pollution are necessary in this area.

§ 10. Arctic Ocean

Geographical position. The ocean is located in the center of the Arctic, surrounded by land on almost all sides, which determines the features of its nature - climate, hydrological conditions, ice conditions. The Arctic Ocean is the smallest of the Earth's oceans.

The boundaries of the ocean extend from the Scandinavian Peninsula (62° N), to the Shetland and Faroe Islands, along the Danish and Davis Straits, as well as the Bering Strait, through which its waters communicate with the waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

The coastline is heavily dissected. There are nine seas in the ocean, which account for half of the entire ocean area. The largest sea is the Norwegian Sea, the smallest is the White Sea. There are many island archipelagos and single islands.

Bottom relief. About half the area of ​​the ocean floor is occupied by the shelf. The shelf strip is especially wide off the coast of Eurasia, where it measures many hundreds of kilometers. The ocean floor consists of several basins separated by underwater ridges. The main element of the bottom topography is the Gakkel Ridge. It is a continuation of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The Lomonosov, Mendeleev, and Chukotka uplifts are also distinguished.

Mineral resources. Bottom sediments of the shelf zone are formed by river sediments. Placer deposits of heavy metals (tin, etc.) were found in them. In addition, more than 50 oil and gas fields have been discovered on the ocean shelf; some of them are already beginning to be developed.

Climate. Climate features are determined by the polar position of the ocean. Arctic air masses form over its waters and dominate throughout the year.. The average air temperature in winter drops to -40°C, in summer it is close to 0°. During the polar day, ice reflects a significant portion of solar radiation, increasing the severity of the climate. Precipitation over the ocean ranges from 100 to 200 mm per year.

Currents. A powerful flow of warm waters enters the Arctic Ocean from the North Atlantic - branches of the North Atlantic Current. As it moves east and north, the relatively saltier and denser waters of the Atlantic are submerged beneath the less salty, albeit colder, waters of the Arctic Ocean. From the Chukchi and East Siberian seas, waters in the ocean move in the opposite direction - from east to west. This is how it is formed Transarctic Current, which carries polar waters and ice into the Atlantic, mainly through the Denmark Strait.

Properties of water. Ice . Preservation of the existing hydrological regime and life in the Arctic Ocean is possible only under the condition of water and heat exchange with neighboring oceans. Heat reserves in the ocean water masses are constantly maintained due to the influx of warm waters from the Atlantic Ocean. In addition, large river flows from the territory of Eurasia and North America (Ob, Yenisei, Lena, Mackenzie, etc.) increase the temperature and reduce the salinity of water masses. Surface water temperatures are low most of the year, close to the freezing point of water at a given salinity (from -1 to -2°C). Only in subarctic latitudes in summer does it rise to +5...+8°С.

The year-round existence of ice is a characteristic feature of the nature of the ocean. Multi-year ice predominates - pack, 2-4 m thick or more. Every year more ice is formed during the winter than melts in the summer. Excess ice is carried mainly into the Atlantic Ocean. In summer, the oceans off the coasts of the continents are largely free of ice.

Organic world . The basis of biomass in the ocean is formed by cold-tolerant diatoms. They live both in water and on ice. In the Atlantic sector of the ocean and in coastal waters near river mouths, zoo- and phytoplankton develop; characteristic algae growing on the bottom. The ocean and seas are home to commercial fish (cod, haddock, navaga, halibut, etc.), and the most common mammals are seals, walruses, beluga whales, and polar bears.

Natural complexes. The main part of the ocean is located within the northern - Arctic natural zone of the World Ocean. However, the oceanic seas lie in the northern subpolar zone, and the Norwegian Sea belongs to the temperate zone.

North polar zone- This is the deepest and most severe central part of the ocean in terms of climatic and ice conditions. The boundary of this belt coincides approximately with the edge of the shelf. Throughout the year, most of the water area is covered with drifting ice. Ice accumulations are characteristic - hummocks, up to 10-12 m high, arising under the influence of currents, winds and tides. Only on the outskirts of the belt do seals, walruses, and polar bears live.

Subarctic belt includes marginal and inland seas adjacent to land. Their nature is less harsh. In summer, the waters off the coast are free of ice and are highly desalinated by river waters. In the water areas where warm waters penetrate, there is a lot of plankton and fish; Birds (“bird colonies”) settle on the rocks of the islands and coasts.

Economic use . The Arctic Ocean is of great economic importance for Russia, which has a vast expanse of access to it, as well as for Canada and some other countries. The economic and technical level of these countries allows them to develop the harsh waters of the ocean.

In our country, great work is underway to develop Northern Sea Route, through which vast areas of Siberia and the Far East are supplied with cargo. Icebreakers, including nuclear ones, are used to guide ships. The necessary scientific and operational support for the needs of the fleet and polar aviation is being carried out.

Biological resources oceans are small. However, in the Atlantic sector of the ocean, biological productivity is increasing. Intensive fishing takes place here; The local population fishes for seals, seals, and walruses.

Mineral resources of the Arctic oceans are still poorly studied. However, the exploitation of oil and gas fields has begun on the shelf, and alluvial deposits of heavy metals have been discovered. Harsh natural conditions hinder the exploration and development of already discovered mineral deposits.

Bogdanov D.V. Regional physical geography of the World Ocean. M.: Higher School, 1985. 176 p.

Korinskaya V.A., Dushina I.V., Shchenev V.A. Geography of continents and oceans: Textbook for 7th grade of secondary school. 3rd ed., revised. M.: Education, 1993. 287 p.

Stepanov V.N. Nature of the World Ocean. M.: Education, 1982. 189 p.

Countries and peoples: Popular scientific geographical and ethnographic publication: In 20 volumes. M.: Mysl, 1978-1985. (Volumes: Africa. General overview. Northern Africa; Australia and Oceania. Antarctica; America. General overview. North America; South America; Foreign Europe. General overview. Northern Europe; Foreign Asia. General overview. South-West Asia).

TableVIII.2

Water balance of Russia by sea basins

Basic questions: What are the features of the geographic location of the Atlantic Ocean? What is its role in the implementation of international economic relations?

The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest and deepest. Its area is 91.6 million km2.

Geographical position. The ocean extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the coast of Antarctica in the south. On South Drake Passage connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific. A characteristic feature of the Atlantic Ocean is its many internal and marginal seas. Of the total ocean area, approximately 11% is in the seas, while in the Pacific - 8%, and in the Indian - only 2%. The presence of internal and marginal seas is mainly associated with tectonic movements. (Show on the map Sargasso, Mediterranean Sea. ). The ocean has the most saline surface waters, its average salinity is 36-37‰. ( Study the salinity of the waters of the Atlantic Ocean using the textbook map).

Relief The Atlantic Ocean, according to scientists, is the youngest and more leveled. Runs along the entire ocean Mid-Atlantic Ridge with a length of more than 18,000 km. A rift system runs along the ridge, where the largest volcanic island on Earth, Iceland, was formed. It can be considered as a “product” of the expansion of the ocean floor. The vast territory of the Atlantic Ocean is dominated by depths of 3000 - 6000 m. Unlike the Pacific Ocean, there are few deep-sea trenches in the Atlantic Ocean. The most famous Puerto Rico(8742 m) in the Caribbean Sea - the greatest depth in the Atlantic Ocean. The shelf is becoming increasingly important for the economic activities of the population of coastal countries.

Currents in the Northern Hemisphere they form two rings. (Study the current system on the map. Show on the map Brazilian, Labrador, Benguela and other currents) The most famous current in the Atlantic Ocean is Gulf Stream(translated as “Gulf Current”) - originates in the Gulf of Mexico. It carries 80 times more water than all the rivers on the globe. The thickness of its flow reaches 700-800 m. This mass of warm water with a temperature of up to 28°C moves at a speed of about 10 km/h. North of 40° N. w. The Gulf Stream turns to the shores of Europe and here it is called North Atlantic Current. The water temperature of the current is higher than in the ocean. Therefore, warmer and more humid air masses dominate over the current and form cyclones. The ocean is characterized by rhythmically repeating tides And low tides. The highest tidal wave in the world reaches 18 m in the bay Fundy off the coast of Canada . (Fig. 1) (Show on map Brazilian and Benguela currents)

Climate. The elongation of the Atlantic Ocean from north to south determined the diversity of its climate . It is located in all climatic zones. In the north, near the island of Iceland, an area of ​​low pressure is formed above the ocean, which is called the Icelandic minimum. The island of Iceland is the center of cyclone formation. Prevailing winds over the ocean in tropical and subequatorial latitudes - trade winds, in moderate - westerly winds. Differences in atmospheric circulation cause uneven distribution of precipitation (study "Annual precipitation" map). The average surface water temperature in the Atlantic Ocean is +16.5°C. Salinity indicators of surface waters are varied compared to other oceans. The maximum salinity of 36-37‰ is typical for tropical areas with low annual precipitation and strong evaporation. The decrease in salinity in high latitudes (32-34‰) is explained by the melting of icebergs and floating sea ice.

Natural resources and environmental issues. The Atlantic Ocean is rich in a variety of mineral resources. The largest oil and gas deposits have been explored in the shelf zone off the coast of Europe (North Sea region) (Figure 2,3,4), America (Gulf of Mexico, Maracaibo Lagoon), etc. Phosphorite deposits are significant, but ferromanganese nodules are much less common.

Organic world in terms of species, it is poorer than in the Pacific and Indian, but the richest in quantitative terms. The ocean is the youngest and has been isolated from other oceans for a long time. IN tropical part the greatest diversity of the organic world, the number of fish species is measured in tens of thousands. These are tuna, mackerel, sardines. IN temperate latitudes– herring, cod, haddock, halibut. Jellyfish, squid, and octopuses are also inhabitants of the ocean. IN cold waters large marine mammals live whales, pinnipeds), various types of fish ( herring, cod), crustaceans. The main fishing areas are northeastern off the coast of Europe and northwestern off the coast of North America. The wealth of the ocean is brown and red algae, kelp.

In terms of economic use, the Atlantic Ocean ranks first among other oceans. The use of the ocean plays a major role in the economic development of many countries. The ocean is called “the element that unites peoples.” There are more than 90 coastal states on the shores of four continents facing the ocean. They are home to over 2 billion people. 70% of the world's largest cities are located on its shores.

The expanses of the Atlantic Ocean are most polluted with oil and petroleum products. Modern methods are used to purify water, and the discharge of production waste is prohibited.

The importance of the Atlantic Ocean in the implementation ofinternational economic relations. INFor five centuries it has occupied first place in world shipping. The ocean is located in the “habitat center” of the peoples of various countries, which determine the development of the economy and culture of the world.

1.Practical work. Draw large seas, bays, and straits in the Atlantic Ocean on a contour map. *2. Determine the influence of the North Atlantic Current on the nature of the European coast. 3. Show on the map the countries and major cities on the Atlantic coast. **4. Using an analysis of the textbook map, determine the importance of oil fields in the North Sea basin for European countries?

The Atlantic Ocean is second in size only to the Pacific Ocean, its area is approximately 91.56 million km². It is distinguished from other oceans by its highly rugged coastline, forming numerous seas and bays, especially in the northern part. In addition, the total area of ​​river basins flowing into this ocean or its marginal seas is significantly larger than that of rivers flowing into any other ocean. Another difference of the Atlantic Ocean is the relatively small number of islands and the complex bottom topography, which, thanks to underwater ridges and uplifts, forms many separate basins.

North Atlantic Ocean

Borders and coastline. The Atlantic Ocean is divided into northern and southern parts, the border between which is conventionally drawn along the equator. From an oceanographic point of view, however, the southern part of the ocean should include the equatorial countercurrent, located at 5-8° N latitude. The northern border is usually drawn along the Arctic Circle. In some places this boundary is marked by underwater ridges.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the Atlantic Ocean has a highly indented coastline. Its relatively narrow northern part is connected to the Arctic Ocean by three narrow straits. In the northeast, the 360 ​​km wide Davis Strait (at the latitude of the Arctic Circle) connects it with the Baffin Sea, which belongs to the Arctic Ocean. In the central part, between Greenland and Iceland, there is the Denmark Strait, at its narrowest point only 287 km wide. Finally, in the northeast, between Iceland and Norway, there is the Norwegian Sea, approx. 1220 km. In the east, two water areas protruding deeply into the land are separated from the Atlantic Ocean. The more northern of them begins with the North Sea, which to the east passes into the Baltic Sea with the Gulf of Bothnia and the Gulf of Finland. To the south there is a system of inland seas - the Mediterranean and the Black - with a total length of approx. 4000 km. In the Strait of Gibraltar, which connects the ocean with the Mediterranean Sea, there are two oppositely directed currents, one below the other. The current moving from the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean occupies a lower position, since Mediterranean waters, due to more intense evaporation from the surface, are characterized by greater salinity and, consequently, greater density.

In the tropical zone in the southwest of the North Atlantic are the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, connected to the ocean by the Strait of Florida. The coast of North America is indented by small bays (Pamlico, Barnegat, Chesapeake, Delaware and Long Island Sound); to the northwest are the Bays of Fundy and St. Lawrence, the Strait of Belle Isle, Hudson Strait and Hudson Bay.

The largest islands are concentrated in the northern part of the ocean; these are the British Isles, Iceland, Newfoundland, Cuba, Haiti (Hispaniola) and Puerto Rico. On the eastern edge of the Atlantic Ocean there are several groups of small islands - the Azores, Canary Islands, and Cape Verde. Similar groups exist in the western part of the ocean. Examples include the Bahamas, Florida Keys and Lesser Antilles. The Greater and Lesser Antilles archipelagos form an island arc surrounding the eastern Caribbean Sea. In the Pacific Ocean, such island arcs are characteristic of areas of crustal deformation. Deep-sea trenches are located along the convex side of the arc.

The Atlantic Ocean basin is bordered by a shelf, the width of which varies. The shelf is cut through by deep gorges - the so-called. underwater canyons. Their origin is still controversial. One theory is that the canyons were cut by rivers when sea levels were lower than they are today. Another theory connects their formation with the activity of turbidity currents. It has been suggested that turbidity currents are the main agent responsible for the deposition of sediment on the ocean floor and that they are the ones that cut submarine canyons.

The bottom of the North Atlantic Ocean has a complex, rugged topography formed by a combination of underwater ridges, hills, basins and gorges. Most of the ocean floor, from depths of about 60 m to several kilometers, is covered with thin, dark blue or bluish-green muddy sediments. A relatively small area is occupied by rocky outcrops and areas of gravel, pebble and sandy deposits, as well as deep-sea red clays.

Telephone and telegraph cables were laid on the shelf in the North Atlantic Ocean to connect North America with Northwestern Europe. Here, the area of ​​the North Atlantic shelf is home to industrial fishing areas that are among the most productive in the world.

In the central part of the Atlantic Ocean, almost repeating the contours of the coastlines, there is a huge underwater mountain range approx. 16 thousand km, known as the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. This ridge divides the ocean into two approximately equal parts. Most of the peaks of this underwater ridge do not reach the ocean surface and are located at a depth of at least 1.5 km. Some of the highest peaks rise above ocean level and form the islands - the Azores in the North Atlantic and Tristan da Cunha - in the South. In the south, the ridge skirts the coast of Africa and continues further north into the Indian Ocean. A rift zone stretches along the axis of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

Surface currents in the North Atlantic Ocean move clockwise. The main elements of this large system are the northward warm Gulf Stream, as well as the North Atlantic, Canary and North Trade Wind (Equatorial) Currents. The Gulf Stream follows from the Strait of Florida and Cuba in a northerly direction along the coast of the United States and approximately 40° N. w. deviates to the northeast, changing its name to the North Atlantic Current. This current is divided into two branches, one of which follows northeast along the coast of Norway and further into the Arctic Ocean. It is thanks to it that the climate of Norway and all of northwestern Europe is much warmer than would be expected at latitudes corresponding to the area stretching from Nova Scotia to southern Greenland. The second branch turns south and further southwest along the coast of Africa, forming the cold Canary Current. This current moves southwest and joins the North Trade Wind Current, which heads west towards the West Indies, where it merges with the Gulf Stream. To the north of the North Trade Wind Current there is an area of ​​stagnant waters, teeming with algae, known as the Sargasso Sea. The cold Labrador Current runs along the North Atlantic coast of North America from north to south, coming from Baffin Bay and the Labrador Sea and cooling the shores of New England.

South Atlantic Ocean

Some experts refer to the Atlantic Ocean in the south all the water space up to the Antarctic ice sheet; others take the southern limit of the Atlantic to be an imaginary line connecting Cape Horn in South America with the Cape of Good Hope in Africa. The coastline in the southern part of the Atlantic Ocean is much less indented than in the northern part; there are also no inland seas through which the influence of the ocean could penetrate deep into the continents of Africa and South America. The only large bay on the African coast is the Gulf of Guinea. On the coast of South America, large bays are also few in number. The southernmost tip of this continent - Tierra del Fuego - has an indented coastline bordered by numerous small islands.

There are no large islands in the southern part of the Atlantic Ocean, but there are isolated isolated islands, such as Fernando de Noronha, Ascension, Sao Paulo, St. Helena, the Tristan da Cunha archipelago, and in the extreme south - Bouvet, South Georgia , South Sandwich, South Orkney, Falkland Islands.

In addition to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, there are two main submarine mountain ranges in the South Atlantic. The whale ridge extends from the southwestern tip of Angola to the island. Tristan da Cunha, where it joins the Mid-Atlantic. The Rio de Janeiro Ridge stretches from the Tristan da Cunha Islands to the city of Rio de Janeiro and consists of groups of individual underwater hills.

The major current systems in the South Atlantic Ocean move counterclockwise. The South Trade Wind Current is directed to the west. At the protrusion of the eastern coast of Brazil, it divides into two branches: the northern one carries water along the northern coast of South America to the Caribbean, and the southern one, the warm Brazil Current, moves south along the coast of Brazil and joins the Western Winds Current, or Antarctic Current, which heads east , and then to the northeast. Part of this cold current separates and carries its waters north along the African coast, forming the cold Benguela Current; the latter eventually joins the South Trade Wind Current. The warm Guinea Current moves south along the coast of Northwest Africa into the Gulf of Guinea.