Oceans of The World

It is a fact that the planet Earth is covered with 70% of water. But, were you aware of the fact that the oceans of the world cover 361,100,000 square kilometers and occupy a volume of 1,370 million cubic kilometers? You must know that the average depth of an ocean is 3,730 meters. The oceans of the world are interlinked. They are the Pacific, the Atlantic, Indian, Southern Ocean and the icy Arctic.

Atlantic Ocean

The second-largest ocean of the world is the Atlantic Ocean. The name of the Atlantic Ocean is derived from the Greek mythological character called "Atlas". Atlantic Ocean lies between the continents of Europe, Africa, South and North America, and Antarctica. Atlantic Ocean is the youngest of all the oceans and occupies 20% of the Earth’s surface. The average depth of Atlantic Ocean is 3,926 m. The Puerto Rico Trench is the deepest spot of the Atlantic Ocean. Another interesting fact is the currents of the Northern Atlantic Ocean flow in a clockwise direction while the currents of the Southern Atlantic Ocean flow in the anticlockwise direction. The endangered marine species such as seals, sea lions, turtles and whales reside in the waters of Atlantic Ocean.

Arctic Ocean

Arctic Ocean is the smallest of the five oceans. The icebergs float over the frigid waters of the Arctic Ocean. The Eurasia, North America, Greenland and several islands surround the Arctic Ocean. The Arctic Ocean is connected to the Atlantic Ocean through the Labrador Sea and the Greenland Sea. The Bering Strait connects the Arctic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. The central part of the Arctic Ocean is permanently covered with ice, which is around ten feet deep. The walrus and the whales that inhabit in this ocean are considered as the endangered marine species. Endangered species have become a cause of concern for the environment all over the world.

Indian Ocean

The third largest ocean of the oceans of the world is the Indian Ocean. The Indian Ocean is surrounded by Southern Asia, Africa, Arabian Peninsula, the Sunda Islands, Antarctica and Australia. The Indian Ocean has an average depth of 3,890 meters and the deepest spot is the Java Trench, which is 7,725 meters. Some of the endangered marine species such as seals, turtles, whales, and dugong reside in the Indian Ocean.

Pacific Ocean

The largest ocean among the oceans of the world is the Pacific Ocean. This ocean covers about one-third of the earth’s surface. The name of the Pacific Ocean is derived from the Latin term "Mare Pacificum", which means "peaceful sea". A Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan named Pacific Ocean. Asia and Australia in the west, the Americas in the east and the Arctic in the north and the Antarctic in the south surround the Pacific Ocean. The deepest spot in the Pacific Ocean is the Mariana Trench, which is 10,911 meters. Some of the endangered species include sea lions, sea otters, seals, turtles and whales reside in the Pacific Ocean.

Southern Ocean

For many years only four oceans were officially recognized. However, in the year 2000, the International Hydrographic Organization established the Southern Ocean. The waters around the Antarctica region are known as the Southern Ocean.

The Southern Ocean is also known as the Antarctic Ocean or the South Polar Ocean. The Southern Ocean is the fourth largest ocean. The melting glaciers feed the Southern Ocean. The Bellingshausen Sea, Ross Sea, Cooperation Sea, The Cosmonaut Sea and the Amundsen Sea are the part of the Southern Sea. Dolphins are one of the endangered marine life that resides in this ocean.

To sum up, marine science is the study of oceans, marine species, ocean waves and the ocean life. The horizontal and the vertical movement of the waters of the ocean is known as the ocean current. The marine science is collectively called as oceanography. The study of the oceans is vast and many of the mysteries regarding the oceans are yet to be solved.

The marine species which could catch your interest include:

• Humpback Whales
• Killer Whales
• Whale Sharks
• Sharks