The Earth's oceans are all connected to one another. Until the year 2000, there were four recognized oceans: the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, and Arctic. In the Spring of 2000, the International Hydrographic Organization delimited a new ocean, the Southern Ocean; it surrounds Antarctica and extends to 60 degrees latitude.
The oceans of Earth serve many functions, especially affecting the weather and temperature. They moderate the Earth's temperature by absorbing incoming solar radiation. The always-moving ocean currents distribute this heat energy around the globe. This heats the land and air during winter and cools it during summer.
|
Ocean |
Area (square miles) |
Average Depth (ft) |
Deepest Depth (ft) |
|
Pacific Ocean |
64,186,000 |
15,215 |
Mariana Trench, 36,200 ft deep |
|
Atlantic Ocean |
33,420,000 |
12,881 |
Puerto Rico Trench, 28,231 ft deep |
|
Indian Ocean |
28,350,000 |
13,002 |
Java Trench, 25,344 ft deep |
|
Southern Ocean |
7,848,300 |
13,100 - 16,400 |
the southern end of the South Sandwich Trench, 23,736 ft deep |
|
Arctic Ocean |
5,106,000 |
3,953 |
Eurasia Basin, 17,881 ft deep |
Ocean Facts
- The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the four main oceans
- The Atlantic Ocean is the busiest. Many ships cross the Atlantic, carrying cargo between the Americas, Africa, and Europe
- The Arctic Ocean is the smallest and coldest
- The average temperature of all oceans is about 39 degrees F (3.8 degrees C)
- Oceans are always moving
- Tides change twice a day, all over the world, as the oceans rise and fall along the shoreline. Scientists think this is caused by the pull of the sun and moon on our earth
- Coral Reefs are vast, rocky areas located in shallow, tropical waters. They are like the tropical rain forest of the ocean! The greatest variety of plant and animal life in the ocean live there. Coral reefs are formed from the bodies of small sea creatures called polyps
- The world's oceans contain nearly 20 million tons of gold
