Bodies of Water

Bodies of Water

by Mr. Hemmert

Web of Life

Oceans cover about 70% of the Earth's surface. The oceans contain roughly 97% of the Earth's water supply.

The oceans of Earth are unique in our Solar System. No other planet in our Solar System has liquid water (although recent finds on Mars indicate that Mars may have had some liquid water in the recent past). Life on Earth originated in the seas, and the oceans continue to be home to an incredibly diverse web of life.

Functions

The oceans of Earth serve many functions, especially affecting the weather and temperature. They moderate the Earth's temperature by absorbing incoming solar radiation (stored as heat energy). 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

The Oceans

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).

There are also many seas (smaller branches of an ocean); seas are often partly enclosed by land. The largest seas are the South China Sea, the Caribbean Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea.

The Arctic Ocean

Arctic Ocean, the smallest ocean, c.5,400,000 sq mi (13,986,000 sq km), located entirely within the Arctic Circle and occupying the region around the North Pole.

Arctic Ocean

Atlantic Ocean

The second largest of the world's four oceans is located between the continents of North and South America, Europe, Africa and Antarctica. It is also the youngest of the oceans and probably did not exist 100 million years ago. It covers about 20% of the Earth's surface, with an area of 82,362,000 sq km.

Atlantic Ocean Pictures

Pacific Ocean

Located between the continents of North America, South America, Asia, Antarctica and Australia the Pacific Ocean is the largest of the world's four oceans. It covers approximately one-third of the surface of the earth, more surface area than all the continents combined.

Pacific Ocean Pictures

Pacific Ocean Pictures

The Indian Ocean

The Indian Ocean is the third largest ocean. It is surrounded by southern Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, Africa, the Malay Peninsula, the Sunda Islands, Australia and Antarctica.

Indian Ocean Pictures

Indian Ocean Pictures

BrainPop

BrainPop