Absolutely Incredible Oceanic Factoids

Theres a lot more ocean on our planet than there is land. The five oceans cover about 71 percent of Earths surface. That is a mind-boggling 362 million square kilometers. The average depth of the oceans is about 3,720 m. To put in perspective, most people cant dive below 3 m without hurting their ears from the water pressure. The deepest point under the seas is called Challenger Deep at about 6.86 miles 11 km, more than a mile deeper than Mount Everest is tall. The average temperature of the oceans is about 2C. The worlds oceans contain nearly 20 million tons of suspended particulate gold, enough to give each person on Earth nine pounds. The Bay of Fundy has the highest tides in the world. The difference between high and low tide is about 16.3 m, equal to three stories of a building. Sound travels through water at 1,435 meters per second, about five times faster than through air. Deep ocean pressure of 8 tons per square inch means that sea water can reach high temperatures without boiling. Water at hydrothermal vents have been measured as high as 400C. Pacific Ocean sea water is lighter than Atlantic Ocean sea water because of its lower salt content. The oceans carry more than 90 percent of the worlds trade, and half of the communications rely on underwater cables. Each year, the Arctic Ocean creates up to 50,000 icebergs, which have about four-year life spans. Why is the ocean blue? Because its the color thats least absorbed by seawater. The amount of water in the Atlantic Ocean is as much ice as in the Antarctic. Oceans act as sort of a filter, absorbing between 30 to 50 percent of carbon dioxide produced from burning fossil fuel. Each year, three times as much trash is dumped in the worlds oceans as fish caught. 1