The

Oceans
71%
of
the
Earths
surface
isearths
covered
by
ocean
water.
The
oceans
contain
97%
of
the
water.
All
the
oceans
and
seas
are
actually
one
continuous
body
of
water.
Formation
of
Oceans
More
than
three
billion
years
ago,
oceans
formed
from
volcanic
water
vapor
that
collected
in
theWorlds
atmosphere
and
then
fell
as
torrential
rains
Divisions
of
the
Ocean
Pacific
Ocean,
Atlantic
Ocean,
Indian
Southern
Ocean
(Antarctic
Ocean),
Arctic
Ocean
-Pacific
Ocean
The
Pacific
Ocean
is
the
largest
ofOcean,
the
world's
five
oceans
Area:
total:
155.557
million
sq
km
note:
includes
Bali
Sea,
Bering
Sea,
Bering
Strait,
Coral
Sea,
East
China
Sea,
Gulf
of
Alaska,
Gulf
of
Tonkin,
Philippine
Sea,
Sea
of
Japan,
Sea
of
Okhotsk,
South
China
Sea,
Tasman
Sea,
and
other
tributary
water
bodies
Mariana
Trench,
depression
in
the
floor
of
Pacific
Ocean,
deepest
seafloor
depression
in
the
world.
It
is
located
just
east
of
Mariana
Islands
in
western
part
of
the
ocean
basin.
The
Mariana
Trench
an
arc-shaped
valley
extending
generally
northeast
to
southwest
for
2,550
km
(1,580
mi);
its
average
width
is
70
km
(40
mi).
The
Mariana
is
one
of
many
deepwater
ocean
trenches
formed
by
the
geologic
process
of
subduction
-Atlantic
Ocean
The
Atlantic
Ocean
is
the
second-largest
of
the
world's
oceans
Area:
t
otal:
76.762
million
sq
km
note:
includes
Baltic
Sea,
Black
Sea,
Caribbean
Davis
Strait,
Denmark
Strait,
part
of
the
Drake
Passage,
Gulf
of
Mexico,
Labrador
Sea,
Mediterranean
Sea,
North
Sea,
Norwegian
Sea,
almost
all
of
the
Scotia
Sea,
and
other
tributary
water
bodies
The
lowest
point:
Milwaukee
Deep
in
the
Puerto
Rico
Trench
-8,605
m
-Indian
Ocean
Indian
Ocean
is
the
third
largest
of
world's
five
oceans
Area:
t
otal:
68.556
million
sq
km
note:
includes
Andaman
Sea,
Arabian
Sea,
Bay
of
Bengal,
Flores
Sea,
Great
Australian
Bight,
Gulf
of
Aden,
Gulf
of
Oman,
Java
Sea,
Mozambique
Channel,
Persian
Gulf,
Red
Sea,
Savu
Sea,
Strait
of
Malacca,
Timor
other
tributary
water
bodies
Indian
Ocean
lowest
point:
Java
Trench
-7,258
m
-and
Southern
Ocean
The
Southern
Ocean
as
the
fourth-largest
of
the
five
oceans
Ocean,
also
known
as
the
Great
Southern
Ocean,
the
Antarctic
Ocean
and
the
South
Polar
Ocean
Area:
tThe
otal:
20.327
million
km
note:
includes
Amundsen
Sea,
Bellingshausen
Sea,
part
of
the
Drake
Passage,
Ross
Sea,
asq
small
part
of
the
Scotia
Sea,
Weddell
Sea,
and
other
tributary
water
bodies
lowest
point:
-7,235
m
at
the
southern
end
of
the
South
Sandwich
Trench
-Arctic
Ocean
Arctic
Ocean
is
the
smallest
of
the
world's
five
oceans
(after
the
Pacific
Ocean,
Atlantic
Ocean,
Indian
Ocean,
and
Southern
Ocean).
Area:
tThe
otal:
14.056
million
sq
km
note:
includes
Baffin
Bay,
Barents
Sea,
Beaufort
Sea,
Chukchi
Sea,
East
Siberian
Sea,
Greenland
Hudson
Bay,
Hudson
Strait,
Kara
Sea,
Laptev
Sea,
Northwest
Passage,
and
other
tributary
water
bodies
lowest
point:
Fram
Basin
-4,665
m
Ocean
color
"color"
of
the
ocean
is
determined
by
the
interactions
of
incident
light
with
substances
or
particles
present
ineven
the
water.
White
light
from
the
sun
isscattered,
made
up
of
a
combination
of
colors,
which
are
broken
apart
by
water
droplets
in
a
rainbow
spectrum.
Large
quantities
water,
in
a
swimming
pool,
would
appear
blue
as
well.
When
light
hits
the
water
surface,
the
different
colors
are
absorbed,
transmitted,
scattered,
or
reflected
in
differing
intensities
by
water
molecules
and
other
socalled
optically-active
constituents
in
suspension
in
upper
layer
of
the
ocean.
The
reason
open
ocean
waters
often
appear
blue
is
due
to
the
absorption
and
scattering
of
light.
The
blue
wavelengths
of
light
are
similar
to
the
scattering
of
blue
light
in
the
sky
but
absorption
is
a
much
larger
factor
than
scattering
for
clear
ocean
water.
In
water,
absorption
is
strong
the
red
and
weak
in
the
blue,
thus
red
light
is
absorbed
quickly
in
the
ocean
leaving
blue.
Almost
all
sunlight
that
enters
the
ocean
is
absorbed,
except
very
close
to
coast.
The
red,
yellow,
and
green
wavelengths
of
sunlight
are
absorbed
by
water
molecules
in
the
ocean.
When
sunlight
hits
the
ocean,
some
of
the
light
is
reflected
back
directly
but
most
of
it
penetrates
the
ocean
surface
and
interacts
with
the
water
molecules
that
it
encounters.
The
red,
orange,
yellow,
and
green
wavelengths
of
light
are
absorbed
so
that
the
remaining
light
we
see
is
composed
of
the
shorter
wavelength
blues
and
violets.
Seas
A
sea
is
a
part
of
an
ocean
that
is
nearly
surrounded
by
land.
The
Mediterranean,
Arctic
and
Black
Sea
are
really
part
of
the
Atlantic
Ocean.
Difference
Between
Ocean
and
Sea
Seas
are
smaller
and
indeed
often
a
part
of
an
ocean.
Seas
partly
contiguous
(next
to
each
other
or
touch
each
other)
to
a
land
mass
and
are
also
often
in
land
(surrounded
by
land).
Oceans
are
enormous
when
compared
to
any
sea.
The
largest
sea
in
the
world
the
Mediterranean
with
a
total
area
of
1,144,800
square
miles
which
is
much
smaller
than
the
smallest
ocean
in
the
world
the
Arctic
at
5,427,000
square
miles.
There
are
only
five
oceans
in
the
world
namely
the
Pacific,
the
Atlantic,
the
Indian,
the
Southern
and
Arctic
while
there
are
dozens
of
seas
around
the
world.
Seas
being
close
to
are
generally
much
shallower
than
oceans
and
therefore
itis
isof
possible
plant
and
animal
life
to
thrive
on
a
sea
bed
because
it deeper,
is
generally
lit
up
by
light.
Ocean
beds
are
much
much
support
only
very
basic
life
forms
like
bacteria
and
shrimp
that
feed
on
them
in
isolated
parts.
This
isfor
because
no
light
reaches
there
and
the
pressure
are
such
that
marine
life
as
we
popularly
conceive
cannot
survive.
Some
idea
of
the
depth
of
an
ocean
can
be
had
from
the
fact
that
the
Pacific
Ocean
has
an
average
depth
of
3790
meters
or
12,430
feet.
The
average
depth
the
Mediterranean
Sea
on
the
other
hand
is
4690
feet.
It
is
the
oceans
inland
which
the
seas
empty
their
water,
while
oceans
do
not
seek
any
outlets.
Properties
of
Ocean
Water
Ocean
water
is
a
mixture
of
gases
and
solids
dissolved
in
pure
water.
Oceanographers
believe
oceans
contain
all
the
natural
elements
on
Earth.
85
of
90
have
been
found
in
the
ocean.
Major
Elements
in
the
Ocean
Ocean
water
is
96%
pure
water.
Chlorine
(1.9)
and
sodium
(1.1)
make
up
the
next
largest
concentration
of
elements.
Sodium
chloride
is
table
salt.
Salinity
describes
the
amount
of
dissolved
water
in
the
ocean.
Salinity
is
expressed
in
parts
per
thousand.
The
salinity
level
of
the
ocean
is
expressed
in
parts
per
thousand.
average
salinity
of
ocean
is in
35
parts
per
thousand.
Source
of
salts
1.Chemical
weathering
of
rocks
(dissolved
load)
2.Volcanic
activity:
outgassing;
Oceans
are
byproducts
of
heating
and
differentiation:
as
earth
warmed
and
partially
water
locked
the
minerals
as
hydrogen
and
oxygen
was
released
and
carried
to
the
surface
by
volcanic
venting
activity
Gases
in
Ocean
Water
most
abundant
gases
in
ocean
water
are
nitrogen,
carbon
dioxide
and
oxygen.
The
amounts
ofmelted,
these
elements
vary
with
depth.
They
are
more
abundant
at
the
oceans
surface
where
sunlight
plant
life.
Temperature
ofmore
Ocean
Water
Warm
water
holds
less
dissolved
gas
than
cold
water.
When
ocean
water
is
cold,
like
in
polar
regions,
sinks
and
carries
oxygen
rich
water
to320
the
ocean
depths.
As
acauses
result,
fish
and
other
animals
can
live
in
deep
parts
of
the
ocean.
Water
Pressure
Pressure,
or
force
per
unity
area,
increases
about
1atmosphere
for
every
10
meter
increase
in
depth
-For
example:
at
a
depth
of
m,
a
scuba
diver
would
experience
a
pressure
of
atm
(1
atm
of
air
+it
2
atm
of
water)
Surface
Zone
The
zone
where
the
water
is
mixed
by
waves
and
currents
is
called
the
surface
zone.
surface
zone
extends
100-400
meters
downward.
temperature
remains
constant
with
depth.
Temperature
inwith
aflow
surface
zone
changes
due
to
seasons
and
locations.
Thermocline
The
zone
of the
rapid
temperature
change
is called
the
thermocline.
thermocline
does
not
occur
at
a
certain
depth.
season
and
of
ocean
currents
alter
depth
of
the
thermocline.
exists
because
warm,
surface
water
does
not
mix
easily
colder,
denser
water.
Deep
Zone
The
thermocline
forms
a
transition
between
the
surface
zone
and
deep
zone.
deep
zone
an area
of
extremely
water
that
extends
from
bottom
of
the
thermocline
to
depths
of
4000
meters
or
more.
Within
the
deep
zone,
temperatures
decrease
only
slightly.
At
depths
greater
than
meters,
the
temperature
is
about
4rocks
degrees
C. is
The
three
ocean
zones
are
not
found
incold
thedeeper
polar
(Arctic
and
Antarctica)
regions
since
the
surface
waters
are
always
cold.
The
Ocean
Floor
topography
of
the1500
ocean
floor
is
different
from
the
topography
of
the
continents
ocean
floor
has
higher
mountains,
canyons,
and
larger
flatter
plains.
Earthquakes
occur
more
often.
The
are
very
different.
crust
is
thinner
Edges
of
the
Continents
shoreline
is
athe
boundary
between
where
the
land
and
the
ocean
meet.
The
area
where
the
underwater
edge
meets
of
a
continent
meets
the
ocean
floor
is
called
amargin.
continental
margin.
Continental
Margin
area
where
underwater
edge
of
a
continent
meets
the
ocean
floor
is
called
a
continental
A
continental
margin
consists
of
a
continental
shelf,
a
continental
slope
and
a
continental
rise.
-Continental
Shelf
The
flat
part
of
a
continental
margin
that
is
covered
by
shallow
ocean
water
is
called
a
continental
shelf.
A
continental
shelf
slopes
gently
from
thebetween
shoreline.
width
of4of
the
continental
shelf
varies.
Large
mineral,
oil
and
natural
gas
deposits
are
found
here.
-Continental
Slope
At
the
edge
the
continental
shelf,
the
ocean
floor
plunges
steeply
to
5
kilometers.
A
continental
slope
marks
the
boundary
the
crust
of
the
continent
and
the
crust
of
the
ocean
floor.
-Continental
Rise
Separating
a
continental
slope
from
the
ocean
floor
is
a
continental
rise.
A
continental
rise
is
made
of
large
amount
of
sediments,
rocks,
plants
and
animals.
Sometimes
the
sediments
are
carried
down
the
slope
in
masses
of
flowing
water
called
turbidity
currents,
like
an
underwater
avalanche.
-Submarine
Canyons
In
many
areas,
submarine
canyons
cut
through
a
continental
shelf
and
slope.
They
are
deep,
V-shaped
valleys
that
have
been
cut
in
the
rock,
possibly
by
turbidity
currents.
The
Monterey
Submarine
Canyon(2000
meters)
is
deeper
than
the
Grand
Canyon.
-Abyssal
Plains
Large,
flat
areas
onabyssal
the
ocean
floor
are
called
abyssal
plains.
The
abyssal
plains
are
larger
the
Atlantic
and
Indian
in
the
Pacific
due
to in
the
deposition
of
by
large
rivers.
Pacific
Ocean
has
large
cracks
that
trap
sediments
and
result
in
smaller
abyssal
plains.
-Abyssal
Plains
Abyssal
plains
close
to
the
continent
are
made
of
mud,
sand
and
silt.
Farther
out
on
the
plains,
some
ofof
contain
the
remains
of
tiny
organisms
that
form
ooze.
Where
ocean
life
is
not
abundant,
the
floor
ofthem
the
ocean
isthan
covered
with
red
clay
-Seamounts
and
Guyots
Seamounts
are
underwater
volcanic
mountains
that
rise
more
than
100
meters
above
the
ocean
floor.
Most
have
been
found
in
the
Pacific
Ocean.
Some
seamounts
reach
above
the
surface
the
water
to
form
islands,
like
the
Azores
in
the
Atlantic
and
the
Hawaiian
islands
in
the
Pacific.
Guyots
are
flat-topped
seamounts.
-Trenches
Trenches
are
the
deepest
parts
of
the
ocean
found
along
the
edge
of
the
ocean
floor.
The
Mariana
Trench
in
the
Pacific
Ocean
contains
the
deepest
spot
(1100
meters)
on
Earth
known
as
Challenger
Deep.
-Midocean
Ridges
midocean
ridges
form
an
almost
continuous
mountain
belt
that
extends
from
Arctic
Ocean
down
through
the
middle
of
the
Atlantic
Ocean
around
Africa
into
the
Indian
Ocean
and
across
the
Pacific
Ocean.
In
the
Atlantic
it
is
called
the
mid-Atlantic
Ridge
and
in
the
Pacific,
the
Pacific-Antarctica
Ridge.
-Rifts
Running
along
the
middle
of
the
midocean
ridges
between orthe
crevices
rifts.rows of parallel mountains are deep

Rifts
are
areas
of cannot
great
earthquake
and
volcanic
activity.
-Reefs
Surrounding
volcanic
islands
in intropical
waters
are
large
masses
and
ridges
ofAtoll
limestone
rock,
known
as
coral
reefs.
The
limestone
structures
contain
the
shells
of
animals.
These
animals
exist
water
cooler
than
18
degrees
C
and
deeper
than
55
meters.
Types
ofReefs
Coral
Reefs
Fringing
reefs,
Barrier
reefs,
-Fringing
Reefs
Fringing
reefs
are
coral
reefs
that
touch
the
shoreline
of
a
volcanic
island.
usually
less
than
30
meters.
-Barrier
reefs
are
separated
from
the
shore
byreefs
an
area
of
shallow
water
called
a
lagoon.
Barrier
usually
larger
than
fringing
and
surround
islands
that
are
more
submerged.
The
largest
barrier
reef
is
the
Great
Barrier
Reef
of
Australia.
It
is
23oo
km
long
and
320
km
wide.
-Atoll
An
atoll
is
a
ring
of
coral
reefs
that
that
surround
an
island
that
has
sunk
beneath
the
surface
of
the
ocean.
Motions
of
the
Oceans
Ocean
water
never
stops
moving.
The
three
basic
motions
of
the
ocean
are:
Waves
,
Tides,
Ocean
Currents
-Waves
pulses
of
energy
that
move
through
ocean.
Waves
are
set
in
motion
by
winds,
earthquakes
and
the
gravitational
pull
of
the
moon.
The
most
common
source
of
wave
movement
is
the
wind
blowing
across
the
surface.
water
in
a
wave
is
not
moving
forward
at
all.
Only
the
energy
moves
forward
through
the
water
producing
one
wave
after
another.
The
energy
is
passed
from
particle
to
particle.
It
is
also
passed
downward.
With
increasing
depth,
of
the
particles
decrease.
At
a
certain
depth
the
motion
stops.
In
deep
water,
there
are
no
waves
except
those
caused
by
tides
and
earthquakes.
-Currents
Continuous
and
directed
of ocean
water
Currents
are
caused
by
twomovement
factors:
wind
patterns
and
differences
in near
water
density.
Types
ofcurrents.
Surface
Current,
Deep
Current
-Surface
Currents
Horizontal,
stream-like
movements
of
water
that
occur
at
or
the
surface
ofwind
thewinds
are
called
Currents
caused
mainly
by
patterns
are
surface
These
currents
have
aocean
depth
ofSouthern
several
hundred
meters.
10%
of
water
in
ocean
Some
of
these
wind
patterns
are
caused
by
the
Coriolis
force.
If
the
earth
didn't
rotate,
wind
would
travel
the
globe
in
straight
lines.
Instead,
the
spin
of
the
earth
causes
winds
to
seemingly
curve
to
right
in
Northern
Hemisphere
and
the
left
in
the
Hemisphere.
This
curvature
of
the
is
known
as
effect
--Long-Distance
Currents
Surface
currents
that
travel
thousands
of
kilometers
are
called
long-distance
currents,
such
as
the
Gulf
Steam.
The
Gulf
Stream
carries
warm
water
from
the
southern
tip
of
Florida
north
along
the
eastern
coast
of
United
States
moving
ataHemisphere,
speeds
of 1.5worldwide
meters
perpattern
second.
--Continuous
Currents
All
currents
form
continuous
of
water
circulation.
The
water
inof
each
ocean
moves
ineffect
a
large,
almost
circular
pattern.
In
the
Northern
the
currents
move
clockwise.
Southern
hemisphere,
counterclockwise.
--Gyre
Gyres
are
large
circular-moving
loops
of
water
The
effect
winds
and
Coriolis
results
in
circular
flows
ofwaves
water
made
of
several
currents
--ShortDistance
Currents
Short
distance
currents
are
usually
found
near
a
shoreline
where
the
waves
hit
at
ansand
angle.
When
the
hit
the
shoreline,
the
water
turns
and
produces
currents
that
move
parallel
the
shoreline
called
longshore
currents.
Longshore
currents
move
quantities
of
sand
which
deposit
in
bars.
--Rip
Current
If
the
longshore
current
cuts
an
inlarge
the
sandbar
the
water
will
return
toundertow.
ocean
in
atoopening
powerful
narrow
flow
called
a
rip
current.
A
rip
current
is
a
type
of
--Upwelling
and
downwelling
Upwelling
=
movement
of
deep
water
to
surface
Brings
cold,
nutrient-rich
water
to
surface
Produces
high
productivities
and
abundant
marine
life
Downwelling
=
movement
of
surface
water
down
Moves
warm,
nutrient-depleted
surface
water
down
-Deep
Currents
eep
currents
are
caused
mainly
by
differences
in
water
density.
The
cold,
salty
water,
that
is
more
dense,
flowing
from
the
polar
regions
moves
under
the
less
dense
water
away
from
the
polar
regions.
Most
deep
currents
flow
in
the
opposite
direction
surface
currents.
When
combined
with
surface
water
results
in
conveyor
belt
movement
of
water
around
globe
90%
of
water
in
ocean
--Earths
Conveyor
Belt
Salt
rich,
warm
water
is
blown
north
by
the
Gulf
Stream,
where
is
cools
and
sinks
This
provides
heat
to
the
polar
regions
andwater
nutrients
everywhere
Possibly
disrupted
by
global
warming
-Tides
By
far
the
most
factor
affecting
the
movement
ofof
water
across
the
ocean
isofthe
the
tides.
The
daily
changes
inimportant
the
level
ocean
are
called
tides.
Typically
water
will
rise
for
about
six
hours,
followed
by
six
hours
falling
depths.
What
causes
tides?
gravitational
forces
ofmoon
the
moon
and
on
the
water
causes
the
tides..
The
moon,
being
nearest,
has
greatest
effect
even
though
the
sun
iswater
the
larger
of
the
two.
High
tides
are
generated
on
the
sides
ofsun
the
Earth
nearest
and
farthest
from
the
moon
How
often
tides
occur
and
the
difference
in
tidal
levels
depend
on
the
position
of
the
as
it revolves
around
the
Earth.
Types
ofto
Tides
Spring
Tides,
Neap
Tides
-Spring
Tides
Tides
are
tides
with
the
largest
daily
tidal
range
and
occur
during
new
and
full
moons.
During
these
times,
the
sun,
Earth,
and
moon
are
aligned.
-Neap
Tides
Neap
Tides
are
tides
with
the
smallest
daily
tidal
range
and
occur
during
the
first
and
third
quarters
of
the
moon.
During
these
times,
the
sun,
Earth
and
moon
form
a
90
angle.
Ocean
Life
Zone
Major
Groups
of
Ocean
Life
Plants
and
animals
in
the
ocean
are
classified
into
three
major
groups
based
on
their
habits
and
the
depth
of
the
water
in
which
they
live.
The
three
major
groups
are
plankton,
nekton
and
benthos.
Plankton
Plankton
float
atthe
or
near
the
surface
where
sunlight
can penetrate.
Most
oforganisms
the
plankton
are
very
small,
such
as
algae.
These
drift
with
the
currents
or
tides.
Plankton
are
main
food
for
many
larger
organisms.
They
account
for
most
of
the
organisms
in the
ocean.
Nekton
Whales
,
seals
,
dolphins,
squid
octopuses,
barracuda
and
other
fish
are
all
nekton.
Nekton
are
free-swimming
organisms
that
feed
on
other
nekton
as
well
as
on
plankton.
Many
have
adaptations
enabling
them
to
function
at
depths
that
have
great
pressure
and
no
light.
Benthos
Organisms
that
live
on
the
ocean
floor
are
benthos.
forms
of
these
animals
include
crustaceans
and
shell
fish.
The
deep
bottom
environments
are
sparsely
populated
with
benthos.
Some
benthos
areincludes
plants
live
on
the
ocean
in
shallow
waters
where
sun
can
penetrate.
Ocean
Life
Zone
he
classification
of the
thethat
ocean
into
life
zones
is
based
on
the
conditions
in
ocean.
These
conditions
vary
widely.
The
classification
the
Benthic
Zone
andfloor
the
Pelagic
Zone.
Two
Basic
Divisions
Benthic
bottom
Pelagic
Zone
-water
Benthic
Zones
-Intertidal
Shallowest
area
Between
the
low
and
high
tide
lines
Changing
environment
-Sublittoral
Always
underwater,
On
continental
shelf
Most
variety
of
benthic
life
-Bathyal
starts
at
continental
slope
and
extends
to
4000
m
little
or
no
sunlight,
cold
4C,
very
high
pressure
Many
forms
of
nekton,
such
as
squid,
octopus
and
large
whales
live
in
this
zone.
-Abyssal
No
4000
6000
m,
On
abyssal
plain
-Hadal
6000m
-11,000m,
Trench
Pelagic
can
area
-Neritic
Zone
This
zone
extends
to
alow
depth
ofthe
200
meters
and
receives
plenty
of
sunlight.
Thesunlight,
water
pressure
isplankton,
and
temperature
is
constant.
zone
support
nekton
and
benthos.
Marine
life
iswater
most
abundant
here.
-Oceanic
Zones
water
off
of200
continental
shelf
Oceanic
zone
is
further
divided
into
5lifestyles
areas
based
on
depth
-Epipelagic
Surface
energy,
meters,
Sunlight,
warm
-Mesopelagic
twilight
zone
some
light
but
no
photosynthesis
200

2000
meters
contains
thermocline
(large
temperature
change)
low-energy
tissues
and
sluggish
to
cope
with
low
food
since
no
algae
can
grow.
Many
animals
are
bioluminescent
-Bathypelagic
zone
2,000

4,000
meters
-Abyssopelagic
zone
4000
6000
meters
low
oxygen,
nutrients
food of the deepest parts
Dark
and
cold
-Hadalpelagic
zone
6000
meters
theand
bottom
of
the
ocean