In part because of the numerous tropical islands of East Asia, the Pacific boasts the longest total shoreline, some 84,300 miles (135,663 km). The Atlantic ocean is home to the largest island in the world, Greenland, and is also home to the Bermuda Triangle, infamous for its ability to drown ships and planes that cross over it. The world has 5 oceans. The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of them all, it extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south and is bounded by Asia and Australia in the west and the Americas in the east. The Arctic Ocean lies to its north, the Southern Ocean to its south, Pacific to the southwest and Indian Ocean to the southeast. The world’s ocean is composed of four main bodies of water. If you have ever tried to locate the “seven seas” on a map of the world, you probably found only four: the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, and Arctic Oceans. But there are no distinct seven … You see, there is only one global ocean on the planet. The Pacific Ocean is in between the Americas, Asia, Australia, and the Southern Ocean. We break that single ocean into parts because the pa… Plant life in the Arctic Ocean is scarce except for abundant volumes of phytoplanktons. The area occupied by the ocean is about 15,558,000 square km, and its coastline extends for 45,389 km. These are the reasons why we can export goods to other countries and migrate from one country to another by the use of yacht or a boat. How many oceans are there? Technically, there is only a single ocean: the world ocean. It comprises the world. The unique ecology and features of this region are sufficient enough, by IHO standards, to give it its own classification. Dec 09,2020 - How many oceans in the world ? Cyclones are common during the summer season. There are 5 oceans of the world- the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and the Arctic Ocean. This results in the release of natural gases, organisms, and nutrients that were all trapped in the ice. The Bering Strait connects the Arctic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. This is because the ocean is comprised of one global and interconnected body of saltwater. Penguins, orcas, whales, seals, colossal squids are some of the most notable species of the Southern Ocean. The Atlantic also hosts rich fishing resources with haddock, cod, mackerel, herring being the chief commercially important fish species. Historically speaking, most countries recognize this four-ocean model, which tends to focus on the Pacific, the Atlantic, and the Indian oceans as the major ones. Fertilizer and pesticide wash-off from agricultural fields, sewage, and industrial wastes all drain into the ocean via these rivers. There is the Atlantic Ocean which separates the American Continents from Europe and Africa. The Eurasian landmass lies to the north of the Indian Ocean, Australia to the east, Africa to the west and the Southern Ocean and Antarctica to the south. The Atlantic Ocean spans an area of 85,133,000 square km. The saltiness comes from evaporation, precipitation, and water flows from numerous rivers belonging to the four continents it is surrounded by. We break that single ocean into parts because the parts contain specific features and characteristics that are definitive to those regions. A large number of migratory birds can be spotted in the oceanic region and Antarctica. With much left undiscovered and the looming threat of climate change, it is important as ever to build our knowledge of the ocean to better understand the diversity of organisms that exist and how life can proliferate on other oceans in the galaxy. Excess of oxygen depleting pollutants triggers hypoxia and creates dead zones in the ocean. However, there is only one Global Ocean. Pearl extraction is also common in the Pacific's waters. We have included the details about how many countries are in the world below in this article.. This ocean extends from the shores of Antarctica to the line of latitude at 60 degrees South. Using this method there are 5 oceans. Oceans by size: #1 Pacific (155,557,000 sq km) As per estimates, 97% of the water on our planet is found in the ocean. All Rights Reserved. One of the most different features from all the other oceans is that the arctic ocean is covered in mountains of ice throughout most of the year. As any grade-schooler might tell you, Earth has four oceans: the Pacific, the Atlantic, the Indian, and the Arctic. That's great to hear! In addition to these oceans, they also described many other smaller bodies of salt water including seas, bays, and estuaries. This transformation would load the Arctic with large volumes of meltwater and affect the ocean currents prevailing in the region. Overfishing in the waters is also disturbing the marine life in this part of the ocean. The ocean covers about 71% of the surface of the Earth. Prove you're human, which is bigger, 2 or 8? A continuous body of water encircling Earth, the World Ocean is divided into a number of principal areas with relatively uninhibited interchange among them. There are five oceans in the world. Oceanographers believe that only 5% of the ocean as a whole has been explored on earth. However, today we recognize 5 oceans in the world, with the Southern Ocean added to the list. Unfortunately, the Pacific ocean is home to the largest gathering of plastics that humans have released into the environments. Historically there are four ocean basins that include the three major oceans and the Arctic Ocean. The IHO proposed this new ocean because Commodore John Leech of the IHO agrees with recent research into global warming and events like El Nino that links them to the southern ocean circulation, which is within the Southern Ocean region. As we continue to explore and understand the ocean, hopefully, we will be able to protect it from the effects of humans. The ocean comprises over 139,434,000 sq mi and has a total volume of 320,000,000 cubic miles. Number of Oceans in the World. The Atlantic Ocean resides between the Americas, Europe, and Africa. Despite the ice and cold, humans have managed to live there and even explore. Large parts of the Pacific remain unexplored due to its great depths. Choppy seas, storms, and iceberg interventions are common. March 26, 2010, charm, Leave a comment. We use it to search for oil and scientists use it to search for new forms of life and medicines. It is a deep ocean with depth ranging between 4,000 and 5,000 m across most parts. If we contains the ancient oceans there are 19 oceans in the world. © 2020 Science Trends LLC. It is divided into the standard oceans: the Atlantic Ocean, Arctic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and the proposed Southern Ocean and ocean round the Antarctic. Together, they hold around 97% of the water found on Earth and significantly influence global weather patterns and food supply chains. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch, we are going back from whence we came.” — John F. Kennedy. However, if the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans are divided into two separate water bodies each; namely, the North Atlantic, South Atlantic, the North Pacific, and the South Pacific, the number of oceans in the world comes to seven. The Southern Ocean is also one of the most dangerous parts of the ocean for ships. Approximately, 80% of the ocean hasn't been … Spanning an area of 168,723,000 square km, the Pacific Ocean accounts for one-third of the total surface area of the planet. There are a lot of places we have not seen and a lot of species that have yet to be discovered. Sign up for our science newsletter! It is the standard classification that is held by National Geographic. The marine habitat of the Arctic Ocean is a fragile ecosystem that is highly susceptible to slight disruptions in weather. Oceans cover up 71 percent of earth's surface and are geographically divided into distinct named regions. While there is only one global ocean, the vast body of water that covers 71 percent of the Earth is geographically divided into distinct named regions. Petroleum deposits on the Atlantic’s floor, precious stones, placer deposits, and polymetallic nodules are abundant. The other names in seven seas include Red Sea, Mediterranean sea, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea. The climate variability is due to monsoon wind systems that divide the ocean and causes conflicting weather and temperatures in those regions. The 7 Continents of The World These alterations would, in turn, cause a drastic change in the global climate. How many Oceans in the World? The ocean bed also hosts petroleum and natural gas fields, polymetallic nodules, and placer deposits. Approximately, 80% of the ocean hasn't been mapped or explored. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions © 2020 worldatlas.com. Barrow and Prudhoe Bay in Alaska; Churchill, Nanisivik, and Inuvik in Canada; Nuuk in Greenland; Kirkenes, Vardø, and Longyearbyen in Norway; and several ports like Murmansk, Tiksi, and Pevek in Russia, all lie on the Arctic coast. This study has investigated the […], Patients with injuries to the nervous system, such as spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, glaucoma, and various neurodegenerative diseases, […], In order to survive a zombie apocalypse, you will need a few key things: enough food rations to last for […]. The World Ocean, or global ocean is a term used to define all the world's oceans as one large interconnected ocean. However, in the relatively shallow waters off the coast of Australia and New Zealand, petroleum and natural gas deposits have been discovered. 01. of 05. By Antonia Čirjak on August 19 2020 in Geography, The ocean is a massive body of saline water that covers approximately 72% of the Earth's surface. There is one global ocean called the World Ocean, because the entire body of water on our planet is connected. This represents about 71% of the Earth’s surface. These oceans are recognized by almost all oceanic organizations around the world. The surface of the planet is approximately 71% water and contains (5) five oceans, including the Arctic, Atlantic, Indian, Pacific and Southern. The Indian Ocean occupies 70,560,000 square km area on the Earth’s surface. ISSN: 2639-1538 (online). We love feedback :-) and want your input on how to make Science Trends even better. We may one day be able to clean up the messes we have caused from plastics to oil spills. We cover everything from solar power cell technology to climate change to cancer research. The maximum recorded depth is found to be 18,456 feet. Threatened species of whales and walruses inhabit the ocean. However, although the ocean plays a major role in sustaining life on Earth, we have explored or mapped only about 20% of the ocean. Historically there were 4 named oceans in the world, which include the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Arctic Ocean, and the Indian Ocean. There are five oceans in the world. These defined areas are further broken down into smaller areas. It also hold… These are: Atlantic Ocean, Antarctic Ocean, Arctic Ocean, Indian Ocean, and Pacific Ocean. The Atlantic is also the most active ocean for travel because of its connection to four different continents. A large number of highly polluted rivers from the countries of southeast Asia and east Asia drain into this ocean, contaminating the waters with pollutants. The ocean is one of Earth’s most mysterious places and is crucial to our way of life. It is treated casually without […], Mach Speed is when an object moves faster than the speed of sound. These plastics affect the ecosystems of numerous species and even make their way back to humans, inside of fishes. 7 Continents, 5 Oceans And List Of All Countries In The World. The earth is the only planet to have such large masses of water and support life, for 97% of the earth’s water comes from the oceans. They determined its limits including all water below 60 degrees south, and some of it is frozen, like the Arctic Ocean. Depending on the designation, there are 3, 4, or 5 oceans in the world. One Earth, there are three major oceans: the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans. The Southern Ocean is home to unique species specially adapted to survive the frigid weather conditions. The different parts of the world’s oceans are defined by the continents, archipelago, and other features in the surrounding area. Several rare and threatened species of marine life like sea turtles, whales, dolphins, manatees, seals, sea lions abound in the Atlantic. Several threats are experienced by the marine inhabitants of the Southern Ocean. 7 continents, 5 Oceans and 194 independent countries in the world are the entire of the physical Universe and all life upon it including human civilization. The smallest, coldest, and shallowest of the oceans of the world, the Arctic Ocean is located in the Northern Hemisphere’s Arctic north polar region. Want more Science Trends? The ocean houses a plethora of marine organisms ranging from marine microbes to the world's largest animal, the blue whale. The largest and the deepest ocean on our planet is the Pacific Ocean. This interaction leads to a lot of pressure build-up, which leads to earthquakes and volcanoes. There are 5 major oceans in the world. White lions are an even more captivating […], Although it is almost a given that the DNA that we are all born with does not change throughout our […], Time is a concept that is taken for granted in most areas of human life. We have only explored about 5%of the ocean so far while the remaining 95% have not been seen by humans. Warm and cold ocean currents in the Atlantic also influence the climate of the coastal areas on the shores of the Atlantic. Science Trends is a popular source of science news and education around the world. These oceans are recognized by almost all oceanic organizations around the world. These are Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, and the Arctic Ocean. The Greenland Sea and the Labrador Sea forms the connection between this ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. Want to know more? The countries bordering the Arctic Ocean are the US, Canada, Iceland, Greenland, Norway, and Russia. The Pacific ocean is probably best known for having the ring of fire as its big feature. The Gulf Stream and the North Atlantic Drift are responsible for keeping large parts of the coast of north-western Europe and the British Isles warm when the coast of Newfoundland in Canada on the same latitude experiences extreme temperatures in winter. Rock samples from the ocean have been dated back over 200 million years ago. How Many Oceans Are There in the World? 3,741 m is the average depth of the Indian Ocean, and its deepest point is Diamantina Deep. We're sorry to hear that! For many years there were only four oceans officially recognized, and then in the spring of 2000, the International Hydrographic Organization established the Southern Ocean. A number of rare and threatened species is getting depleted in large numbers as bycatch. It is further broken down into the North Atlantic Ocean and the South Atlantic Ocean by the equator. The Lion’s mane jellyfish and the banded gunnel are among the few species of marine creatures inhabiting the Arctic Ocean’s waters. Ours is not the only ocean in the solar system and the more we understand our own, the better we will be able to approach studying those foreign places. Lions are rather majestic creatures that roam the wilds of Africa, Asia, and zoos. Overall, the Indian ocean is the warmest of the oceans and this results in it having a limited marine life. The Indian Ocean is the third largest ocean and is home to many climate variabilities. Boundaries of oceans have developed over the course of time. It is the standard classification that is held by National Geographic. Unregulated fishing also reduces the fish stock in the ocean which disturbs the food chain and affects the survival of the other species in the chain. It wasn't until 2000 that a fifth ocean was officially named: the Southern Ocean, which includes the waters around Antarctica. A large variety of fish like tuna, salmon, swordfish, herring, snapper, etc., abound in parts of the Pacific. It is the southernmost of the 5 regions of the Global Ocean and the fourth largest of the five. The rest remains a mystery.Â. For ancient civilisations like Mesopotamian, the answer of how many seas in the world was seven and these also included the oceans which are mentioned above. 
Today, the Pacific Ocean and its marine life are not safe. It covers an expanse of about 73,556,000 square kilometers. The remoteness also prevents rescue missions from reaching the ships in need.
. However, despite this great biodiversity, climate change is taking its toll on the Indian Ocean ecosystem. The origin of Earth's oceans remains unknown; oceans are thought to have formed in the Hadean period and may have been the impetus for the emergence of life. It covers 71 percent of the Earth’s surface. It is estimated that by 2040, the majority of the ice (if not all) will be melted because of global warming. The largest region of the Global Ocean, the Pacific Ocean has the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Southern Ocean to the south, Australia, and Asia to the west and the Americas to the east. Atmosphere Climate Change What is the largest ocean in the world? The Indian Ocean is the third largest ocean on the planet. How many oceans are there? Mariana Trench, which is the deepest part of the ocean. Until the year 2000, it was generally accepted that there are four oceans on Earth: the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, and Arctic Oceans. The World Ocean is the habitat of 230,000 known species, but because much of it is unexplored, the number of species that exist in the ocean is much larger, possibly over two million. This is because the ocean is comprised of one global and interconnected body of saltwater. However, there is only one Global Ocean. The Pacific is the largest of these oceans, covering 63,784,077 sq miles (165,200,000 km²). Long hours of darkness engulf the ocean during winters and summers are characterized by continuous daylight. The Atlantic Ocean has contributed significantly to the economy of many nations. It fills the area between the western coastline of the Americas, the eastern coastlines of Asia and Australia, and is capped to the North and South by the Arctic and Antarctic regions. Five oceanic divisions are usually defined: Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic, and Southern; the last two listed are sometimes consolidated into the first three. The Arctic Ocean has a roughly circular basin that is nearly enclosed by the continental landmasses of North America, Eurasia, Greenland, and several smaller islands. The ocean remains one of the most unexplored places on Earth. The warm tropical waters of the ocean support a great diversity of life. Unfortunately, the Pacific ocean is home to the largest gathering of plastics that humans have released into the environments. Then there is … Number Of Oceans In The World (Historically Standard): 4, Number Of Oceans In The World (New IHO Standard): 5, “We are tied to the ocean. Like other oceans of the world, climate change threatens to adversely affect the marine ecosystem of the Arctic Ocean. How Many McDonalds Locations Are There in the World? Oceans, covering 70% of the Earth's surface area, are the largest in area in terms of harboring life. The area surrounded by the Pacific Ocean … These oceans come together to form part of the 71% of the surface of the earth that is covered by water. The Arctic Ocean is located in a polar climatic zone characterized by frigid year-round temperatures. Overfishing in the Pacific has also depleted its marine wealth greatly. The Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans can be seen as … The abundance of phytoplankton and aquatic flora supports a complex food chain. The Arctic is also home to many fish and animals, including polar bears. Since the year 2000, the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) started recognizing 5 oceans: Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic and Southern Ocean. Historically, there are four oceans: Atlantic, Pacific, Arctic, and Indian. 8,047 m. the Indian ocean, Arctic, Atlantic, and the Southern ocean oceanic region and...., Arabian Sea, Arabian Sea, Arabian Sea, Arabian Sea, Mediterranean Sea Mediterranean. 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