Our Earth looks like a blue planet from space. This is because ¾ of the surface the globe occupies the World Ocean. It is one, though very divided.

The surface area of ​​the entire World Ocean is 361 million square meters. km.

Oceans of our planet

Ocean - water shell land, the most important component of the hydrosphere. Continents divide the oceans into parts.

Currently, it is customary to distinguish five oceans:

. - the largest and oldest on our planet. Its surface area is 178.6 million square meters. km. It occupies 1/3 of the Earth and makes up almost half of the oceans. To imagine this value, it is enough to say that all the continents and islands together can easily be placed in the Pacific Ocean. This is probably why it is often called the Great Ocean.

The Pacific Ocean owes its name to F. Magellan, who, during his world travel crossed the ocean under favorable conditions.

The ocean has an oval shape, its widest part is located near the equator.

The southern part of the ocean is an area of ​​calm, light winds and a stable atmosphere. To the west of the Tuamotu Islands, the picture changes dramatically - here is a region of storms and heavy winds, turning into ferocious hurricanes.

In the tropics, the waters of the Pacific Ocean are clean, transparent and have a deep blue color. formed near the equator favorable climate. The air temperature here is +25ºC and practically does not change throughout the year. Winds of moderate strength, often calm.

The northern part of the ocean is similar to the southern, as if in mirror image: in the west, unstable weather with frequent storms and typhoons, in the east - peace and quiet.

Pacific Ocean- the richest in the number of species of animals and plants. Over 100 thousand species of animals live in its waters. Almost half of the world's fish catch is caught here. The most important sea ​​routes connecting 4 continents at once.

. covers an area of ​​92 million square meters. km. This ocean, like a huge strait, connects the two poles of our planet. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge, famous for its instability, runs through the center of the ocean. earth's crust. Separate peaks of this ridge rise above the water and form islands, the largest of which is Iceland.

The southern part of the ocean is under the influence of the trade winds. There are no cyclones here, so the water here is calm, clean and transparent. Closer to the equator, the Atlantic changes completely. The waters here are muddy, especially along the coast. This is due to the fact that large rivers flow into the ocean in this part.

The northern tropical zone of the Atlantic is famous for its hurricanes. Two major currents meet here - warm gulf stream and cold Labrador.

The northern latitudes of the Atlantic are the most picturesque area with huge icebergs and powerful ice tongues protruding from the waters. This area of ​​the ocean is dangerous for navigation.

. (76 million sq. km) - district ancient civilizations. Navigation here began to develop much earlier than in other oceans. The average depth of the ocean is 3700 meters. Coastline slightly indented, with the exception of the northern part, where most of the seas and bays are located.

Water indian ocean more saline than in others, since much fewer rivers flow into it. But, thanks to this, they are famous for their amazing transparency and rich azure and blue color.

The northern part of the ocean is a monsoon region, and typhoons often form in autumn and spring. Further south, the water temperature is lower due to the influence of Antarctica.

. (15 million sq. km) is located in the Arctic and occupies vast areas around north pole. Max Depth- 5527m.

The central part of the bottom is a continuous intersection of mountain ranges, between which there is a huge basin. The coastline is heavily indented by seas and bays, and in terms of the number of islands and archipelagos, the Arctic takes second place after such a giant as the Pacific Ocean.

The most characteristic part of this ocean is the presence of ice. Northern Arctic Ocean remains by far the least studied, as research is hampered by the fact that most of the ocean is hidden under the ice cover.

. . The waters surrounding Antarctica combine signs. Allowing them to be separated into a separate ocean. But there are still disputes about what to consider borders. If from the south the borders are marked by the mainland, then northern borders most often carried out at 40-50º south latitude. Within such limits, the ocean area is 86 million square meters. km.

The bottom relief is cut by underwater canyons, ridges and basins. The fauna of the Southern Ocean is rich, here is the most a large number of animals and endemic plants.

Characteristics of the oceans

The oceans are several billion years old. Its prototype is ancient ocean Panthalassa, which existed when all the continents were still a single whole. Until recently, the bottom of the oceans was assumed to be flat. But it turned out that the bottom, like the land, has a complex relief, with its mountains and plains.

Properties of the waters of the oceans

The Russian scientist A. Voyekov called the World Ocean "a huge heating battery" of our planet. The fact is that the average water temperature in the oceans is +17ºC, and the average air temperature is +14ºC. Water heats up much longer, but it also consumes heat more slowly than air, while possessing high rates heat capacity.

But not all the water column in the oceans has the same temperature. Only warm under the sun surface water and the temperature decreases with depth. It is known that at the bottom of the oceans the average temperature is only +3ºC. And she stays that way high density water.

It should be remembered that the water in the oceans is salty, and therefore it freezes not at 0ºC, but at -2ºC.

The degree of salinity of the waters varies depending on geographical latitude: in temperate latitudes, the waters are less saline than, for example, in the tropics. In the north, the waters are also less saline due to the melting of glaciers, which greatly desalinate the water.

The waters of the ocean are also different in terms of transparency. At the equator, the water is clearer. As the distance from the equator increases, the water becomes saturated with oxygen faster, which means that more microorganisms appear. But near the poles, due to low temperatures, the waters become more transparent again. So, the waters of the Weddell Sea near Antarctica are considered the most transparent. The second place belongs to the waters of the Sargasso Sea.

The difference between the ocean and the sea

The main difference between the sea and the ocean is in size. The oceans are much larger, and the seas are often only part of the oceans. The seas also differ from the ocean, to which they belong, by their unique hydrological regime (water temperature, salinity, transparency, distinctive composition of flora and fauna).

The climate of the oceans

Climate of the Pacific infinitely diverse, so the ocean is located in almost all climatic zones: Equatorial to subarctic in the north and Antarctic in the south. In the Pacific Ocean circulate 5 warm currents and 4 cold ones.

Most of the precipitation falls in equatorial belt. The amount of precipitation exceeds the proportion of water evaporation, so the water in the Pacific Ocean is less salty than in others.

climate of the atlantic ocean determined by his great length from North to South. The equator zone is the narrowest part of the ocean, so the water temperature here is lower than in the Pacific or Indian.

The Atlantic is conditionally divided into northern and southern, drawing a border along the equator, and southern part much colder due to proximity to Antarctica. Many areas of this ocean are characterized by thick fogs and powerful cyclones. They are strongest near southern tip North America and the Caribbean.

On formation Indian Ocean climate renders a huge impact the proximity of two continents - Eurasia and Antarctica. Eurasia actively participates in the annual change of seasons, bringing dry air in winter and filling the atmosphere with excess moisture in summer.

The proximity of Antarctica causes a decrease in water temperature in the southern part of the ocean. Hurricanes and storms are frequent north and south of the equator.

Formation climate of the Arctic Ocean determined by its geographic location. Arctic air masses dominate here. Average air temperature: from -20 ºC to -40 ºC, even in summer the temperature rarely rises above 0ºC. But the waters of the ocean are warmer due to constant contact with the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Therefore, the Arctic Ocean warms a significant part of the land.

Strong winds are rare, but fogs are frequent in summer. Precipitation falls mainly in the form of snow.

It is influenced by the proximity of Antarctica, the presence of ice and the absence of warm currents. The Antarctic climate dominates here. low temperatures, cloudy weather and light winds. Snow falls throughout the year. Distinctive feature climate of the Southern Ocean - high activity of cyclones.

The influence of the ocean on the Earth's climate

The ocean has a tremendous influence on the formation of climate. It accumulates huge reserves of heat. Thanks to the oceans, the climate on our planet is becoming milder and warmer, since the temperature of the waters in the oceans does not change as sharply and quickly as the temperature of the air over land.

Oceans promote better circulation air masses. And this is the most important a natural phenomenon, like the water cycle, provides the land with sufficient moisture.

In the northwest and north, that is, from the side of Africa and Eurasia, they crash into the Indian Ocean large peninsulas, separating a number of seas and bays with various origins, different depth and structure of the bottom. These are the Somali and Arabian peninsulas, limiting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, interconnected by the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Farther to the east, between the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, which is in fact also a marginal sea, the triangular block of the Hindustan peninsula protrudes far into the ocean. The Arabian Sea through the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz connects with the Persian Gulf, which is actually the inland sea of ​​the Indian Ocean. Like the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf is stretched from the southeast to the northwest. These are the most northerly parts of the Indian Ocean. Only in contrast to the narrow and deep graben of the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf is entirely located within the shelf, occupying part of the Mesopotamian foredeep. In other areas, the shelf of the Indian Ocean has a width of no more than 100 km. An exception is the shelf of the Northern, Northwestern and Western Australia, including also the shelf of the Great Australian Gulf. To the east and southeast of the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean includes the Andaman Sea between the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Sumatra and the peninsulas of Indochina and Malacca, as well as the Arafura and Timor Seas, located mainly within the Sahul ( northern) shelf of Australia. In the south, the Indian Ocean freely connects with the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. The conditional boundaries between them are drawn, respectively, along 147 ° E. and 20° E (see Fig. 3). There are few large mainland islands in the Indian Ocean. They are located at short distances from the continents of which they are parts. Only the largest among them - Madagascar (the fourth largest island on Earth) - is separated from Africa by the Mozambique Strait, 400 km wide. The Indian Ocean also includes part of the islands of the Sunda Archipelago - Sumatra, Java, etc. To the southeast, in the immediate vicinity of Hindustan, there is the island of Sri Lanka. Numerous islands and archipelagos of volcanic origin are scattered in the open part of the Indian Ocean. In the northern part of the ocean, many of them are crowned with coral structures.
Not only in geographical location largest oceans Earth, but also in many of their features - climate formation, hydrological regime etc. - there is a lot in common. Nevertheless, the differences are also very significant, which are associated with a large difference in size: in terms of surface area (91.6 million km2) and volume (about 330 million km3) Atlantic Ocean approximately twice as small as the Pacific. The narrowest part. The Atlantic Ocean is distinguished by a wider development of the shelf, especially in the Newfoundland region and off the southeastern coast South America, as well as in Bay of Biscay, the North Sea and the area british isles. The Atlantic is also characterized by a large number of mainland islands and island archipelagos, relatively recently lost contact with the continents (Newfoundland, Antilles, Falkland, British, etc.). The islands of volcanic origin (Canaries, Azores, St. Helena, etc.) are not numerous in comparison with the Pacific Ocean. The shores of the Atlantic Ocean are most strongly dissected north of the equator. In the same place, deeply going into the land of North America and Eurasia, there are the most significant seas related to it: Gulf of Mexico(actually a semi-enclosed sea between the Florida and Yucatan peninsulas and the island of Cuba), the Caribbean, North, Baltic, and also the intercontinental Mediterranean Sea, connected by straits with the Marmara, Black and Azov inland seas. To the north of the equator, off the coast of Africa, is the vast Gulf of Guinea, wide open to the ocean.

As you know, the territory of our planet is washed by four oceans. The Atlantic and Indian Oceans rank second and third in terms of water volume, respectively.

These oceans are home to unique species of aquatic animals and vegetation.

History of the discovery of the Atlantic Ocean

The development of the Atlantic Ocean began in the era of early Antiquity. It was then that the ancient Phoenician navigators began to make the first voyages across mediterranean sea and east coast Atlantic Ocean.

However, only Europeans managed to cross the Atlantic Ocean. northern peoples in the 9th century. " golden era» Atlantic exploration put famous navigator Christopher Columbus.

During his expeditions, many seas and bays of the Atlantic Ocean were discovered. Modern scientists - oceanologists continue to study the Atlantic Ocean, in particular the relief structures of its bottom.

History of the discovery of the Indian Ocean

The history of the discovery of the Indian Ocean is rooted in the days of ancient civilizations. The ocean served as the main trade route for the Persians, Indians, Egyptians, and Phoenicians.

The Chinese were the first to explore the Indian Ocean. It is to the Chinese navigator Ho's wife managed for the first time during his expedition to explore the shores of Sri Lanka, Arabian Peninsula, Persia and Africa.

The large-scale development of the Indian Ocean began with the first expeditions of the Portuguese Vasco de Gama, who managed not only to reach the coast of India, completely rounding the African coast, but also to discover many islands in the Indian Ocean.

Atlantic Ocean: general information

The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest ocean in the world in terms of its size. Its waters cover an area of ​​80 million square meters. km.

The formation of the Atlantic Ocean began more than 150 million years ago, at a time when the modern American continent began to separate from Eurasia. The Atlantic Ocean is considered the youngest among all existing oceans.

The maximum depth reaches 9 km(trough, which is located off the coast of Puerto Rico). The Atlantic Ocean washes the shores of such continents: Eurasia, Africa, South and North America as well as Antarctica.

Indian Ocean: general information

Indian Ocean, with an area of ​​about 70 million km. sq., ranks third in size among other oceans. Most deep place Indian Ocean - a depression near Java islands(Indonesia), the depth of which reaches 7 km.

The waters of the Indian Ocean are characterized by frequent changes in the direction of the current. The Indian Ocean washes Eurasia, Africa, Australia, Antarctica.

1. South America is washed by ... 1 = Indian Ocean from the west, Atlantic - from the east 2 = Atlantic - from the east, Pacific - from the west

3=Quiet - from the east, Atlantic - from the west

4=Atlantic - from the east, Indian - from the west

2. In places where the South American Platform rises,...

1=lowlands

2=plateau

3=high mountains

4=medium high mountains

3.Most intense action internal forces The earth is manifested within...

1=Brazilian Plateau

2=Guiana Plateau

4=Amazon lowland

4. Moisture for most of the mainland comes from ... the ocean

2=Atlantic

3=Indian

4=Arctic

5.Formation of large river systems contribute to... the mainland

1=soils and vegetation

2=vegetation and climate

3=climate and relief

4=relief and animal world

6. The lowest position of the snow line in the Andes is characteristic of ... parts of the mountains

1=northern

2=central

4=eastern

7. Llanos occupies mainly the territory ...

1=Amazon lowland

2=La Plata lowland

3=Orinok Lowland

4=Guiana Plateau

8. Back to top European colonization greatest development reached the tribes living ...

1=in the Amazon

2=Brazilian Plateau

4=in Patagonia

9. extreme south point The expedition reached the mainland...

1=Christopher Columbus

2=Amerigo Vespucci

3=Fernand Magellan

4=Alexander Humboldt

10. In the colonization of the mainland, the most Active participation accepted...

1=England and France

2=France and Holland

3=Holland and Spain

4=Spain and Portugal

11 The descendants of Europeans and Indians are called...

12Most countries in South America official language counts...

1=Portuguese

2=English

3=Spanish

4=French

13. South America is the birthplace of...

Answer1=wheat, banana, cotton

Answer2=tomatoes, tobacco, potatoes

Answer3=grapes, pumpkins, sugarcane

Answer4=millet, beans, coffee

14. Most of the population of South America professes ...

1=Orthodoxy

2=catholicism

4=Buddhism

HELP PLEASE URGENTLY NECESSARY (((1.Climatic zones: Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Arctic Ocean. 2.

Circles current: Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Arctic Ocean. 3. organic world: Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Arctic Ocean.

Indian Ocean

1) geographic location
2) a brief history of the discovery and study of the nature of the ocean
3) Bottom relief and minerals.
4) Climate and water properties (temperature, salinity, etc.)
5) Surface currents in the ocean.
6) Organic world.
7) Zonal natural complexes and non-zonal aquatic complexes.
8) Types of human economic activity in the ocean; major ports.
Plzzzzzz urgently needed About the Indian Ocean, please help

This I know

2. In what climatic zones is the Atlantic Ocean located?

The Atlantic Ocean is located in all climatic zones except the Arctic.

3. Name main feature atmospheric circulation in the northern Indian Ocean?

In the northern part, the ocean is subject to tropical monsoons.

4. How economic activity human impact on the nature of the oceans?

Economic activity negatively affects the nature of the oceans. Its influence is especially strong in the Atlantic Ocean. This ocean has long been a place of active fishing and fishing, transport communication, oil and gas production. The main problem of the ecology of the Atlantic (and, first of all, its northern area) is the increasing anthropogenic impact, which may have irreversible Negative consequences. In general, anthropogenic impact can be reduced to the following: 1) overfishing (especially in recent decades); 2) noise pollution ( geophysical exploration, drilling operations, ship propeller noise); 3) oil pollution; 4) pollution with pesticides; 5) domestic pollution(garbage, sewage); 6) radioactive background courts; 7) acid rain.

Water pollution by oil and refined products has become a major problem in the Indian Ocean. Its waters, flora and fauna. Accidents and spills of oil during production, pumping and transportation can and do lead to the death of marine animals, birds, fish, mollusks and other aquatic life.

This I can

7. Using the maps in figures 18 and 23, determine how the borders are lithospheric plates in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

The boundaries of the lithospheric plates in the Atlantic Ocean run from north to south along the mid-ocean ridges and divide the ocean almost in half. The Indian Ocean formed at the border of three lithospheric plates - Indo-Australian, African and Antarctic. The mid-ocean ridges Arabian-Indian, West Indian and Australo-Antarctic - divide the oceanic bed into separate basins.

8. Using search engines the Internet and biological knowledge, find information about such inhabitants of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans as the manatee and dugong.

Like whales, sirens are descended from land mammals that have mastered water element. However, despite the resemblance, whales and sirens have different ancestors. Apparently, the closest relatives of sirens in the animal kingdom are elephants. Complicated evolutionary path led to the appearance of these two outwardly completely different groups of animals. Fossil sirens have been proven to have many common features with elephants: a similar structure of the skull and teeth. In addition, modern manatees have small talon hooves on their flippers; elephants have similar hooves.

DUGONG AND MANATEES

It is easy to distinguish a dugong from a manatee by the shape of the tail - in manatees, the tail is rounded, without a notch, and in dugongs it is triangular with a deep notch in the middle. Dugongs are somewhat larger than manatees (the body length of a dugong is 3-5 m, and a manatee is 2-4 m), and they live only in the salty waters of the oceans and seas, and manatees have adapted to live not only in the seas, but also in fresh waters. The Brazilian manatee, for example, lives exclusively in the Orinoco and Amazon basins. Dugongs and manatees are exemplary parents. Newborns are born fully formed and quite large - their body length is about 1/3 of the mother's body length. A mother breastfeeds her only child for 18 months.

Dugongs It is not uncommon to see how a cub, tired of swimming on its own, rides on its mother's carefully substituted back. The father also takes part in the upbringing of the baby, bravely protecting his child from any danger, whether it be a shark or a person.

Manatees are very trusting and sociable, quickly tamed and easily tolerate captivity. Dugongs, on the contrary, feel good only in natural conditions, and it is extremely difficult to breed them in special nurseries.